The #2 ranked Snow College football team had a few questions coming into the Fall 2021 season. After finishing down two points in the National Championship game played in June the Badgers had some holes to fill many of those holes were on offense and a few key positions on defense.

After their first home game of the season an 85-0 win over Gordons Fine Arts and Sports Academy, some of those questions were answered, but a few still remain.

"We knew coming into this game that we were going to have some challenges," said Head Coach Zac Erekson. "We lost one of the best quarterbacks in the nation with Garrison Beach moving on and we knew the defense would be missing some real key players so we really hoped we could get a feel for how good we can be."

The score tells a bit of that potential and so do some of the key stats, but it wasn't without some anxious moments for the Badgers. On the first play from scrimmage Snow College bobbled the hand-off between new starting quarterback Tommy McGrath and new starting running back Targhee Lambson giving the ball to the Panthers at the Snow 29 yard line.

"That was definitely not what we were expecting on our first play," said Erekson. "Obviously we knew there were some questions, but credit our players to step up after the bad start."

Step up they did as the defense came on and forced a retreat by the Panthers which not only prevented a score but pushed Gordons back -13 yards and forced a fumble on fourth down giving the ball back to the offense at the 42.

The offense then moved down the field picking up three first downs and finally scoring on a three yard run by Sione Molisi. Stockton Lund then kicked the extra point to make it 7-0 and the Badgers never looked back.

"I liked how the offense recovered so quickly after the turnover on the first play," said Erekson. "This was a tough game for the offense because they didn't get many possessions before the score was to the point that we were looking at non-starters getting time on the field."

After the Badgers scored on the Molisi run Snow College then scored on a 23 yard pass from McGrath to Taylor Larsen. But then the defense got involved on a 95 yard interception return by Kohl Hogan and a fumble scoop and score by Elijah Ervin making the score 29-0 at the end of the first quarter.

"One fo the questions we had coming into this season was on defense," said Erekson. "Coach Jan Jorgensen has put in some new twists with the defense and I honestly think as good as we were last year, we will be better this year."

The defense pitched a shutout on Saturday and posted a net minus yards total offense for the Panthers.

Snow College was led by Carson Manookin with 141 yards rushing and two touchdowns, Sione Molisi had 86 yards rushing and two touchdowns, Lambson had 85 yards rushing and a touchdown while backup quarterback Gabe Sweeten had a 47 yard run for a touchdown.

McGrath was 3-3 and a touchdown while Sweeten was 2-2 and a touchdown. Larsen had one catch for 23 yards and a touchdown and Peyton Beck and one catch for 3 yards and a touchdown.

"We still have some things to work on," said Erekson. "We have to limit our penalties and we have to work on some discipline on the field. This week will be a tougher matchup and should give us a better indication of where we are and what we need to adjust."

The Badgers will face Gila River Saturday night at Terry Foote Stadium at 7pm.