Best Sports Writing

The Ironmen: Rams Are Forced To Play More Than Any Other School Due To Lack Of Players

By Matt Fotheringham

In Highland’s football game against West Jordan on August 23, the Rams were down 20-10 late in the fourth quarter. As West Jordan was driving down the field in hopes to close the game, Highland senior Charlie McConkie made an incredible play as he picked off a pass on the 40-yard line and brought it back to the end zone for a pick-six. This play turned the game around and gave Highland hope.

As the players and fans were going nuts, McConkie had very little time to celebrate. After a long defensive drive and a full sprint for 60 yards into the end zone, he had to quickly prepare himself to run back out and take the field as the Rams prepared for an onside kick.

Highland had a successful onside kick, starting a game winning drive that ended with Highland scoring the game-winning touchdown. It was a miracle 24-20 victory. But amidst all this excitement and the celebration over the comeback win, McConkie was exhausted. He had been on the field for four straight minutes — he played a full defensive drive, kickoff, and then the winning offensive drive, where he carried the ball twice near the goalline.

But this is nothing new for McConkie, along with a handful of other Rams. Due to low numbers, many start on both offense and defense, and even play some special teams as well.

But moments like what happened at West Jordan make it all worth it.

“I definitely feel sore and tired after the games,” McConkie said. “But I felt a lot of adrenaline going through me in that moment, so I was just ready to get back on the field and go win that game.”

The Highland varsity team suits around 35 players for each game. This is extremely small for a team that is trying to compete in 5A, where other teams typically suit over 50 players.

“Playing a lot of guys both ways is frustrating but necessary,” assistant coach Tim Todd said.

Because Highland has so many guys that are playing on both sides of the ball, many players are totally worn out by the time the fourth quarter starts. This is especially problematic for the Rams because the starting quarterback, Manasa Pele, also plays middle linebacker. It is rare to see a quarterback playing a lot of defensive snaps.

Because Pele plays arguably the most strenuous positions on both sides of the ball, younger players such as sophomore Will Bauman are forced to step up in at times to man the quarterback position.

“Early in the year I had approached Will and said, ‘hey, as an underclassman, you’re going to be expected to come in and play a significant amount of time,”’ Todd said. “Will has been prepared to take reps on offense early in games so that Nasa can get a breather.”

Because of the role that Bauman has stepped up into, Pele not only is more fresh for the fourth quarter, but the opposing team has to adjust to each of their playing styles at quarterback.

“With Will playing more quarterback this year, we didn’t lose a step,” Todd said. “We gained some. He brings a different set of intangibles than Nasa does.”

Being able to play multiple quarterbacks not only gives Pele more energy, but it has added depth to the offense. But Pele has no problem being on the field as much as possible.

“I just love playing both ways because I get to be in the game for longer and there’s more opportunities to make plays,” Pele said.

Pele has the right mindset in order to play both ways and the coaches have faith that he is the right guy at both positions in order for the Rams to compete.

“You want your best 11 players on the field,” Todd said. “So if your best 11 play both ways, in order to win ball games that’s what you have to do.”

The majority of Highland’s guys love playing on both sides, primarily because it gives them opportunities to make plays the entire game, and they are always involved.

“It’s just fun to have more responsibility and to make more of a difference on the team by making more plays,” senior cornerback and receiver Luke Kearl said.

Although playing both ways brings a lot more opportunities for guys, there’s no doubt that towards the end of games fatigue will start to set in and guys begin to wear out.

Fortunately, Highland took summer practices very seriously and the whole team has been through lots of conditioning. This preparation is very helpful but it’s inevitable that fatigue and injuries will affect the team. McConkie is aware of this but doesn’t let it get in his way.

I mean I worry a little bit about injury just because I have friends that have gotten injured,” McConkie said. “But I feel good about football, and I love it, so I don’t worry about getting tired or injured.”

Highland started the season off strong at 2-0. They then suffered a tough loss in overtime during the home opener against Green Canyon. This loss was largely due to the number of penalties against the Rams in the fourth quarter.

By the time the fourth quarter rolls around, most players and especially the two-way guys start to feel fatigue. This can lead to a lot of penalties, simply because the guys don’t have the ability to react as fast after three full quarters on offense and defense.

“I feel like the adrenaline at the end of games keeps me from being too tired physically,” junior wide receiver and safety Jackson Folau said. “But mentally, it’s just hard to stay locked in for four straight quarters, as the pressure sets in, and the drives get longer.”

One thing about playing both ways that isn’t often recognized is that it’s not new to most of the players. Just about every kid that’s been playing football their whole life has played on offense, defense, and kickoff at multiple positions throughout little league.

The only difference is that in high school the games are a little longer, the players are a little better, and there’s just a little bit more pressure. If only it was that simple.

A lot of Highlands players are very talented at multiple positions and help the team out, but it would be so much easier for the program if there were more kids playing football.

“With the lack of numbers in the program, it’s just not fair for kids to have to play both ways,” Todd said. “Bigger schools have more of an advantage that way, so Highland’s kind of behind everybody else.”

The Rams will be challenged the second half of the season. With tough region opponents, and all of the wear and tear on guys, it’s not going to be easy to win games, but the players have faith.

“I get a little worried about injuries going into the second half of the season just because our team isn’t very big,” Folau said. “But the team as a whole has gotten a lot closer partly because we know at any given moment a starter could go down and someone will have to step up. So, we all believe in each other.”

There’s no doubt that the Highland will deal with a lot more fatigue during the second half of the season as injury and soreness build up, but the question will be if they can sustain with such few numbers throughout the end of the year and into the playoffs.