EPHRAIM—The Snow College Badgers still can't find their stride, losing a third straight game, this time 21-14 in Tucson to the Pima Aztecs. Snow led 14-0 before Pima scored the game's last three touchdowns - all by sophomore running back Seth Ellis - including twice in the fourth quarter. It was Pima's first win over Snow since 2002 and only the second Aztec win in the 14 games the teams have played.
It looked like it might be Snow's night as they marched down the field on their first possession to take a 7-0 lead. The drive was kept alive by a pair of fourth down conversions, the second a two-yard scoring dive by halfback Kalama Molisi a little more than six minutes into the contest.
The teams traded punts until Snow finally engineered another drive capped off when freshman Marcus Dixon plunged in from two yards out midway through the second quarter. But that was the last score the Pima defense, which had averaged giving up 34 points in its first three games, would yield on the night.
Ellis finally got the Aztecs on the board when he scored on a 27-yard run four-and-a-half minutes before halftime to cut the Badger lead to 14-7. Following a scoreless third quarter, Ellis tied the game on an eight-yard run one minute into the final period. Snow had a chance to retake the lead on its next possession, but a 45-yard Spencer Groner field goal attempt was just wide left to leave the score knotted at 14.
On Snow's next possession, Pima's defense held the Badgers deep in their own territory to set up the game winning drive as time ran down. The Badgers were forced to punt from inside their own 15, giving Pima good field position at their own 45-yard line with just over five minutes remaining.
The Aztecs moved the ball into Badger territory and an incomplete pass on third and three from the Snow 25 looked like it would force Pima to try a long field goal or send the game into overtime. But the Badgers were called for pass interference giving the Aztecs a first down at the Snow 11-yard line.
Ellis made the most of the Aztecs' second chance, running the ball untouched up the middle on the next play to give Pima its first lead of the night at 21-14. Snow had one last gasp, moving the ball to the Pima 34, but four straight incomplete passes shut the door and clinched the win for Pima.
Snow's offense, which has been unable to score more than 19 points in any game so far this year, turned the ball over only one time - a third quarter interception on a tipped pass – a big improvement over their four turnovers in each of their last two games.
Pima is now 2-2 while Snow drops to 1-3. The Badgers have a tough task trying to get back on the winning track as they return home Saturday to face Mesa. The Thunderbirds rattled off three straight wins to open the season and move themselves up to No. 14 in the NJCAA rankings, but a 58-55 loss on Saturday to Scottsdale has them also looking to get back on track. Kickoff Saturday will be at noon at Badger Stadium.
