Top 20 football video countdown: No. 7 Highland

SALT LAKE CITY — Brody Benson knows what it means to have a great coach.

His high school football coach, Ray Groth, is still his sports hero.

"From the time I met him (at Granger High)," said Benson, who is starting his fifth season as head coach of the Highland Rams, "he worked hard to get the best out his players. ... He's the reason I became a coach."

Benson said, like his mentor, he sees football as the perfect classroom for life.

"I always had a passion for the game," he said. "It didn't matter if I wasn't the biggest or fastest. (Groth convinced) me there was always a place to play."

The difficulties of football mirror life.

"No matter what job you do, you're usually in a group," he said. "You go through lows and highs of football. Once you think you have life figured out, it will knock you down. Can you grab yourself and pick yourself back up?"

He doesn't believe he should have to do a lot of motivating when it comes to working hard.

"You should be excited to come out and play the game," said Benson. "Sometimes practices will drag ... but intense practices make the time go a whole lot faster."

He hopes the players work hard in practice because they want to work hard for each other. His players understand that message and see their coach as part of the reason they're willing to try so hard.

"He cares a lot about everyone," said senior quarterback Thomas Barlow. "He sees what you could be not who you are."

Adds Justin Weaver, "He makes you want to be better."

Senior center Hea Tuifua said he loves the rigors of football because of the men who share his pain — and glory.

"I love it because all of these boys come and work hard for each other," Tuifua said.

Ultimately, Benson hopes the game will teach his players how to work with others and thrive despite any adversity they might face.

"Most of all, I hope they know they had a coaching staff that cared about them," he said. "I had that, and it makes a difference. I also hope they learn the value of hard work."

e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com