Richmond-Burton linebacker Blake Livdahl aims for first state title since 2019

Blake Livdahl is chasing a state championship for the Richmond-Burton Rockets.

Livdahl, a 5-foot-7, 185-pound senior linebacker, fullback, and long snapper, helped the Rockets defeat Princeton 42-3 on Saturday in Richmond. The win secured a first-round victory in the Class 3A state playoffs.

The team carries the motto "Unfinished Business," or UB, on their new maroon hoodies. Coach Mike Noll appends those two letters to his daily practice plans sent via the Remind platform. The phrase references the Rockets' loss to Byron in the state semifinals last year, which ended their undefeated season.

Livdahl has overcome multiple injuries to reach the playoffs. His junior season in wrestling ended after Christmas when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and damaged his medial and lateral menisci. He underwent surgery in January. In the third week of football, he was helped off the field against Marengo with an ankle injury, which caused a brief scare that his knee might be hurt again. He sat out the games against Plano, Harvard, and Woodstock North before returning for the regular-season finale against Woodstock.

"It just got rolled up on," Livdahl said about the ankle injury. "It definitely was scary [considering] what it actually felt like after the game. Having that injury and the scare that it happened again [to the right knee] was dramatic to me and my family more than anything."

The Rockets, who are 10-0, host No. 9 Manteno (8-3) at 1 p.m. on Saturday for a second-round game. Coach Noll says Livdahl helps the defense get lined up and perform well. "He makes our defense go," Noll said. "He gets us lined up and does good things."

Livdahl has taken on additional roles this season, including long-snapping on punts, extra points, and field goals. He said he is working with Coach Sean Bryan to improve that skill. During the Princeton game, Livdahl caught a 13-yard pass from quarterback Jace Nelson. A play later, Hunter Carley ran 52 yards for a touchdown. Livdahl also rushed 51 yards for a touchdown after a Princeton drive stalled.

Livdahl said his father told him it would be cool if he just wrestled after his knee injury, but he decided to keep playing football. "I couldn't do that to the team that I love," Livdahl said. "These are the guys who I've played with since sophomore year [after transferring from Harvard], and I can't do that to them now. It's my senior year. It's my last year playing football."