2022 record: 8-5 overall, 2-2 Region 8

Playoffs: No. 11 seed, lost to No. 2 Timpview 48-31 in 5A semifinals

Players to Watch: Sr. TE Roger Saleapaga, Sr. RB Mack Hixson, Sr. QB Lance Reynolds III, Jr. RB Feleti Iongi, Sr. SS River Matthews, Sr. OL/DL Tayden Sa’u

Outlook: Reynolds steps into his first year as head coach for the Tigers with a lot of offensive firepower.

“We have a very bright outlook for 2023,” he said. “We return every offensive skill player and have a lot of weapons, both on offense and defense. We have also taken a step in the right direction with the numbers in our football program. We made a big jump and the increased numbers should help our depth.”

Reynolds’ son, senior quarterback Lance Reynolds III, threw for 3,177 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. Senior tight end Roger Saleapaga (6-4, 220) caught 78 passes for 1,267 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022 and has multiple Division I offers. Senior running back Mack Hixson, who ran for 792 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore, was injured in the first game last season but he’s back and should be a threat.

Orem landed in 5A Region 7 through realignment and will have some good battles with Timpview and Springville that will determined seeding for the state playoffs.

“We’re pretty strong across the board but if I had to narrow it down, I think our offense will be able to score points on anymore this year,” Coach Reynolds said. “I think we could make a strong run to the title.”

Program Hero: None submitted.

Westlake Thunder

Head Coach: Arnold Ale (first season)

2022 record: 2-9 overall, 0-5 Region 4

Playoffs: No. 20 seed, lost to No. 13 Mountain Ridge 28-25 in 6A first round

Players to Watch: Ezra Heiner, Sr. TE, Landon Rasmussen, Sr. RB, Drake Youngberg, Sr. RB, Manasseh Te’o, Sr. DL, Jackson Coray, Sr. DB, Aiden Bayless, Sr. DB, Daniel Washburn, Sr. DB.

Outlook: The Thunder start a new era in 2023. Long-time head coach Louis Wong retired and Arnold Ale has taken over the helm, hoping to guide Westlake football to take the next step forward.

It’s been a tough few years for the school, which has a large student body but hasn’t been able to translate that into consistent success on the field.

This year’s Thunder squad has some solid returners, particularly in the defensive backfield, but will need others to rise to the occasion.

While Westlake won’t have to face Corner Canyon in the new Region 3, instead they will be lining up against neighbor Lehi, which has also been extremely successful.

Ale will have his work cut out for him but if he can get the team to buy in like Payson did in his only year guiding the Lions, it will be setting the foundation to build on.