Box Score
EPHRAIM, Utah—Snow College started slowly, but turned on the jets halfway through the second quarter to run away from the Pima College Aztecs Saturday afternoon, 45 – 14. Pima (Arizona) took the lead 14 – 9 four minutes into the second period on a one-yard Max Shepherd to Spencer Grijalva pass, but from then on it was all Snow as the No. 9 ranked Badgers dominated on both sides of the ball to improve their record in the Western States Football League to 3-0 and 5-1 overall.
The Badgers recorded two safeties (by Jake Miller and Pasoni Tasini) to up their defensive scoring total to 48 points this season, and held Pima to only 1-of-15 on third down attempts. "We forced a lot of three and outs," said second-year head coach Tyler Hughes. "That keeps their defense on the field and tired, and that opens things up for us offensively."
Snow had a balanced attack with 209 yards rushing and 207 passing. Pima managed only 49 yards on the ground and 87 through the air.
Shepherd had the first score of the game on a 45-yard run after he faked a handoff on a dive up the middle on a fourth-and-one on Pima's first possession. Breon Allen struck right back on Snow's next possession, tying the score on a 22-yard run three minutes later.
Allen was right at his rushing average for the season, picking up 152 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns and added three receptions for 37 yards and another score. His performance against Pima puts Allen at 925 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing for the season.
Snow's defense allowed Pima's sixth first down midway through the second period, but then never allowed another first down the rest of the way. The Badgers took the lead, 16 – 14, three minutes later on a 17-yard Christian Stewart to Casey Glines pass and never looked back.
Stewart finished with 184 yards on 14-of-32 passing with three touchdowns. Besides the scoring strikes to Glines and Allen, Stewart connected with Brayden Loertscher from 23 yards out early in the second half. Karson Casteel was 4-of-4 passing in relief of Stewart for 23 yards including a five-yard touchdown to Jake Robinson early in the final quarter.
Finishing up a three-game home stand, Snow will end the season on the road in four out of the next five weeks. The Badgers scored in every quarter during their home stand while outscoring their opponents 147 – 61. Snow will play at Mesa and New Mexico Military before returning for their final home game on Oct. 27 when they host Eastern Arizona.
story by: Doug Johnson
