Isaac Hale Daily Herald
Salem Hills head coach Jeff Higginson walks along the sidelines between plays during a game in the semifinals of the 5A state tournament between the Timpview Thunderbirds and the Salem Hills Skyhawks held at Cedar Valley High School in Eagle Mountain on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Head Coach: Jeff Higginson (4th season)
2022 record: 2-8 overall, 1-4 Region 8
Playoffs: None
Players to Watch: Sr. WR Kort Stewart, Sr. OL Hans Otte, Sr. LB Dagen Gammell, Sr. LB Vandin Fusselman
Outlook: The Skyhawks made it to the 5A semifinals in 2020 and posted a 9-3 record but the past two seasons have been difficult, combining for a 3-16 mark overall. Coach Jeff Higginson is optimistic that Salem Hills can make good progress in 2023.
“The strength of our team this year is that we have 14 returning starters,” Higginson said. “Three of those are up front on the offensive line.”
The Skyhawks hope to move up in the win column after dropping down to Class 4A in the new UHSAA alignment, competing in Region 8 with Provo, Uintah, Timpanogos, Payson, Spanish Fork and Mountain View.
Salem Hills is breaking in a new quarterback in junior Jedi Nelson, young brother of BYU defensive tackle John Nelson.
“He’s looked good and we’re expecting big things from him,” Higginson said.
Jedi Nelson has a good go-to receiver in three-year starter Kort Stewart and Higginson also likes senior Ethan Houghton, who has gotten bigger and stronger in the offseason. Senior Hans Otte will anchor the line from his left tackle position. Senior linebackers Dagen Gammell and Vandin Fusselman have experience and size to get things done on the defensive side of the ball.
Program Hero: “Coach Ryan Johnson led our offseason program. We averaged 70 players in each session and we got bigger and faster. Our success will come as a result of that effort.”
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