Blue Ridge senior Jake Mexiler led the Yellow Jackets to an undefeated, state championship in 2009 and now he going to move on to the next level.  Meixler has signed to play football at NAIA school South Dakota School of the MInes and Technology.  The SDM Hardrockers are part of the Dakota Athletic Conference which includes Dakota State University, where former Yellow Jackets Steel Armstrong and Griffin Sturm briefly played last season.  Former Winslow Bulldog Stacey Burg is a current team member of the DSU team, and the team is coached by Josh Anderson, who led Payson to a perfect season in 2008.

SDM is located in Rapid City, South Dakota.  The team finished 3-5 in the Dakota Athletic Conference last season, tied for 5th.  Meixler will compete with several players for the quarterback spot, including Nick Russell who led the Hardrockers with 1890 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2009, as a sophomore.

Meixler set a Blue Ridge school record as a senior by completing 75% of his passes.  He threw for 1772 yards and 20 TD's with just 3 interceptions.  He ran the ball equally well, with 828 yards and 18 TD's, averaging 10.75 yards per rush.  Seven of his rushing touchdowns came in the 3A semifinals and championship game.  After running for four scores against Show Low in the title game, Meixler earned the 3A Offensive Player of the Year award and he was named the 3A First Team All-State quarterback..  He completed one of the greatest seasons of any Blue Ridge quarterback.