High school football: Highland Rams have the ingredients to be tough again

Note: Highland finished with an 8-4 record in 2009 and went 6-0 to win the Region 6 title. The Rams lost to Mountain Crest in the 4A Quarterfinals.

SALT LAKE CITY — All the basic ingredients seem to be in place for Highland to cook up another run to a region title.

A strong backfield anchored by a 1,000-yard rusher? Check.

Offensive and defensive lines loaded with talent, depth and experience? Check.

Both elements have always been crucial to the traditional recipe for success for the Rams. When it is tough up front and in the backfield, Highland can control the ball and impose its will on most teams it faces.

The players returning from last year's team that claimed the Region 6 title see no reason why they can't keep the ball rolling this fall.

"It doesn't seem any different from last year," senior fullback Toi Taufa said. "We didn't take a step down."

If Taufa plays anything close to the form he showed as a junior, the offense will definitely take a step forward.

Last fall, he rushed for 1,291 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 177 carries. That was good for a per carry average of 7.3 yards. Rams coach Brody Benson figures that Taufa will take his production up another level because he has done a good job of preparing for the season.

With Taufa in the backfield, Benson is also confident it will allow other backs to make their share of plays too.

"If we can establish our fullback and get teams really focusing on him, it's going to open it up for our quarterbacks to run," Benson said.

Running behind an experienced offensive line will make it twice as hard to contain Highland's running game. Right guard Ono Tafisi is a four-year starter. Hea Tuifua returns at center. Desmond Collins also returns up front at tight end.

It will also give Highland a little bit of time and space to break in a new quarterback. Thomas Barlow and Colby Earl have been battling for the job going into fall camp. It is a fairly even race at this point and both players could see some snaps in the first month of the season.

Experience up front will be a boon to the defense as well. Collins, Nate Fakahafua and Fihi Kafusi will anchor the defensive line after combining for 144 tackles a year ago. Collins also had 4.5 sacks in '09 and Fakahafua came up with a pair of interceptions.