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HIGHLAND — There will be plenty on the line when undefeated East rolls into rival Highland in Friday night’s KSL Game of the Week, including the Region 5 title.
East (8-0, 3-0 Region 5) and Highland (6-1, 3-0) are the lone unbeaten teams in region play with two games left in the regular season, and the Leopards are one of just three undefeated teams in Class 4A, as well.
“It’s probably one of the biggest games I’ll ever play in my life,” Highland quarterback James Pembroke said. “We see them a lot. They see us a lot.”
The game, which begins with a 30-minute pre-game broadcast on KSL TV, will be streamed live on ksl.com starting at 7 p.m.
And it’s not just the Rams who see the contest as a chance to knock off a crosstown rival.
“We always take this game really serious,” East’s Sati Tuuhetaufa said. “I feel like this game is more serious (than) some of the other games. We’ve got to go hard because it’s a big rivalry.
“This is a big game for us.”
Two of the older schools in the Salt Lake Valley, East and Highland will play for the 59th time since 1957. The Rams leads the series 33-25, but the Leopards have won four of the last five.
Separated by just 2 ½ miles — a 6-minute drive through the suburbs — there is plenty of emotion on both sides, as well.
“It’s full 10. We don’t like these guys,” said East’s Fusi Teisina, a senior defensive tackle. “There’ s a lot of beef between us.”
The two teams are the class of Region 5, and have designs beyond this game, as well. The 4A state playoffs begin in two weeks, and defending state champion East is an odd’s-on favorite to repeat for a title after playing a national schedule that includes a win at California power De La Salle.
“It’s the region champs, but it’s another game,” Highland lineman Colton Pulver said. “We’re looking at the ultimate goal, which is to go to state. But right now, it’d be great to beat them and take region.”
The Leopards offensive prowess has relied on Jaylen Warren, the top rusher in the state who has amassed 1,742 yards and 18 touchdowns. Highland counters with a physical defense that holds opponents to 24 points per game; the Rams’ lone loss came via a 5-3 baseball score at Olympus, which recently clinched the Region 6 title.
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Matt Degne hit Dax Milne with a 26-yard TD strike to cap a 20-0 run in the fourth quarter as the Miners pulled away from the Beetdiggers 58-40 and clinched at least a share of the Region 3 title and the region's No. 1 seed for the playoffs.“They’re physical; they are a great team,” Warren said of Highland. “We’re just going to play our game.”
Both teams have higher aspirations, and can make some noise in the postseason.
But make no mistake — Friday night is a big game for both squads.
“It’s a big opportunity, to play for a region title,” East’s Tyler Eteuati said. “It’s a blessing to be a part of this, and I can’t wait to see how it goes down.”
