GAME NOTES
 

• The Snow College football team will culminate homecoming week by welcoming St. George Junior College to Ephraim Saturday.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. inside Terry Foote Stadium.

 

• The Badgers were originally scheduled to play the US Air Force Preparatory Academy, but due to a cancellation, will take on the Eagles instead.

 

• Snow College defeated the Eagles when the two teams met earlier in the season.  The Badgers collected a 45-3 victory in the first-ever meeting against STJC Sept. 9.  In that matchup, the Badgers gained a season-high 537 yards of total offense while scoring in all four quarters to earn the win.

 

• Snow College is coming off a tough 20-13 loss against Iowa Western Community College.  The Badgers surrendered 10 second-half points while being held scoreless to drop the game to the No. 2-ranked team in the country.

 

• The Badgers outgained the Reivers by 70 yards of total offense and held a 13-10 lead at halftime but were unable to score in the second half and dropped their fourth straight match to the Reivers.

 

• Snow College dominated time of possession against the Reivers controlling the ball for over 37 minutes of game action.  The Badgers pace the nation in time of possession averaging nearly 35 minutes of ball control per game.

 

• The Badgers are also one of the best teams in the country at third and fourth-down conversions.  They are second overall in both total third and fourth-down conversions.

 

• The Eagles enter the weekend matchup with a 2-4 overall record. They have collected victories over the Ogden Jets (39-7) and Community Christian College (38-0). 

 
LAST TIME OUT: The Snow College football team suffered a heartbreaking 20-13 defeat at the hands of Iowa Western Community College Saturday in Ephraim.  The defeat is the first home loss for the Badgers in two years.
 
The Badgers entered the weekend riding a four-game winning streak.  They defeated Georgia Military College 33-30 in overtime last weekend in Milledgeville to improve to 4-1 overall this season.
 
IWCC entered the weekend with a perfect 6-0 record and as the reigning NJCAA National Champions.  The Reivers have also had plenty of success against the Badgers historically having won each of the previous three meetings between the two teams.
 
Things started off well for the Badgers as they scored on their second possession.  The drive started with a pair of seven-yard completions which moved the Badgers inside the Reivers 40.  Two plays later, Donovan Smith connected with Tyrique Carter who found the end zone from 29 yards out giving the Badgers a 7-0 lead.
 
The Badgers forced and recovered a fumble on the ensuing Reivers drive and took over at the IWCC 43-yard line.  Snow College moved down the field and was set up with 1^st and goal at the 1-yard line to begin the second quarter.
 
The next snap was fumbled and recovered by IWCC at the 1-yard line, thwarting the Badger's attempt to go up by two touchdowns.  Fortunately, on the following play, Stockton Bramwell picked off a pass from IWCC's Hunter Watson and the Badgers regained possession at their own 46.
 
The Badgers would move the ball to the Reivers 25-yard line but were stopped on fourth down and IWCC took over possession.  The Reivers responded and drove the ball down the field and cut the Badgers lead to four after converting a 33-yard field goal, bringing the score to 7-3 with just over six and a half minutes to play.
 
Snow College wasted no time in extending its lead and would score on its next possession.  A 42-yard kickoff return set the Badgers up near midfield.  Jared Wilson caught two passes on the drive, one of 15 yards and the second a 29-yarder in which he beat his defender and waltzed into the end zone.
 
The teams exchanged punts before the Reivers would cut into the lead once again before the half.  They moved the ball down the field in just 59 seconds and scored a touchdown on a 20-yard pitch and catch to cut the lead to 13-10 for the Badgers at halftime.
 
Snow College would go scoreless in the second half for the first time since the last time these two teams met. IWCC would tie the game early in the third quarter.  The Badger's first possession lasted just 39 seconds and IWCC took over inside Badger territory.  The Reivers were only able to gain 20 yards but made a 40-yard field goal to even the score at 13.
 
IWCC took the lead for good on their next possession.  They needed only two plays and a 15-yard penalty to score on a 35-yard touchdown pass to take a 20-13 lead.  Snow College threatened to score a few times but had its best chance at the end of regulation.
 
The Badgers used 11 plays and over five minutes of game clock to march down the field.  They were set up inside the red zone with just over a minute left.  Two incomplete passes and a 6-yard rush set up 4^th and 4 from the 14-yard line. 
 
Smith lofted a pass to Jared Wilson in the corner of the end zone.  Wilson leaped and appeared to come down with the ball.  Terry Foote Stadium erupted, but the pass was ruled incomplete, and the Reivers took over with a minute to play.  
 
The Badgers were unable to stop the clock enough times and IWCC was able to run the remaining seconds off the clock to claim the 20-13 victory.
 
Smith threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns while Carter caught seven passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.  The Badgers as a team outgained the Reivers by 70 yards and held possession for nearly 15 more minutes of game action.  
 
Snow College now turns its attention to the US Air Force Academy Preparatory School for Homecoming week.  The Badgers will host the Huskies in Ephraim Saturday.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. inside Terry Foote Stadium.  For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.
 
BREAKING DOWN THE SCHEDULE: Snow College will face a total of 11 opponents during the 2023 season including the defending champion IWCC.  The Badgers are scheduled to face five NJCAA preseason top-15 opponents including No. 15 TVCC, No. 13 GMC, No. 1 IWCC, No. 14 Lackawanna, and No. 9 Garden City Community College.
 
Following the matchup with the Cardinals, the Badgers will return to Ephraim to begin their home schedule against the 2021 National Champion New Mexico Military Institute Sept. 2 at 7:00 p.m.
 
The Badgers will welcome a new opponent to Terry Foote Stadium in the newly formed Junior College partner St. George Eagles.  The St. George Eagles are the first private Junior College and "Post Graduate" team in the state of Utah.  They were formed from the USA Collegiate and The Coaches Team Foundation, and 2023 will serve as their first season as a program.  The Badgers will host the Eagles Sept. 9.
 
Snow College will play back-to-back road games Sept. 23 and 30 against Dodge City Community College and GMC.  The Badgers were victorious in their lone meeting against DCCC earning a 38-14 victory Dec. 5, 2015, in Hutchinson Kansas. 
 
The Badgers will begin a four-game home stretch that will span the entire month of October beginning with the reigning National Champion and NJCAA preseason No. 1-ranked IWCC Oct. 7.  Snow College will host the US Air Force Academy Preparatory School the following week.  The first-ever meeting between Snow College and Pacific Northwest Christian College will take place Oct. 21 in Ephraim.  The Badgers will wrap up their home slate of games against Lackawanna College Oct. 29.
 
Snow College will take on GCCC Nov. 4 in Garden City, Kansas before heading out on its longest trip of the season with a matchup against Monroe College in New Rochelle, New York to conclude its season Nov. 11.
 
ON THE SIDELINE: Erekson will once again be on the sideline for the Badgers as he enters his fourth season as the head coach.  Erekson has compiled a 24-5 record for Snow College in his tenure including a remarkable 14-1 record at home.  In Erekson's first season as head coach, he led the Badgers to an 8-0 regular season finish and a trip to the National Championship game.  In 2021, the Badgers returned to the NJCAA DI Football Playoffs following an 8-2 overall record.  Before coming to Snow College, Erekson served as the Athletic Director and Head Coach at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City.  Before his tenure at Skyline, Erekson Coached high school football throughout Texas for eight years.  Erekson coached at 5A Abilene Cooper in Abilene, Texas where his team went 12-2 in 2011. 
 
Erekson will be joined on the sideline by Defensive Coordinator Jordan Pulou (Missouri S&T; second season), Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coordinator Trevor McFalls (Southern Utah University; second season), Defensive Line Coach Kyle Murray (Utah Tech University; second season), Running Backs Coach Hunter Batten (Lamar; first season), Tight Ends Coach Lanny Owens (McMurray; first season), and Wide Receivers Coach Neil Pau'u (Brigham Young University; first season).
 
UP NEXT: Snow College will continue its four-game home stretch as it takes on Pacific Northwest Christian College next Saturday in Ephraim.  The game will be the first meeting between the Gladiators and the Badgers. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. inside Terry Foote Stadium.  For video streaming, live stat, and ticket information, visit snowbadgers.com.