Spanish Fork Stuns Top-Seeded Ridgeline in 4A State Semifinal

In an electrifying showdown at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday night, Spanish Fork High School, the fourth-seeded underdogs, delivered an impressive 21-14 upset over top-seeded Ridgeline High School in the 4A state semifinals. The matchup witnessed an intense end-to-end battle as both teams entered the match with robust offensive records, each averaging over 40 points per game.

Brock Jacobson, a standout senior for Spanish Fork, played a pivotal role in the victory. With only 23 seconds remaining, Jacobson executed a decisive 9-yard touchdown run to secure the win for his team. «I was going to go to the pylon, but I decided to just go in, lower the shoulder, Ashton Jeanty-style and just pound the ball down,» Jacobson mentioned, referring to his inspiration from the Boise State star.

This victory marks Spanish Fork’s first appearance in the 4A championship game in the school’s history. Coach Dustin Smith commended his team’s performance, attributing the success to both offensive and defensive strategies, despite the freezing temperatures impacting gameplay. «There were a couple of drives where we got within the 20, and got a bad snap, an offsides or a bad play,» Jacobson added, emphasizing the team’s resilience. «But we just had to keep rolling. Coach always says, next play—just play the next play, because you never know what’s going to happen.»

The game saw significant contributions from Spanish Fork’s Kaden Vest, who ran for 100 yards and scored a touchdown, and McKay Smith, who threw for 137 yards despite an interception. Spanish Fork’s defense proved crucial, particularly in the second half, limiting Ridgeline to just 88 yards. Defensive players like Cael Cabreros, Kal Roberts, and Jacobson himself made significant tackles, showing a robust defensive line.

Ridgeline’s offensive effort was led by JT White, who rushed for 128 yards and scored a touchdown. Quarterback Nate Dahle also contributed, with 136 yards passing and a touchdown. However, their momentum was stunted by critical penalties and Spanish Fork’s unyielding defense.

With this victory, Spanish Fork advances to face the winner of the upcoming semifinal between Sky View and Crimson Cliffs. The championship game is scheduled to take place next Thursday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.