ST. GEORGE — The non-region portion of the 4A high school football season is already in the books, and its story tells a tale of disparity between the North and the South in Utah.
Defending state champion Ridgeline came to Santa Clara to play against Snow Canyon Friday night in a preview of what many said could be the state title game in November.
The Riverhawks looked primed for defeat. After going unbeaten last season and capturing the program’s first ever state championship, Ridgeline lost its first two games this year.
Bonneville beat them 12-7 to open the season and then Ridgeline lost 43-20 to Stansbury, one of the best teams in Utah.
Snow Canyon, meanwhile, pummeled Northridge 48-7 in week one before falling 7-0 on the road at Arbor View (Las Vegas) Nevada.
With senior quarterback Hunter Johnson throwing to an athletic and tall wide receiving corps, Snow Canyon had every reason to think it could handle the defending champs.
Ridgeline entered the season needing to replace the talented senior class that helped beat Dixie 45-20 to win state last November.
It was the third consecutive 4A state football title for Region 11, which saw Sky View win back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2020.
With all that background to deal with before the game, and despite a gut wrenching injury to star senior Jackson Olsen, Ridgeline beat Snow Canyon with a score that was not as close as it looks, 24-8.
“As a young team you just hope every week you just get a little bit better,” Ridgeline coach Travis Cox told St. George News after the game. “And that was kind of the emphasis, was just be us, and try and get a little bit better this week.”
Riverhawks freshman quarterback Nate Dahle found his footing against Snow Canyon. The left-hander completed 17-of-29 throws for 271 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Ridgeline scored once in each quarter and systematically wore down Johnson and the Warriors.
Cox’s 3-4 defense pressured the quarterback nearly every play, holding Johnson to a line of 20-of-26 passing for 133 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The visitors’ only heartbreak in the night, and it was huge, came midway through the game when Olsen had to exit the contest with what appeared to be an arm injury. He took off his pads and had his arm in a sling for the remainder of the night.
Olsen was unstoppable against the Warriors up until the injury. The 6-foot-3 receiver collected five passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Region 11 dominates recent 4A action
Cox did not answer directly when asked why he thinks Region 11 teams have won the last three 4A state titles in a row.
“I don’t know if they’re (Region 10 teams) that far behind,” he said. “There’s good teams throughout. There’s a lot of good teams down here. We feel like we have some pretty good teams up North.”
Ridgeline’s roster on Friday night listed 167 players. Snow Canyon’s showed 114.
Physically, Ridgeline enjoyed significant size and speed advantages against Snow Canyon, on the lines in particular.
Their defensive line rotated two mountain-sized nose tackles and two long and rangy defensive ends, and they didn’t have to blitz to put tons of pressure on Johnson.
For now, teams turn to the local rivalries that define high school football.
“You know, I think 4A this year compared to probably some previous years is a little bit more wide open,” Cox said. “So I think it’s a matter of the team that gets a bit hotter towards the end.”
“I think a lot of people are trying to figure out kind of who they are,” he added. “Our biggest thing is try to be playing really good at the end.”
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