Skyline beat Highland 37-23 on Thursday, Oct. 8, handing the defending Region 10 champion Rams their first region loss of the 2026 season.

Highland entered the game ranked No. 24 statewide at 6-1 overall and 4-0 in Region 10. Skyline, the preseason coaches' pick to win the region, went into Highland's stadium and pulled away in the fourth quarter to claim the 14-point victory, as ABC4's Beehive Blitz and the Deseret News reported.

Skyline running back Jonah Mailei, returning from a multi-week injury absence, scored two rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Tate Johnson added two more on the ground. Will Finau sealed the outcome with a pick-six with just over four minutes left.

Highland quarterback Will Bauman connected with Zamari Vaughn for two touchdown passes, including a 33-yard strike. Griffin Backman, the 2026 Utah state champion in the 400 meters who holds Highland's school record at 47.54 seconds, returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown that helped tie the game at 23-23 in the second half. Skyline answered with three unanswered scores to close it out.

"Skyline has had a hard time getting over this Highland hump, and they were able to do it tonight," first-year Skyline head coach Brandon Matich told the Deseret News after the game.

Matich said his staff doubled Highland receivers Adriean King Boyd and Vaughn downfield, limiting the Rams' passing attack after the early connections.

Skyline hosts Murray on Wednesday to wrap up the Region 10 schedule. Murray's only region loss this season came against Highland, setting up a potential three-way tie scenario if the Mustangs upset the Eagles. Highland head coach Kautai Olevao's squad will look to regroup for its remaining region schedule.