During the 2024 season, the top of Region 7 was very competitive as Orem, Timpview and Maple Mountain all raced up the standings. In the end, Timpview clutched out its second-consecutive Region 7 title.
The region will look quite different this year with Cedar Valley going up to 6A’s Region 2, while Payson, Pleasant Grove and Spanish Fork join Region 7 in what should be a competitive eight-team region.
With a new region and a new-looking 5A classification, coaches agree that Orem isn’t only the Region 7 favorite, but also the 5A favorite. All Region 7 coaches except one voted Orem to finish first, and when looking at the Tigers’ team, it’s easy to see why they will be a big threat this season.
First, Orem retains a decent chunk of its 2024 starters with seven offensive and six defensive starters returning.
Overall, Orem will field a plethora of DI-quality talent, and it gained two star-studded transfers.
Three-star defensive lineman and BYU commit Lopeti Moala transferred to Orem from Davis this offseason, and joining him is Utah commit and Timpview transfer Aisa Galea’i.
Kaue Akana, a 2024 5A all-state second-team wide receiver also returns to Orem for his senior season. Last year, Akana pulled in 1,227 yards on 76 receptions while scoring 14 touchdowns. He also recently committed to BYU.
Three-star tide end and Baylor commit Kai Wesley will also lace up again for Orem.
Another transfer that Orem head coach Lance Reynolds is particularly excited about is wide receiver Max Stonebreaker. Stonebreaker transferred from Maple Mountain.
“When I watched him on film I thought, ‘Yeah, he may be able to get it done for us. We’ll see how he looks,’” Reynolds said. “But, when he showed up, he was impressive. He runs well and he may be right up there with the fastest guys on our team. He has really good speed.”
While Orem had one of the top offenses in 5A last year, its defense wasn’t quite as dominant. Reynolds believes the mix of returning starters, incoming seniors and star transfers will help shore up the Tigers’ defense.
“I think our biggest difference from last year is going to be the overall strength of our defense,” Reynolds said. “Last year we always scored points, but we had games here and there where we really struggled to slow people down. I think that’s probably going to be the biggest improvement from last year to this year.”
While Orem has plenty to build off, Timpview currently has some instability as Donny Atuai stepped down as head coach in late June. In three years, Atuai led the Thunderbirds to an 29-8 record and a 5A state championship in 2023.
“What a rough week it has been,” Atuai said in an Instagram post in late June. “A lot of emotions have crossed my path as I have made the decision to not coach at Timpview HS. Without going into detail, there were many factors that led to this decision. But the main reason being that it was good for me and my family.”
Despite an uphill battle, Region 7 coaches agree that Timpview will still be competitive as it landed second in the Region 7 coaches poll.
Previous assistant coach Travis Uale will try to correct course as he steps into the head-coaching role. Uale has his work cut out for him as Timpview will have a nearly complete overhaul of its starting lineup due to losing players to graduation and transfers.
Only two defensive starters return, while zero return on offense.
“The 2025 season will be an exciting year of growth and opportunity for our team,” said Uale. “We’re a young group, and many of our players will be stepping under the Friday night lights for the first time. While experience may not be our strength, hunger, effort and coachability absolutely are.
“These guys are eager to learn, willing to work, and have fully bought into what we’re building. We’re keeping things simple, leaning into what our personnel does best, and focusing on playing fast, physical and disciplined football. It may not be perfect early, but we’re confident this team will continue to grow and compete every week.”
Springville also looks to have an improved year as it landed at No. 3 in the poll. The Red Devils have the most returning starters of anyone in the region with eight starters returning on defense and offense.
Tua Naufahu, a 2024 all-state first teamer, is arguably Springville’s biggest returning weapon. Naufahu led his team last year at defensive end with 121 tackles and 14 sacks.
Springville had a middling defense and a decent offense, but its returning production could be a recipe for success.
“We will field a talented team that features a strong senior class,” Springville coach Dave Valeti said. “We will be led by our offensive and defensive lines. We return several players with playing experience, and we will lean on them as we navigate a tough preseason and region. We want to play complementary football, where we play great defense and control the clock and flow of the game on offense.”
The first newcomer on the preseason poll is Pleasant Grove, who checked in No. 4. The Vikings are coming off an incredibly rough season where it finished at the bottom of Region 3 with an 0-6 record and were 1-10 overall.
While Region 3 was a slaughterhouse, Region 7 is also among the tougher regions in the state. Still, Pleasant Grove is eager to start with a clean slate.
The Vikings return only five offensive starters and has a new head coach in Jeremy LaPan. Pleasant Grove is in goods hands with LaPan, as he has coaching experience at the University of Utah and Sacramento State.
“I’m not sure how the rest of the league looks yet, but we feel good about the talent we have at every position,” said LaPan. “Quarterback is still a bit of an unknown for us due to the injuries we dealt with in 2024, but we have several players competing hard for that starting role.
“Our running back room is deep, and we feel great about our wide receivers and tight ends,” he continued. “Up front, we have a couple of offensive linemen we’re really excited about, along with a few first-year players who have shown a lot of promise so far.
“Defensively, we have playmakers at every level. We expect the strength of our team to be an aggressive, attacking defense that sets the tone each game.”
Newcomer Spanish Fork finished fifth in the poll and is coming off one of its most impressive seasons in its 105-year history.
The Dons nearly won their first-ever state championship but was narrowly bested by Crimson Cliffs, 57-55, in the 4A state championship game.
Spanish Fork graduated most of its production and head coach Dustin Smith will have to look elsewhere to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle contending team.
“We have a lot of momentum after last season, and the fun and success we had, but we have a long way to go,” Smith said. “This is the most inexperienced team I’ve had since starting as the head coach in 2020. The optimism comes from knowing we have a group that saw what it takes to be a really good team and want to continue to build on the success at Spanish Fork.
“We’re young, but our young guys are talented, and our returning guys are hungry,” he continued. “As coaches we’re excited to see what we can do against a very competitive schedule with homegrown Spanish Fork boys.”
Gage Christensen is among the returners and will be a go-to option at wide receiver. Last year Christensen recorded 472 receiving yards on 39 receptions and scored three touchdowns. Christensen also had 58 tackles and had four interceptions at cornerback.
Maple Mountain finished sixth in the poll, and it will have to overcome a lengthy list of lost talent.
The Golden Eagles also hired a new head coach, as they brought in Harry Schwenke. Schwenke previously served as head coach for Salem Hills from 2017-19.
“We return a solid core of experienced players, including key leaders on both sides of the ball, and we’re excited about the potential of our younger athletes with experience stepping into bigger roles,” Schwenke said. “We were quite a bit behind schedule with all of the offseason changes; however, we are back on track and the boys seem to be bought into the hard-working culture that existed with the previous coaching staff.”
After serving as an assistant for 11 years, Derik Bringhurst steps in as head coach for Wasatch. The Wasps finished seventh in this year’s preseason poll.
Wasatch returns three offensive starters and five defensive starters in its campaign to improve on its fifth-place finish in Region 7 last year.
“Wasatch football is excited to compete in their last year in the 5A classification,” Bringhurst said. “We have a very tough region full of teams that have a chance at the state title. The groups that we’re the most excited about are the skill positions on both sides of the ball. We have a new head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.”
Finishing last in the poll is newcomer Payson. In 4A’s Region 8 the Lions finished last with an 0-6 record and a 1-9 overall mark.
The Lions return 13 starters, seven offensive and six defensive.
“We are excited about a strong core of experienced starters on both sides of the ball and have a promising group of underclassmen ready to step into key roles,” said head coach Brian Wall. “This team will be tested in a tough 5A region but the team is ready to compete every week.”
Region 7 projections
(Preseason rankings are based on coaches’ votes)
1. Orem Tigers
Head coach: Lance Reynolds
The Timpview High and BYU graduate has guided Orem to a 14-10 record over the past two seasons.
Coach Lance Reynolds’s general outlook
Orem is returning with a strong team in 2025. 2024 season ended with a second-place finish in Region. The Tigers look to be more well rounded as a team in 2025. The program continues to grow in numbers despite negative trends nationwide. Orem will have many weapons and threats that will make them a state contender this year.
Offensive coordinator: Mic Hixson
2024 offense: 34.42 ppg (No. 6 in 5A)
- Seven returning starters
- Spread offense
Returning offensive starters
- Kaue Akana, Sr., WR
- Tayden Kaawa, Sr., QB
- Warren Matina Sr., OL
- Maui Tonata SO, OL
- Noah Seufale, SO, OL
- Beckham Curtis, Jr., RB
- Kai Wesley, Sr., TE
- Mack Ellison, Sr., WR
Key offensive newcomers
- Livai Moala, Sr., RB
- Max Stonebraker, Sr., WR
- Taio Fano, So., OL
- Makai Gordon, Jr., TE
Defensive coordinator: Josh Arnold
2024 defense: 26.67 ppg (No. 16 in 5A)
- Six returning starters
- 4-3 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Will Rasmussen, Jr., CB
- Kaue Akana, Sr., S
- Isaac Vaea, Sr., LB
- Dylan Dye, Sr., LB
- Sesi Nelson, Sr., DT
- Moti Lavaki, Jr., DT
Key defensive newcomers
- Juni Moala, Sr., DL
- MJ Bateman, Jr., DL
- Jag Ioane, Jr., DE, LB
- Easton Kojima, Sr., LB
- Brock Hawkins, Sr., S, CB
- Parker Murray, Sr., S
- Kitiona Fetalaiga, Sr., CB
- Aisa Galeai, Sr., S
2. Timpview Thunderbirds
Head coach: Travis Uale
This Kamehameha, Hawaii, and BYU graduate is taking over as head coach for Timpview in 2024. He was an assistant coach for the program last year.
Coach Travis Uale’s general outlook
The 2025 season will be an exciting year of growth and opportunity for our team. We’re a young group, and many of our players will be stepping under the Friday night lights for the first time. While experience may not be our strength, hunger, effort, and coachability absolutely are. These guys are eager to learn, willing to work, and have fully bought into what we’re building. We’re keeping things simple, leaning into what our personnel does best, and focusing on playing fast, physical, and disciplined football. It may not be perfect early, but we’re confident this team will continue to grow and compete every week.
Offensive coordinator: Vili Tua’one
2024 offense: 36.36 ppg (No. 2 in 5A)
- Zero returning starters
Defensive coordinator: Abu Tuisavura
2024 defense: 20.18 ppg (No. 7 in 5A)
- Two returning starters
Returning defensive starters
- Trinity Toa
- Sam Hepworth
3. Springville Red Devils
Head coach: Dave Valeti
Heading into his fourth season as head coach at Springville, where he previously spent seven years as an assistant. His teams are 23-11 over the past three seasons. He played college football at Snow College and is a graduate of UVU.
Coach Dave Valeti’s general outlook
We will field a talented team that features a strong senior class. We will be led by our offensive and defensive lines. We return several players with playing experience, and we will lean on them as we navigate a tough preseason and region. We want to play complimentary football where we play great defense and control the clock and flow of the game on offense.
Offensive coordinator: Doug Bills
2024 offense: 28.83 ppg (No. 10 in 5A)
- Eight returning starters
- Pro-style offense
Returning offensive starters
- Lisiate Valeti, Sr., QB, ATH
- Cade Johnson, Sr., OL
- Max Harris, Sr., RB
- Chaste Lameta, Sr., OL
- Siaosi Folaumahina, So, OL
- Tua Naufahu, Sr., TE
- Brigham Penrod, Sr., OL
- Daniel Marquez, Sr., OL
Key offensive newcomers
- Zach Henderson, Sr., WR
- Damian Tupou, So, WR
- Siaosi Toki, Jr., WR
- Tuiono Valeti, Sr., RB
- Brigham Durfey, Jr., OL
- Sam Nadauld, Jr., WR
- Treyton Harris, Jr., RB
- McKay Caldwell, Sr., TE
- Zach McHoes, Sr., RB
- Beckett Burton, Jr., QB
Defensive coordinator: Dave Valeti
2024 defense: 26.75 ppg (No. 17 in 5A)
- Eight returning starters
- H20 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Tua Naufahu, Sr., DL, LB
- Cade Johnson, Sr., DL
- Tuiono Valeti, Sr., LB
- Stafford Small, Sr., LB
- Lisiate Valeti, Sr., DB
- Treyton Harris, Jr., LB
- Daniel Marquez, Sr., DL
- Zach Henderson, Sr., DB
Key defensive newcomers
- Braden Smith, Sr., DB
- Luke Houser, Sr., LB
- Damian Tupou, So, DB
- Siaosi Toki, Jr., DB
- Sam Nadauld, Jr., DB
- Spencer Hall, Jr., DL
4. Pleasant Grove Vikings
Head coach: Jeremy Lapan
With coaching experience at the University of Utah and most recently at Sacramento State, he’s taking over as head coach for the Vikings. He’s a graduate of Garden Grove High in California, along with Montana and Utah.
Coach Jeremy Lapan’s general outlook
I’m not sure how the rest of the league looks yet, but we feel good about the talent we have at every position. Quarterback is still a bit of an unknown for us due to the injuries we dealt with in 2024, but we have several players competing hard for that starting role. Our running back room is deep, and we feel great about our wide receivers and tight ends. Up front, we have a couple of offensive linemen we’re really excited about, along with a few first-year players who have shown a lot of promise so far.
Defensively, we have playmakers at every level. We expect the strength of our team to be an aggressive, attacking defense that sets the tone each game.
Offensive coordinator: Jeremy LaPan
2024 offense: 10.55 ppg (No. 18 in 6A)
- Five returning starters
- Multiple Spread offense
Returning offensive starters
- Ryder Huntsman, Jr., WR
- Rocky Wilcox, Sr., TE
- Linford Mcbride, Sr., OL
- Spencer Hafoka, Sr., WR
- Connor Ybarra, Jr., QB
Key offensive newcomers
- Donovan Delaney, Sr., RB
- Adam Wright, Sr., WR
- Desert Ale, Fr., RB
- Jenner Baldwin, Fr., RB
- Ethan Passy, Jr., WR
Defensive coordinator: Steve Brady
2024 defense: 31.18 ppg (No. 17 in 6A)
5. Spanish Fork Dons
Head coach: Dustin Smith
Heading into his sixth season as head coach after guiding the Dons to an 32-24 record the past five years and a runner-up finish in 2024. He’s a graduate of Skyline High and the University of Utah and founded QB Elite in 2011.
Coach Dustin Smith’s general outlook
We have a lot of momentum after last season, and the fun and success we had, but we have a long way to go. This is the most inexperienced team I’ve had since starting as the head coach in 2020. The optimism comes from knowing we have a group that saw what it takes to be a really good team and want to continue to build on the success at Spanish Fork. We’re young, but our young guys are talented, and our returning guys are hungry. As coaches we’re excited to see what we can do against a very competitive schedule with homegrown Spanish Fork boys.
Offensive coordinator: Dimitri Gomez (1st year)
2024 offense: 42.43 ppg (No. 1 in 4A)
- Four returning starters
- Spread offense
Returning offensive starters
- Gage Christensen, Sr., WR
- Levi Christley, Sr., OL
- Nixon Warren, Jr., WR, QB
- Jacob Johnson, Sr., TE, WR
Defensive coordinator: Joe Hernandez, 2nd year
2024 defense: 26.36 ppg (No. 12 in 4A)
- Five returning starters
- 4-3 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Gage Christensen, Sr., DB
- Jack Parsons, Sr., DL
- Noah Johnson, Sr., DL
- Ammon Giles, Jr., DL
- Carter Coffey, Jr., LB
6. Maple Mountain Golden Eagles
Head coach: Harry Schwenke
Taking over as head coach at Maple Mountain after previously serving as head coach at Salem Hills from 2017 to 2019, racking up a 22-12 record. He’s a graduate of Paramount High in California and Grand Canyon High.
Coach Harry Schwenke’s general outlook
We return a solid core of experienced players, including key leaders on both sides of the ball, and we’re excited about the potential of our younger athletes with experience stepping into bigger roles.
We were quite a bit behind schedule with all of the off-season changes, however we are back on track and the boys seem to be bought into the hard working culture that existed with the previous coaching staff.
Offensive coordinator: Harry Schwenke
2024 offense: 29.82 ppg (No. 9 in 5A)
- Two returning starters
- Spread offense
Returning offensive starters
- Gavin Jepsen
- Brooks Ross
Key offensive newcomers
- Kyren Jones, Jr., WR
- Aleksandr Vodoratskiy, Sr., WR
- Aiden Thayn, Jr., WR
- Gavin Miner, Sr., WR
- Daniel Bishop, Jr., OL, DL
- Brady Sullivan, Jr., OL
- Riley Honsvick, Sr., OL, DL
- Michael Davis, Jr., RB
- Sam McGeary, Sr., RB
- Cruz Serra, Sr., QB
- Cole Allred, Freshman, QB
- Frank Schwenke, Jr., RB
Defensive coordinator: Gordon Reid
2024 defense: 19.91 ppg (No. 5 in 5A)
- Three returning starters
- 4-2-5 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Uhila Wolfgramm, Jr., DE, TE
- Daniel Bishop, Jr., DL
- Nash Ferguson, Sr., LB
Key defensive newcomers
- Casen Mclay, Jr., DB
- Ethan Antonino, Jr., DB
- Kyren Jones, Jr., DB, WR
- Kael Anderson, Jr., DB
- Eli Renz, Sr., LB
- Eli Bayne, Sr., LB
- Cooper Ross, Sr., DB
- Semisi Uluave, Sr., DL
- Paul Latu, Soph, DL
- Gavin Mitchell, Jr., DB
- Tei Mauga, Soph, LB
- Jullien Ah, Hing, Sr., DL
7. Wasatch Wasps
Head coach: Derik Bringhurst
Was an assistant coach at Wasatch under Steve Coburn from 2012 to 2023, and this will be his first season as head coach. He’s a graduate of Lone Peak at SUU.
Coach Derik Bringhurst’s general outlook
Wasatch football is excited to compete in their last year in the 5A classification. We have a very tough region full of teams that have a chance at the state title. The groups that we’re the most excited about are the skills positions on both sides of the ball. We have a new head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator.
Offensive coordinator: Tyler Baird
2024 offense: 16 ppg (No. 23 in 5A)
- Three returning starters
- Spread offense
Returning offensive starters
- J Bradley, Sr., QB
- Cache Coombs, Sr., WR
- Drexton Morris, Sr., TE
Key offensive newcomers
- Ike Mitchell, Sr., WR
- Logan Duncan, Jr., WR, RB
- Ben Brand, Sr., RB
- Lance Simpson, Jr., WR
- Wyatt Washburn, So., WR
- Quinn Brockbank, Sr., WR
Defensive coordinator: Derik Bringhurst
2024 defense: 27 ppg (No. 18 in 5A)
- Five returning starters
- 4-2 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Crew Baxter, Sr., DE
- Christian Zabel, Sr., DE
- Jack Neff, Sr., LB
- Ashton Nord, Jr., LB
- Ayden Kinsinger, Sr., DB
Key defensive newcomers
- Daniel Hola, Sr., DT
- Colby Loveless, Sr., DT
- Teague Fritzsche, Sr., DB
- Ryan Vernon, Sr., OLB, DB
- Miguel Armendariz, Sr., DB
8. Payson Lions
Head coach: Brian Wall
The Payson High grad is entering his third year as head coach at his alma mater after posting an 8-15 record the past two years. He’s a graduate of UVU.
Coach Brian Wall’s general outlook
We are excited about a strong core of experienced starters on both sides of the ball and have a promising group of underclassmen ready to step into key roles. This team will be tested in a tough 5A region but the team is ready to compete every week.
Offensive coordinator: Easton Smith
2024 offense: 22.1 ppg (No. 20 in 4A)
- Seven returning starters
- Spread offense
Returning offensive starters
- Bryson Gull, Sr., WR
- David Fullmer, Sr., WR
- Bentley Myers, Sr., OL
- Jarrett Beveridge, Sr., OL
- Malakai Filimoeatu, Jr., OL
- Cade Muir, Jr., OL
- Trevyn Wall, Sr., QB
Key offensive newcomers
- Valentine Sanchez, Jr., WR
- Carson Wall, So., WR
- Hayden Jarvis, Fr., RB
Defensive coordinator: Jake Corbett
2024 defense: 37.5 ppg (No. 24 in 4A)
- Six returning starters
- 4-3 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Corbin Richins, Sr., S
- PJ Huff, Sr., CB
- David Fullmer, Sr., S
- Ty Marvin, Sr., S
- Malakai Filimoeatu, Jr., DE
- Cade Muir, Jr., DE
Key defensive newcomers
- Adrian Enriquez, Jr., LB
- Ryker Carson, Jr., LB