The boy's race hosted perhaps the most competitive field in years.
While nearly everyone across the country was waiting for the epic battle between Nico Young and Cole Sprout, Young did the least-anticipated thing, given the conditions: he went out insanely hard from the gun and gapped the field early.
Young achieved the rare feat of leading from start to finish, while Sprout battled hard with Josh Methner for the runner-up spot.
That double-hill near the final 200 meters proved lethal, however, as a chase pack chasing the chase pack of Sprout and Methner kicked late.
And among them was Dakota Ridge's Connor Ohlson, who chased the chase pack that was chasing the chase pack of Sprout and Methner.
Yes, there was a lot of chasing going on, but the victor in the chase would be the last one to kick, and in this scenario, it was Ohlson.
Young crossed in a new meet record of 14:52, and Methner held on for the runner-up spot in 15:06, and then the next five spots spanned just two seconds.
When the mud had caked dry, it was Ohlson who went on to lead Colorado on this day, as he kicked hard, passing five people in the final straightaway to finish fifth in 15:09.
Sprout was just one second and two spots back, finishing seventh in 15:10.
Dylan Schubert and Cruz Culpepper gave Colorado four in the top 20, and four All-Americans, as Schubert turned the table on his friendly 4A rival, finishing 14th in 15:20, just ahead of Culpepper's 20th place finish in 15:30.
Like Niwot, the Dakota Ridge boy's juiced that At-Large Berth for all that it was worth.
For the second consecutive year, The Boys From The Ridge nabbed a Top-10 finish on the biggest stage, finishing seventh with 236 points in a tight, tight team race that saw 72 points separating fifth from 14th.
Dakota Ridge was one of three squads in the top eight that relied on an At Large Berth to Portland.
Friendly Colorado rival Mountain Vista was just 48 points back, finishing 13th to give Colorado four squads in the top 13 across the both races.