Highland Rams
On Aug. 8, the Deseret News published its preview of the Highland Rams 2008 football team. Here is a look at
what was written by reporter John Coon.
After stringing together back-to-back 4A title game appearances, Highland never expected to fall victim to a
first-round playoff upset.
But, like many of their counterparts in Region 6, the Rams could not advance past their opening game and fell
21-6 to Bonneville. It did not take Highland long before it began looking to this season as a time of
redemption.
"That next Monday, we started counting down the days to our first game," senior Latu Heimuli said. "We were
all just getting ready. We didn't want to wait."
When Highland does take the field in its opener against Mountain Crest, the Rams will present a team that is
focused on being a factor in the 4A championship picture again. What's scary for the teams they will face -
especially in Region 6 - is that this is a group that has more than enough talent to make it happen.
Highland returns several starters on its offensive and defensive lines. Leading the way is Heimuli - a highly
recruited Division I prospect - and Sam Nielson. Heimuli is a beast on defense in particular, with 50 tackles,
including 10 for loss, in 2007. That degree of experience up front should help new quarterback Nick Orchard
adjust to running the Ram scheme real quickly.
Orchard is a little raw on offense, but started at cornerback all of last season. Highland coach Brody Benson
thinks that game time experience on defense will help him anticipate and react to defenses with little difficulty.
The Rams' top rusher, Muli Kinikini, should provide plenty of help for Orchard. Kinikini rushed for a team-high
872 yards and eight touchdowns on 115 carries a year ago. Travis Walzer and Bridger Walzer should provide
some solid additional depth in the backfield.
"I see our offense right now as being better than last year - right when we start the season - because of that
experience factor," Benson said.
Experience should serve Highland well in navigating a tough early schedule. Besides their traditional
endowment game matchup with the Mustangs, the Rams also face American Fork and Skyline before
opening region play at East.
Such a slate doesn't allow for much breathing room, but Benson feels confident his kids can compete with
anybody - provided they don't succumb to injuries first.
"I think that it basically boils down to staying healthy," Benson said. "You look out here and we don't have a
whole lot of numbers - as far as players on the team. But I'll put my starting eleven up against anybody else's
in the region."
Whatever comes about this season for the Rams, they want to make sure it will not be feeling the sting of
another postseason disappointment.
"We don't want the same thing to happen as last year - going out in the first round," Orchard said. "That's a lot
of motivation right there - to get further into the playoffs and hope we get to Rice-Eccles (Stadium).
On Aug. 8, the Deseret News published its preview of the Highland Rams 2008 football team. Here is a look at
what was written by reporter John Coon.
After stringing together back-to-back 4A title game appearances, Highland never expected to fall victim to a
first-round playoff upset.
But, like many of their counterparts in Region 6, the Rams could not advance past their opening game and fell
21-6 to Bonneville. It did not take Highland long before it began looking to this season as a time of
redemption.
"That next Monday, we started counting down the days to our first game," senior Latu Heimuli said. "We were
all just getting ready. We didn't want to wait."
When Highland does take the field in its opener against Mountain Crest, the Rams will present a team that is
focused on being a factor in the 4A championship picture again. What's scary for the teams they will face -
especially in Region 6 - is that this is a group that has more than enough talent to make it happen.
Highland returns several starters on its offensive and defensive lines. Leading the way is Heimuli - a highly
recruited Division I prospect - and Sam Nielson. Heimuli is a beast on defense in particular, with 50 tackles,
including 10 for loss, in 2007. That degree of experience up front should help new quarterback Nick Orchard
adjust to running the Ram scheme real quickly.
Orchard is a little raw on offense, but started at cornerback all of last season. Highland coach Brody Benson
thinks that game time experience on defense will help him anticipate and react to defenses with little difficulty.
The Rams' top rusher, Muli Kinikini, should provide plenty of help for Orchard. Kinikini rushed for a team-high
872 yards and eight touchdowns on 115 carries a year ago. Travis Walzer and Bridger Walzer should provide
some solid additional depth in the backfield.
"I see our offense right now as being better than last year - right when we start the season - because of that
experience factor," Benson said.
Experience should serve Highland well in navigating a tough early schedule. Besides their traditional
endowment game matchup with the Mustangs, the Rams also face American Fork and Skyline before
opening region play at East.
Such a slate doesn't allow for much breathing room, but Benson feels confident his kids can compete with
anybody - provided they don't succumb to injuries first.
"I think that it basically boils down to staying healthy," Benson said. "You look out here and we don't have a
whole lot of numbers - as far as players on the team. But I'll put my starting eleven up against anybody else's
in the region."
Whatever comes about this season for the Rams, they want to make sure it will not be feeling the sting of
another postseason disappointment.
"We don't want the same thing to happen as last year - going out in the first round," Orchard said. "That's a lot
of motivation right there - to get further into the playoffs and hope we get to Rice-Eccles (Stadium).
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