GAME NOTES:
The Snow College football team will play its final road game of the regular season against New Mexico Military Institute Saturday at 2:00 p.m. inside the Wool Bowl in Roswell, New Mexico.
 
The Badgers are coming off a 20-14 loss to Blinn College Oct. 3. The Badgers held a 14-13 lead after three quarters, but a fourth-quarter touchdown from the Buccaneers handed the Badgers their third loss of the season.
 
With the loss, the Badgers fell out of the NJCAA Division I Football Rankings. They currently sit fifth in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference standings at 2-3 overall.
 
The Badgers suffered the six-point loss despite outgaining the Buccaneers. It is the first time this season the Badgers have lost a game in which they outgained their opponent. They are 42-6 under Head Coach Zac Erekson when outgaining opponents.
 
Snow College did not record a sack against the Buccaneers. It is the second consecutive game the Badgers have not recorded a sack. After recording seven sacks in the first game of the season, the Badgers have only recorded four sacks in the following five games. They have not recorded a sack since Sept. 19 against Trinity Valley Community College
 
The Badgers have won the time of possession battle in all six games this season. Snow College is possessing the ball for an average of 35:08 per game, over 10 minutes more than opponents.
 
The Badgers will be coming off a bye in their matchup against the Broncos. They are 9-2 under Erekson when coming off a bye, including a victory earlier this season against Cisco College.
 
NMMI enters the matchup with a 3-4 overall record and a 1-4 record within SWJCFC play. The Badgers are averaging 31.6 points per game while surrendering 25.1 points per game to opponents.
 
The Badgers are 21-3 all time against the Broncos and have won five of the previous six meetings. Snow College earned a 35-18 victory in their last meeting against NMMI Nov. 2, 2024, in Roswell.
 
BADGERS ON THE AIR: All Snow College home games this season will be broadcast by SnowTV. They will air on the SnowTV YouTube channel as well as on CentraCom channel 10. Home games will also be simulcast on the radio on KMTI 650 AM.
 
Tanner Wilkinson, who is in his second season as 'Voice of the Badgers,' will be providing the play-by-play for all games broadcast by SnowTV this season. Greg Sterner, who is entering his 6th season on the broadcast, will provide the color commentary for all home games. Snow College. Audio-only broadcasts will be available for select road games throughout the season.
 
All broadcasts will begin with a pregame show approximately 20-30 minutes before kickoff and will include exclusive coverage of the game and an interview with head coach Zac Erekson. Post-game shows will begin immediately following the conclusion of the game and will last approximately 15 minutes.
 
Live stats will be provided for all home games as well as a number of road games during the season. The link to live stats will always be provided at snowbadgers.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT: A fourth-quarter turnover and a late goal-line stand proved to be the difference as Snow College suffered a 20-14 defeat to Blinn College, Saturday in Brenham, Texas.
 
The Badgers outgained the Buccaneers 252-233, recorded 21 first downs and held the ball for more than 36 minutes. However, Snow College committed two turnovers and came up empty on four fourth-down attempts.
 
Snow College received the opening kickoff and marched 72 yards in 10 plays. Dylan Story connected with Makai Peterson for 32 yards to move the ball to the Blinn 30-yard line. Jadyn Buckner later gained 10 yards on third and 10 before Aquaylis Jordan scored on an 11-yard run.
 
Ian Sanches converted the extra point to give Snow College a 7-0 lead with 11:29 remaining in the first quarter.
 
Blinn moved the ball to the Snow College 28-yard line on its opening possession, but the Badgers stopped a fourth-and-3 rushing attempt to force a turnover on downs.
 
The Buccaneers tied the game with a 16-play, 91-yard drive that began late in the first quarter. Blinn converted a fourth-and-3 attempt and later benefited from a Snow College targeting penalty before scoring on a 4-yard run. The extra point tied the game at 7 with 12:21 remaining in the second quarter.
 
Snow College responded with a drive that consumed nearly seven minutes. The Badgers converted three third-down attempts and advanced to the Blinn 4-yard line. Jordan was stopped for losses on consecutive plays before Story completed a pass to Grayden Dumas at the 4. An intentional grounding penalty ended the possession on fourth down.
 
The Badgers regained possession at the Blinn 43-yard line following a short punt. Story connected with Buckner for 15 yards, but Blinn intercepted a pass on the next play and returned it 58 yards to the Snow College 20.
 
The Buccaneers capitalized on the turnover, scoring on a 1-yard run with 59 seconds remaining in the half. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving Blinn with a 13-7 lead.
 
Joseph Brandt pinned the Buccaneers at their own 1-yard line with a 77-yard punt, and three defensive stops allowed Snow College to regain possession at the Blinn 27 with three seconds remaining in the first half, but Sanches' 44-yard field-goal attempt was wide left.
 
Snow College's defense created the first major momentum swing of the second half. Fale Atuaia forced a fumble on Blinn's opening possession, and Jaden Manwaring recovered it at the Buccaneers' 49-yard line.
 
The Badgers converted the takeaway into points. Buckner broke a 17-yard run to move the ball to the Blinn 21 before a face mask penalty placed it at the 8. Tala Taulapapa carried the ball on the next two plays, scoring on a 4-yard run. Sanches made the extra point to give Snow College a 14-13 lead.
 
The defense protected the advantage by forcing a punt and a turnover on downs on Blinn's next two possessions. The second stop came when the Buccaneers threw an incomplete pass on fourth and 7 from the Snow College 31.
 
The momentum shifted on the first play of the fourth quarter when Blinn intercepted Story at the Snow College 32-yard line. The Buccaneers needed two plays to score, using a 25-yard pass and a 7-yard touchdown run to take a 20-14 lead.
 
Snow College crossed midfield on its next possession but was unable to overcome a 12-yard loss. The Badgers got the ball back at the Blinn 41 after another short punt and leaned on Taulapapa, who carried eight consecutive times.
 
Taulapapa gained 35 yards to move the ball to the 6-yard line. Facing fourth and 1, he was stopped for no gain, allowing Blinn to take over with 4:15 remaining.
 
The defense forced another punt and gave Snow College one final opportunity at the Blinn 49 with 1:50 remaining. The Badgers advanced only 4 yards before an incomplete pass on fourth and 6 ended the threat.
 
Taulapapa led Snow College with 75 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Buckner added 63 yards on 14 attempts, while Jordan rushed for 26 yards and a touchdown.
 
Manwaring and Caleb Darthard each recorded 11 tackles. Sau Tafisi added 10 tackles, while Kaleb Miller finished with six tackles and two tackles for loss.
 
UP NEXT: The Badgers will wrap up their 2026 regular season at home against Navarro College Saturday, Oct. 24.
 
The Bulldogs are currently 5-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play. They sit in second place in the conference standings.  They will travel to take on Tyler Junior College this weekend in Tyler, Texas. With a win, the Bulldogs will secure second place and host the first round of the SWJCFC conference tournament. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. inside Terry Foote Stadium. For video streaming and live stats information, visit snowbadgers.com.