The Highland Rams had not lost in the Rocky Mountain Rumble since its first iteration, back in 2008.

    A three game winning streak in the event ended Saturday night at Holt Arena after Highland lost to Orem, Utah, 42-24.

    The 5A No. 2 ranked Rams drop to 1-1 for the season.

    “I don’t think it was so much them other than it was us,” said Highland head coach Gino Mariani. “I mean it looked like our first game, not our second game. … “Tonight, we were pretty off in a lot of spots. Snaps over the head, missed reads, dropped balls, you name it (and) we did it.”

    On a night when Highland’s quarterback, Neil Jewell, could never seem to find a comfort level – completing 20 of his 41 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown and one interception – the Rams’ defense was unable to solve Orem’s spread, fast-paced, offensive attack.

    Tigers’ senior quarterback Taylor Camp completed passes to six receivers, throwing for 365 yards and five touchdowns.

    In particular, Camp found his junior 6-foot-4-inch junior receiver Nolan Gray, completing 38 and 42 touchdown bombs that helped seal Highland’s fate.

    Orem jumped out early, building a 22-point lead with 7:11 left in the second quarter.

    The Rams, however, responded. From their own 45-yard line, Thad Hansen, busted around the left side of the line for 34 yards – Highland’s first big moment of the night. Two plays later, Jewell rolled to the right looking to pass, reversed fields and raced 19 yards to his left, untouched to the end zone.

    With that, Highland had the momentum and the defense picked off Camp on the Tigers’ next two possessions.

    The Rams punted after taking possession of the first interception. Freshman Greg Gwinn returned the second pick 30 yards for a TD. After the extra point, Highland had narrowed the deficit to 22-14, with just over two minutes left in the half.

    That was as close as Highland ever got, because Orem promptly took the ball back and raced 80 yards in five plays — ending with a Camp’s third touchdown of the game.

    “Give Orem credit. They came out and threw the ball well, ran the ball and did some good things,” Mariani said.

    In the second half, an active Orem defense limited Jewell to 68 yards through the air and 21 yards on the ground.

    “It was just one of those days. I guess we all have them,” Mariani said. “I’ll take the blame. We’ll be better prepared next week, put it that way.”

    Highland travels to Twin Falls Friday, kickoff is 7 p.m.

    “We got our tails kicked tonight. Hopefully, they’ll respond,” Mariani said. “You can go two ways after a loss like this. You can get better, or you can get worse. Hopefully, we’ll go get better.”