The Rams maintained their status as one of a Class 4A Region 6 powerhouse by going 8-4 last season and winning their first-round playoff matchup. They graduated some heavy hitters from both sides of the ball, but they have enough talent in the fold to again compete for a region title.

Coach Brody Benson, in his fourth season at the helm, has four starters returning on each side of the ball. The Rams have experience and depth on the offensive and defensive lines. They have a proven offensive system with the triple option. They have experience in the kicking game.

For Benson, it all should add up to another successful campaign.

''Our No. 1 goal is to win our region, get into the playoffs, get the semifinals and compete for state championship,'' said Benson. ''Hopefully, we'll have the opportunity to go out and win one.''

On offense

The Rams' triple option will be commanded by senior Mason Keller, who was a backup last season. He'll be protected by some experienced players.

Seniors Peter Ferrin and Julio Hernandez will man the tackle positions. Ono Tafisi, a 6-2, 330-pound junior, will start at right guard, and senior George Heimuli and junior Desmond Collins are battling for the nod at left guard.

The fullback position will be placed in the hands of senior Sione Fainu. Five players are competing for two halfback slots, including Chris Lloyd, Alex Olsen, Seth Payne, Justin Weaver and Austin Aguirre. Although the Rams don't throw the ball much, they have two solid wideouts in Nate Fakahafua and Tyler Murphy who will be heavily involved in the game plan.

Still, everything revolves around Keller's development as a decision-maker.

''Mason has really dedicated himself to the weight room since December. He probably added 10-12 pounds of muscle and really worked on his running mechanics,'' Benson said. ''He's studied our offense and spent time this summer watching film with our offensive coordinator. He's doing a real good job reading the option. I think we'll be just fine with him.''

On defense

The Rams will run a 4-3 defense, with a lot of players playing on both sides of the ball, including Ferrin, Olsen, Lloyd, Tafisi, Fainu and Heimulu.

Benson plans to bring the heat as much as possible.

"We're an attack defense; we like to be aggressive and get after people," Benson said. "We're going to blitz a lot. We hang our butts out there, but we have a secondary that [allows] us to do that."

The veteran

Peter Ferrin will play vital roles on both sides of the ball. The 6-3, 195-pound senior will start at either left or right tackle and he'll bring the heat as a defensive end.

''He's so explosive, especially on the defensive side as a pass rusher,'' Benson said. ''He does not like to be blocked, and he does a good job of keeping people off of him. He's got good speed. He's a big, strong, physical kid that can run, and I'm excited to see what he can do.

The new guy

Sophomore Justin Weaver is expected to contend for starting time at one of the two halfback spots. Even if he doesn't win the starting job, he'll likely still see some action at halfback and cornerback.

''We're excited about him, whether it be in a starting role or as a rotator, on both side of the football,'' Benson said. ''He's a big, strong, physical kid. He's young, so he really don't know better; he's just out there. He's excited and hungry to play football. He's one who I see has a chance to step up.''

What to expect

The Rams have won at least eight games in each of the last five seasons, so expect more of the same this year. The Rams lost some heavy hitters from last year's squad, but they have a fair of amount of experienced players in the fold.

Plus, it helps that defending 4A Region 6 champion, Cottonwood, was bumped up to Class 5A, leaving East as the main foe in that region. With that said, anything less than an eight-win season would be a disappointment for this group.