SNOW HOPES TO END ON TOP
by Maggie Thach
Salt Lake Tribune

No. 8 Badgers Face No. 3 Grand Rapids Michigan

Snow College's dream of playing for a national championship really slipped away during the last game of the regular season, when the Badgers lost to Arizona Western for the second time this year.

But Snow's bowl game still has merit.

The No. 8 Badgers will face No. 3 Grand Rapids Community College of Michigan in the Top of the Mountains Bowl today at Rio Tinto Stadium at 12 p.m.

"It's a great opportunity for us to end on a high note," Snow College coach Steve Coburn said. "We need to win this bowl and send these older guys off in the right direction and the program in the right direction."

It is Snow College's sixth straight appearance in the bowl and the Badgers are looking to end a two-year losing streak. Snow College hasn't won a bowl game since 2006.

"It's been a long time since we won a bowl game," said wide receiver Mazi Ogbonna. "But this week is going to be different."

Grand Rapids is going to be a big obstacle to overcome. The Raiders are undefeated at 10-0 and earned their No. 3 ranking by having an offense that averages 462 yards and a defense that gives up just 273.

But the Badgers will be a handful, too. The defense has been tough all season and the team has held opponents to less than 100 rushing yards a game. Quarterback Quinn Mecham leads an explosive offense. He has thrown for 2,739 yards and 36 touchdowns this season.

"There's definitely a chip on our shoulders," Mecham said. "That

Arizona Western game was frustrating. We want to show what we can do."