Years as Head Coach
3rd Season

Previous Experience
Entering 20th season overall (all at Highland)

Assistant Coaches
Dane Beorchia, Akilah Lacey, Bryce Metcalf, Atari Callen, Cade Ackley, Tony Manu

Record Last Year
11-1

Conference Record Last Year
3-0

State Titles
73, 84, 87, 93, 95, 97, 98, 00, 02, 08, 14, 17, 23

Returning Players
McKay Galo, 11, LB
Markell Bowens, 12, DE
Lana Alvarico, 12, WR
Jett Richards, 12, WR
Alfonzo Moreno, 12, OL

Returning Players with Honors
Markell Bowens, 12 - 2nd Team All-Conference DL
McKay Galo, 11 - HM All-Conference LB

Key Players lost from last year
Drew Hymas – QB (2023 1st Team All-State QB and P) – His leadership and experience was a difference maker for our team, along with his play-making abilities in crucial moments.

Jackson Riddle – RB (2023 5A State POY) – He could change the game with one touch of the ball, dynamic runner that was the focal point for our offense.

Rhidge Barela – WR (2023 2nd Team All-State WR) – His ability to get open and his versatility on offense created problems for opposing defenses.

Colton George – LB (2023 1st Team All-State LB) – 3 years’ experience as a starter and his leadership on the defensive side of the ball will be greatly missed.

Kai Callen – DB (Transferred to Carrolton, GA for senior year. 2023 1st-Team All-State DB) – His ability to lock down the oppositions best WR and his knack for creating turnovers will be missed the most.

Bruce Galo – OL (2023 1st Team All-State OL) – Big, physical presence on the OL that consistently served out punishing blocks in both the pass and run game.

Dallas Call – OL – The vocal leader and the general of the OL. Most consistent and reliable that set the tone.

Zerek Younis – DB/K – His big leg will be missed the most: touchbacks, long FG’s, automatic on Extra Points.

Incoming impact players
Keaton Belnap, 11, QB
Cedric Mitchell, 10, RB
Chase Zweigart, 12, DB
Carson Bates, 12, DB
Landon Kam, 12, OL
Colt Neeser, 12, DL

Written by: Marlowe Hereford

The second season of the Nick Sorrell era at Highland ended with the Rams reaching a familiar place: top of the heap in 5A.

The Rams defeated fellow 5A powerhouse Coeur d'Alene 35-28 last November at Holt Arena (now the ICCU Dome) for their first state title in six years and 12th in program history, ending the season 11-1 overall and 3-0 versus District 5-6 opponents.

Numerous members of that state championship team have graduated, and would-be returning defensive back Kai Callen transferred to Carrolton, Ga. However, the returning Rams are up for the challenge as the defending 5A state champions move to a brand new 6A classification.

"We are excited to see how quickly this team grows and gels together as they gain more and more experience at the varsity level," Sorrell said. "We lost a lot from last season, but our guys are ready to reload and build on the history and tradition at Highland."

Among the returning offensive players are Keaton Belnap, Cedric Mitchell, Lana Alvarico, Taylor Tibbs and Jett Richards. Sorrell described them as versatile and eager to step up and fill vacancies from last year's team.

"It will be hard to replicate the success of last year's offense, but we have the skillset to be more balanced on offense by creating spacing horizontally and vertically to keep defenses honest throughout the year," Sorrell said.

Defensively, Sorrell said the Rams aim to limit the number of explosive plays from opponents.

"The strength of this year's defense is that we have multiple playmakers at all three levels," Sorrell said. "(The defensive line) will be our biggest strength with their quickness and aggressiveness."

The ability of adapting and gaining experience as a young team will be priority this season for the Rams, Sorrell said.

"Our schedule early on in the season will be a great measuring stick to see where we are as a team," he said.

He tabbed Madison as a District 5-6 team to watch this season due to the Bobcats' offensive line.

"Their OL could be the X factor that gets them over the top because of their size and experience at the varsity level," he said.

Highland begins the season Aug. 23 versus Legacy (Nev.) in Las Vegas before participating in the annual Rocky Mountain Rumble at the ICCU Dome the following weekend.