2024 Record: 6-5 overall, 3-3 4A Region 8 (tied for third)

Playoffs: No. 13 seed, lost to No. 4 seed Spanish Fork 56-35 in second round

Players to Watch: Jr. WR/DB Peyton Higginson, Jr. WR/DB Gordon Wilson, Sr. QB Ryder Hales, Sr. RB/LB Traygan Fusselman, Jr. RB/LB Maddox Haskell, Jr. RB/DB Joe Hughes, Sr. RB/DB Ben Staheli

Outlook: While neighboring schools Payson and Spanish Fork have been realigned to 5A, Salem Hills will remain in 4A and this should be a benefit to the Skyhawk fortunes.

“We got a lot of guys returning,” Salem Hills coach Jeff Higginson said. “I am as excited as I’ve been since becoming the head coach. I’m really happy with the offensive line and how they’ve progressed. They’re doing a better job and they’re bigger.”

Scott Brumfield, who played offensive guard in the NFL and was a former head coach at rival Spanish Fork, is lending his expertise to the Skyhawk program.

Junior wide receivers Peyton Higginson and Gordon Wilson both have elite speed and great hands that will test any secondary. Both players should also be key figures in the Skyhawk defense in the secondary. 

Coach Higginson is also happy with the development of quarterback Ryder Hales, who he calls the “X-factor.” 

“He’s done a fantastic job in the off-season getting the offense and understanding everything, and he’s a great leader,” Coach Higginson said.

Another strength of the team will be the stable of running backs at the Skyhawks’ disposal, led by Traygan Fusselman, Maddox Haskell, Joe Hughes and Ben Staheli.

While returning league champion Provo, along with Park City which was placed in Region 8 in the latest realignment, are the favorites, don’t count out the Skyhawks as perhaps playing spoilers in this gridiron war for the region title. And at the broader level, the Skyhawk faithful should expect a deeper playoff run.

What is the best way to motivate today’s high school athletes? “I think when kids buy into a process and they see development coming out of that process it’s a self motivator,” Coach Higginson said. “For me, being disciplined in that process and only worrying about that. That process is everything. We don’t talk about championships, we don’t talk about wins and losses, we just talk about really understanding what it is that we do. And do it well. When we see guys competing and going through that process, it’s self motivating and gets them going. And this is a team that is self-motivated and that is good.”

-Brian E. Preece