Highland's football team went 6-0 in Region 10 last fall and won the program's 16th region championship. Now the Rams want to do it again.

The defending champs were picked second in the 2026 preseason coaches poll, released Aug. 1 by the Deseret News, behind a Skyline squad that added a transfer quarterback and a new head coach with two state titles on his résumé. Highland head coach Kautai Olevao, entering his sixth season, has reason to feel confident about the roster he's fielding.

The Rams return eight starters on offense and eight on defense.

Junior quarterback Will Bauman takes over the starting job after flashing as a sophomore: 15-of-25 passing for 218 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions, plus 163 rushing yards and three scores. Sophomore running back Vili Ripley led Highland with 356 rushing yards and six touchdowns as a freshman. Manase Wolfgramm (193 yards, three touchdowns) and receiver Zamari Vaughn (five touchdown catches) round out a skill group that returns intact.

On defense, Honorable Mention All-State tackle Cortland Angstman anchors a unit that includes Otto Wolfgramm, Aidan Demarco, Evan Kearl, Andrew Cracroft, Henry Tuha, Nafe Pulini, and Sisi Noa. That group allowed just 19.45 points per game in 2025, fifth-best in Class 4A.

Highland's coaching staff wrote in the Deseret News preseason questionnaire that returning players have felt what it took to win the region title and are leading the team through offseason work. Olevao's overall record at Highland stands at 17-34 across five seasons, but the 2025 turnaround told a clear story: three straight non-region losses to open the year, then seven wins in the final eight games, capped by a 24-7 victory over Skyline that clinched the title. Highland beat Dixie 42-14 in the first round of the playoffs before falling to Hurricane in the quarterfinals.

Skyline, the coaches' preseason pick to win Region 10, finished 9-4 and 5-1 in region last year. Its only region loss came against Highland. New head coach Brandon Matich, who won state championships at East in 2015 and 2016 during a 128-60 tenure there, inherits transfer quarterback Tate Johnson from Mountain View. Johnson threw for 1,973 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2025, replacing First Team All-State QB Xavier Cocci, who accounted for more than 4,600 total yards and 49 touchdowns.

Even Matich tipped his cap to the Rams. "I'm surprised Highland is not the favorite," he told the Deseret News. "They won it last year, which until they are knocked off, they deserve to be favored."

The full preseason poll: 1. Skyline, 2. Highland, 3. Murray, 4. East, 5. Juan Diego, 6. Jordan, 7. Cottonwood.

Highland opens the season Friday, Aug. 14, at Westlake at 7 p.m.