MILLVILLE — To say the Riverhawks were motivated heading into the 2025 high school football season was, quite frankly, a bit of an understatement.

You see, Ridgeline was still smarting a bit from its 21-14 loss to Spanish Fork in the semifinals of the 4A State Championships in 2024 — a setback that snapped its 12-game winning streak. It was the third straight season the Riverhawks lost in the semifinals.

Quarterback Nate Dahle and company were determined to avoid that same feat this past fall and boy did it show. Ridgeline capped off a 14-0 season with a 56-0 triumph over Green Canyon in the 4A championship game. The Riverhawks won their four playoff games by 59, 46, 26 and 56 points, plus beat all 14 of their opponents in ’25 by at least 20 points.

“We just came to work every day,” Dahle said. “I mean, best on best in practice and everyone was just going as hard as they could every single day to just get better to win that final game.”

The senior has been Ridgeline’s starting signal caller ever since Week 2 of his freshman year and he refused to falter when his team made it to the title game. Dahle was remarkably efficient on the turf at Rice-Eccles Stadium as he completed 81.0 percent of his passes (17 of 21) for 284 yards and four touchdowns, plus rushed for 30 yards and a trio of TDs on six attempts. Indeed, the Millville native accounted for seven touchdowns on a combined 27 passes and rushes against a solid Green Canyon defense.

“Yeah, I mean, losing in the semifinals three years in a row and then finally getting it done the last year, it was just amazing,” Dahle said. “I don’t know how else to explain it.”

It was a fitting conclusion to a special high school career for the son of Mike and Cari Dahle. No. 8 racked up 12,464 yards passing during his time at Ridgeline, which is the second most in state history behind former Jordan High great Austin Kafentzis’ 12,929. Dahle also ranks third among all Utah prep quarterbacks all-time in TD passes (128), second in completions (842) and fourth in attempts (1,366).

Dahle played his best football as a senior for a loaded Ridgeline squad as he completed 70.5 percent of his passes for 4,005 yards and a whopping 54 TDs, compared to only six interceptions. He also rushed for 454 yards and 13 scores. Dahle ranked first among all signal callers in the Beehive State regardless of classification in TD passes and third in passing yards.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder was a first team all-state performer game after game this past season for the Riverhawks and is the Herald Journal All-Valley Player of the Year.

“Yeah, Nate obviously, whenever you can start as a freshman, that’s a rare thing,” answered Ridgeline head coach Travis Cox when asked how special of a prep career Dahle had. “And I think one of the most impressive things was we still won a lot of games. Even when he was a freshman we made it to the semis and every year up until (this) last year where we made it to the finals and won it. So, being able to start him as well as a lot of his teammates at a young age and still win games, I think that speaks to the level of talent of him and the rest of that age group that really kind of carried us for so long.”

Dahle has evolved a great deal as a player since first stepping on the field as a freshman. For starters, he had added 40-45 pounds of muscle. However, it’s his improved leadership abilities that Dahle takes the most pride in.

“I feel like I have evolved that way,” said Dahle, whose team went 44-8 when he was their starting QB. “I mean, obviously, my body has matured, but just being a leader of the team and winning my teammates over and having them have confidence in me is I feel like a huge part of my game.”

Cox concurred wholeheartedly.

“His leadership from his junior year to senior year was remarkable,” Cox said. “He really kind of took that to heart and he galvanized our team, and we were a really close-knit team, from the seniors all the way to down to the sophomores and a few of the freshmen. But I thought his leadership was great and then just his decision-making got better and better each and every year, and just the command of the offense. … This past year I thought he just made great decisions all the time and this past year I think the key was doing it in big games and big moments, and I think that kind of set him apart his senior year is making big plays in big games.”

Dahle showcased a strong and accurate left arm during each of his four seasons with the Riverhawks. His ability to make plays with his feet, though, wasn’t fully utilized until his senior year.

“You know, it’s funny,” Cox said. “He always had good feet, we just didn’t want to run him. But I think this last year we ran him a little bit more when it was kind of called upon, but he’s always been a good runner and it’s something that I don’t really believe in a lot as a coach is running your quarterback, and so whenever he did run it made me a little bit nervous. But we always knew he was a good athlete and there were those games where it didn’t matter, we were going to run him. It was just part of the game plan and we figured at some point you’ve got to let him go and utilize all of his talents, and I think that’s what we did this past year.”

Dahle first started playing football in the third grade and it quickly developed into his passion. The future Weber State University player also grew up playing basketball and baseball, and he has been a fixture on Ridgeline’s varsity baseball team ever since he was a sophomore. Dahle, who helped lead the Riverhawks to a pair of Region 11 titles in baseball, was even the team’s closer on the mound as a freshman.

When did Dahle, who was actually a running back before transitioning to a QB, first start thinking football could be a big part of his future?

“I would say it’s always been a dream and kind of seventh, eighth grade I was like, ‘OK, I’m getting pretty good at this, I’ve gone to a couple of mini bowls, I think I can really (excel) in this aspect of life,’” Dahle said.

Dahle’s primary focus now is helping the Riverhawks contend for a state title in baseball. His focus will then immediately shift to playing football for the Wildcats. Dahle signed back in December, which is before standout Corner Canyon High head coach Eric Kjar — who is well known for helping develop quarterbacks — was chosen to take over the Weber State’s program.

“I signed just knowing that a lot of my teammates could go there with me and it’s a great program,” said Dahle, who was at one time committed to play for Eastern Washington, which, like Weber State, competes in the Big Sky Conference. “And then when coach Kjar got signed, it was just the cherry on top and it was just awesome to hear that.”

Dahle will be joined on Weber State’s team by fellow Ridgeline teammates Cooper Clark, Coen Richards and Hunter Knighton. Knighton will serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before enrolling.

“You hear from all of these other D-I athletes that it’s such a grind and that it’s so hard to go (to that level),” said Dahle, who helped the Riverhawks average 51.5 points per game as a senior and threw for more than 200 yards in every contest. “And it’s nice knowing that it will be hard, but I’ll have friends that I already know there and we can also make more friends on the team.”

Cox can’t wait to see Dahle play at the next level and is confident his skill set will translate well.

“You know, (he has a) big arm, he understands the game of football very well, he’s really accurate,” Cox said. “… He understands protections as well as anyone, and he changed protections all of the time for us. So, I think having the mental side down (is a big deal). We run a pretty complex offense with a lot of different formations and motions and concepts, and I think that, even though it may be called differently in college, he can just process so much information so fast, and he’s had to do it for so many years. And I think all of those reasons will make him a great college player.”

Make no mistake, though, Cox will miss having Dahle on his team.

“He was so good to so many people in our program at school, and is just a really good leader and a fun kid to be around,” Cox said. “A great competitor, but just a really good kid.”

Graham Livingston, Sr., WR, Ridgeline

Livingston capped off a special high school career with an unforgettable senior year. The track & field star — he was the 4A state champion in the 200-meter dash as a junior — ranked first in the entire state of Utah regardless of classification in receiving yards (1,636), TD catches (21) and receiving yards per game (136.3), despite missing two games while recovering from an injury.

Livingston, like Dahle, was a four-year varsity player for the Riverhawks and, like Dahle, is a fixture in the state record books. The future BYU player is first all-time in receptions (313), second in receiving yards (4,980, behind only current NFL star Puka Nacua’s 5,226) and tied for third in TD catches (50).

“I think the best thing about Graham was just his work ethic,” Cox said. “And his stats and all that, his records, speak for themselves. But if you want to make it to the next level — and that was Graham’s ambition for so long — and I think his work ethic just to make him a premier athlete really is going to be significant for our whole entire program for so long because he did everything that he needed to do to become just a special player. And I think so many people in our program saw what it took for him to be great, and so he’s just a reflection of just great hard work, you know, natural talent, but his work ethic is just really what he’ll be remembered for.”

No. 11, the All-Valley Player of the Year as a junior, racked up more than 100 yards receiving in 10 of his 12 games as a senior. The first-team all-state performer also hauled in double-digit receptions in four outings and accounted for multiple TD catches in eight contests.

Krew Jones, Jr., DE, Ridgeline

Jones was a nightmare matchup for opposing offensive linemen in each of his three seasons at Ridgeline. Jones, who is built like a Greek god, accounted for 80 tackles, including 26.0 for a loss, 14.5 sacks, 29 quarterback hurries, three forces fumbles and one fumble recovery for a TD as a junior.

No. 40 is currently the highest rated prospect in the entire state and has pledged his commitment to SEC program Oklahoma. For his efforts, Jones was selected as the Utah Gatorade Player of the Year, plus a first-team all-state selection as a junior. He will play his final season at Orem High.

“Krew’s a special kid, a special player,” Cox said. “Obviously, he’s got a lot of natural talent, but I think the most unique and special thing about Krew is his work ethic. He works harder than anybody, and even after the offers started coming, he never took a day off, he never took a practice off, he doesn’t take a play off in practice. And so I think that’s an important thing for our team to see was just his love of football, love to be great, love to work hard. No one worked harder than him, so I think that’s a unique thing in today’s world, especially when he had already gotten so many offers and he’s won so many different awards. … His goal is to make it to the NFL, is really what drives him, and I think it was fun to witness it first hand.”

Jones was also a very capable playmaker on the offensive end of the ball for Ridgeline as a fullback and tight end in each of his three seasons. He caught two TD passes and produced eight two-point conversions as a junior.

Drake Sage, Jr., RB/LB/P, West Side

Sage rarely — if ever — left the field as a junior for the Pirates, who captured yet another district championship and advanced to the semifinals of the 3A state playoffs.

No. 22 was arguably the best running back in 3A this past season as he rushed for 1,204 yards in just nine games, highlighted by 205 yards on 25 attempts against fellow 3A power Declo. Sage accounted for 15 total TDs and four two-point conversions, for good measure en route to garnering first-team all-state honors.

Sage was also a difference maker for the Pirates at linebacker and other positions as he contributed with 77 tackles, 8.0 TFs, 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception. West Side’s vaunted defense shut out two opponents during the ’25 campaign, limited two others to single-digit scoring and four others to 20 or fewer points.

Additionally, kicking to Sage was always a risk, as was evidenced by his 95-yard kickoff return to the house to open the game in the quarterfinals of the 3A playoffs against West Jefferson. Indeed, Sage, who is one of West Side’s best basketball players, could do it all for the Pirates. He was also their punter this past season.

“Drake can play just about any position on the field,” WS head coach Tyson Moser said. “Offensively, he’s a great back and receiver and punter. Defensively, he is that hybrid linebacker that is asked to stop the run and cover receivers in the passing game. Depending on the scheme for any given week, Drake could be a linebacker, corner or safety. His versatility not only had him on the field for every offensive and defensive snap, but also all special teams.”

Noah Fiefia, Jr., RB, Ridgeline

Fiefia’s debut season at the varsity level was certainly a memorable one as he was unstoppable in several games, highlighted by a 201-yard, two-touchdown outing on just 14 carries against Sky View.

No. 30 racked up 1,014 yards on the ground and averaged 7.7 yards per carry this past season. The second-team all-state selection also caught 26 passes for 344 yards and accounted for 16 total TDs. The athletic and powerful 6-1, 205-pounder never carried the ball more than 17 times in any game, thus showcasing how many weapons the Riverhawks had during the ’25 campaign.

“He had a great year and our running back situation, we had three really good running backs and he probably got half of the carries then he probably normally would have gotten because of the talent we had in the backfield,” Cox said. “And then also just with Nate and Graham, there were just so few balls to go around, and so the fact that he was able to perform the way that he did is a testament to him and the guys up front. And we knew we had something special in Noah. He’s a really strong, big, athletic kid, worked really hard, can catch the ball really well, so we knew what we had in him, and it was good to get him out there and get some carries for him and get going a little bit. He was a huge factor in our success and, yeah, it didn’t surprise me at all.”