The Snow College football team suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals to open the 2023 season Thursday in Malakoff, Texas.  The Cardinals scored the go-ahead touchdown with 10 seconds to go to claim the 31-24 victory.
 
Both teams entered the game ranked within the NJCAA Division I Football Top-15 Rankings.  The Badgers entered as the No. 4 team in the country, and the Cardinals were slotted 15^th overall.  The Badgers were 3-2 against ranked opponents last season.
 
Snow College started quickly and took its first drive of the season 74 yards down the field to score a touchdown.  A 33-yard rush from AJ Tillman set the Badgers up at the Cardinal's 21-yard line.  On the next play, Donovan Smith found Jared Wilson in the end zone on a 21-yard pitch and catch to put the Badgers on the board, 7-0, after the extra point.
 
Snow College forced a 3-and-out on the Cardinal's first two possessions before getting the ball back for its third possession.  The Badgers gobbled up yards and marched the ball down the field utilizing over five minutes of action. They converted on a fourth-and-three to keep the drive alive which ultimately culminated with Smith finding Ethan Wood in the end zone from 24 yards out to give the Badgers a 14-0 lead with 3:01 remaining in the 1^st quarter.
 
The Cardinals used a 56-yard kickoff return to set themselves up inside the Snow College 40-yard line.  Four plays later, the Cardinals completed a 29-yard pass that went the distance and cut the lead in half, 14-7.
 
The Badgers would be held scoreless throughout the rest of the first half.  TVCC crept closer near the end of the second quarter as the Cardinals put together a 13-play, 55-yard drive.  The Badger's defense was able to stand up in a goal-line stand and force a field goal, which was good from 38 yards, bringing the score to 14-10 at the half.
 
Snow College forced a punt on the Cardinal's opening drive of the second half, but immediately gave the ball back to the Cardinals on an interception on the second play of the drive.  TVCC was set up at the Badger's 23-yard line and used two rushes and a personal foul penalty to score a touchdown and take a 17-14 lead with just under 10 minutes left in the third period.
 
The two teams exchanged punts before Snow College took over at the TVCC 48-yard line for its third possession of the half.  A pass interference call gave the Badgers an automatic first down which set up a 27-yard touchdown pass from Kamen Best to DJ Overstreet to give the Badgers the lead, 21-17.
 
TVCC punched back a few minutes later and punched in a 1-yard rushing touchdown to retake the lead to begin the fourth quarter.  Snow College responded on its next drive, once again chewing clock, and marching down the field.  A 14-play, 68-yard drive culminated with a 26-yard field goal from Bradford Willis to even the score at 24. 
 
Needing a stop and a score, Snow College forced a punt on the ensuing Cardinal's possession, but, in turn, was forced to punt on its own possession giving the Cardinals the ball back at their own 17-yard line with 3:15 remaining.
 
TVCC converted a 3^rd and 3 with a 29-yard pass play that ended near midfield. Following a 2-yard loss and a Cardinal's holding penalty, TVCC was faced with a 3^rd and 19 from their own 44.  Cardinal's quarterback Darion Peace launched one down the field into double coverage where a TVCC receiver leaped between two defenders and brought down the catch for a 30-yard completion.  A couple of rushing plays later and the Cardinals scored the go-ahead touchdown with 10 seconds to play.
 
Snow College quickly completed two passes on the next possession, but the game ended on a sack, giving the Cardinals the 31-24 victory. 
 
As a team, the Badgers gained 314 yards of total offense including 246 yards through the air.  Smith and Best combined to go 19-35 with three touchdowns between them.  Tillman led the way on the ground gaining 43 yards on 14 attempts.  Ayo Shotomide-King caught six passes for 78 yards in the loss.
 
Snow College will look to turn the page as they welcome the 2021 National Champion New Mexico Military Institute to Terry Foote Stadium Saturday night.  The game will be featured as the NJCAA Football Game of the Week on ESPN+. 
 
The Broncos were victorious in their opening match-up earning a 75-17 victory over the St. George Junior College Eagles.  Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. inside Terry Foote Stadium in Ephraim.  For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.