High school football: Skyline tops preseason Region 10 football coaches poll

The Highland Rams and Skyline Eagles compete in a high school football game at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.

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Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Skyline edged defending region champion Highland for the top spot in the preseason coaches poll after both teams reached the 4A playoffs last season. Murray and East also return after playoff appearances, while Jordan, Juan Diego and Cottonwood will look to move up the standings in 2026.

After overcoming an 0-2 start to reach the 4A quarterfinals last season, Skyline enters 2026 as the preseason favorite to win Region 10.

The Eagles finished 9-4 overall and 5-1 in region play in 2025, with their only region loss coming to eventual region champion Highland. Despite graduating First Team All-State quarterback Xavier Cocci and former head coach Ryan Mailei, Skyline received the most votes in the preseason coaches poll.

New head coach Brandon Matich said the goal is to continue building on the success Skyline had a year ago.

“Skyline made a lot of strides last year and we hope to build off what Coach Mailei started,” Matich said.

Skyline returns eight starters on offense and six on defense, including Honorable Mention All-State running back Jonah Mailei. The senior rushed for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 344 receiving yards last season.

The Eagles will have a new quarterback after Cocci accounted for more than 4,600 total yards and 49 touchdowns last season. Tate Johnson transferred from Mountain View after throwing for 1,973 yards, 18 touchdowns and just six interceptions in 2025. He’ll take over Skyline’s power spread offense.

Matich also expects offensive lineman Elijah Browne, running back Will Black, tight end/linebacker David Campbell, defensive lineman Andy Paiva and safety Liam Whitworth to make key contributions this season.

Even after Skyline was picked to finish first in the preseason poll, Matich said Highland deserves to be considered the team to beat.

“I’m surprised Highland is not the favorite,” Matich said. “They won it last year, which until they are knocked off, they deserve to be favored.”Highland will look to defend its Region 10 championship after finishing 7-4 overall and a perfect 6-0 in region play last season.

The Rams opened the year with three straight non-region losses before winning seven of their final eight games. The turnaround included a 24-7 victory over Skyline to secure the region title. Highland followed with a 42-14 win over Dixie in the first round of the 4A playoffs before falling to Hurricane in the quarterfinals.

The Rams return eight starters on both offense and defense, giving Highland one of the more experienced rosters in Region 10.

“We are optimistic about this upcoming season with many returning players who have valuable game-time experience,” the coaching staff wrote in its preseason questionnaire. “Those returning players have felt what it took to earn region champs last season and are leading the team to put in the work this offseason.”

Junior quarterback Will Bauman is expected to take over the offense after seeing varsity action last season. He completed 15 of 25 passes for 218 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions while adding 163 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Highland also returns sophomore running back Vili Ripley, who led the team with 356 rushing yards and six touchdowns as a freshman. Manase Wolfgramm added 193 rushing yards and three touchdowns last season, while Zamari Vaughn caught five touchdown passes.

The Highland Rams celebrate after winning 24-7 against the Skyline Eagles during a high school football game at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.

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Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Honorable Mention All-State defensive tackle Cortland Angstman returns to anchor a defense that also brings back Otto Wolfgramm, Aidan Demarco, Evan Kearl, Andrew Cracroft, Henry Tuha, Nafe Pulini and Sisi Noa.

Murray will look to climb the Region 10 standings after finishing 5-5 overall and 3-3 in region play last season.

The Spartans opened the season with four wins in their first five games before dropping three of their final four regular season contests. Murray’s season came to an end with a 41-34 loss to East in the 4A play-in round, but head coach AJ Jones believes the program is headed in the right direction.

“Heading into the 2026 season, our players have been working extremely hard in the weight room and learning new playbooks on both sides of the ball,” Jones wrote in his preseason questionnaire. “Our program is full of dynamic athletes and an incredible culture built around brotherhood, accountability and character. The wins happen when you care about the brother next to you and work relentlessly.”

The Spartans return four starters on offense and four on defense. Senior running back McKade Eardley headlines the returning offense after rushing for 714 yards and six touchdowns last season. Murray also returns offensive linemen Alex Huggins, Drake Kano and Zahir Martinez. Quarterback Dru Reuss, offensive linemen Andrew Miller and Keaton Boss, and receivers Jagger Karr, Kyler Eck, Jersey Alvillar and Chase Mower are among the team’s key offensive newcomers as the Spartans look to replace quarterback Phil Holland, who threw for 2,086 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2025.

Defensively, Murray will look to replace several of its top playmakers from last season, but returning starters King Yom, Ropati Atuaia, Peyton Pili and Anthony Guerra provide experience. Yom finished with 32 tackles and two interceptions in 2025, while Atuaia added 19 tackles and an interception. Pili recorded 14 tackles and a sack, and Guerra returns after scoring 42 points as the Spartans’ kicker. McCoy Ash, Wyatt Lindquist, Bryan Gregston and Tony Rogers headline the team’s key defensive newcomers.The Leopards opened the season with five straight losses against Mountain Crest, Olympus, Skyridge, Eastside Catholic (Wash.) and Hi...

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