The Snow College football team suffered its first loss of the 2024 season against the reigning national champion and No. 2 Iowa Western Community College Reivers Saturday in Council Bluffs, IA. With the loss, the Badgers were pushed back two spots in the NJCAA Division I Football Rankings.
Snow College entered the matchup following a thrilling victory against No. 12 Butler Community College. The Badgers scored the game-winning touchdown with just 5 seconds left in regulation to secure the 21-14 victory.
Saturday's match with the two-time defending national champions started out promising for the Badgers. IWCC moved the ball down the field on the first possession and was set up inside the Snow College 10-yard line. The Badgers' defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs after the Reivers went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line.
The Badgers capitalized on the momentum shift. They proceeded to march 97 yards down the field and score a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. A pair of passes from Donnie Smith to Kaden Eggett ate up 74 of the 97 yards, the second of which was a 50-yard connection to set up first-and-goal from the IWCC 4-yard line. Adonis Tillman found the end zone a few plays later on a 1-yard rush.
The Reivers knotted the score just 2 and a half minutes later on a 41-yard completion that went the distance. IWCC scored again following a 3-and-out from Snow College. The Reivers used another 40+ yard pass play to enter the red zone. They would score four plays later to take a 14-7 lead.
The Badgers gained a little momentum back when the defense intercepted a pass and took over near midfield. The offense wasn't able to get any traction and was forced to punt. The Reivers missed a 53-yard field goal at the end of the 2nd quarter and the Badgers went into halftime trailing 14-7.
Snow College received the 2nd half kickoff and was able to move into Reiver territory. The drive stalled, and IWCC took over. IWCC extended the lead with a 19-yard field goal midway through the third quarter.
The Badgers responded quickly as Smith connected with Reggie Frischknecht who shook a tackle and got a crucial block, which propelled him to a 71-yard touchdown to bring the Badgers within 3.
IWCC would go back up by two scores in the opening minutes of the 4th quarter. a 10-yard rushing touchdown gave the Reivers a 24-14 lead with just over 12 minutes to play. Another 3-and-out gave the Reivers the ball back, and they used a 9-play, 74-yard drive which consumed over 4 minutes of game clock to score a touchdown and take a 31-14 lead.
With under seven minutes to play, Smith and Frischknecht connected for another long touchdown pass. Frischknecht ran a deep route down the sideline as Smith dropped in a perfect pass and the true freshman from Manti High School did the rest, going 60 yards for the score. It was not enough as the Badgers were unable to overcome the deficit and lost, 31-20.
Smith went 14 for 27 for 270 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Frischknecht hauled in five receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Frischknecht now owns the solo lead in the nation in touchdown receptions with eight. He's also third in Division I in total receiving yards. Matt Wilson led the charge on the ground as he tallied 76 yards on 12 carries.
The Badgers will now enter their final bye week of the season and prepare for the fourth and final road game in this stretch away from home. They will take on Pacific Northwest Christian College Saturday, Oct. 19 in Kennewick, Washington. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. MDT. For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.
