GAUCHOS GASH BADGERS 32-26

by Rick Pike

Glendale Ends Snow's Title Aspirations

EPHRAIM, UTAH-November 5, 2005-A furious fourth quarter rally by Snow College fell short Saturday as Glendale College built a 22 point lead and held on for a 32-26 victory. With the win, Glendale clinches the Western States Football League title and will likely maintain their number one ranking in the NJCAA Top 20. Snow College, ranked sixth in the NJCAA going into the game, is left playing the “what if?” game.

With 1:22 remaining in the second quarter, James Pritchard, Snow’s sophomore quarterback, fumbled on first and goal from the Glendale five-yard line and the Gauchos hung on to a 16-3 halftime lead. Then, on the opening drive of the third quarter, the Badger defense appeared to force an incompletion on third and long but a roughing-the-passer personal foul gave the Gauchos a first down. Glendale scored four plays later taking a 23-3 lead.

Snow’s biggest mistake came in the fourth quarter when Adrian Vera, punting from his endzone, fumbled the snap and tried to throw the ball away. A Gaucho intercepted the desperation pass and pranced into the endzone for a 32-10 lead.

Snow’s offense finally caught fire midway into the fourth quarter. James Pritchard passed to Alex Richards, a freshman receiver from Mt. Pleasant, for 13-yard and 28-yard touchdowns in the final stanza but the Badgers were unable to recover an onside kick with 30 seconds remaining and the Gauchos ran out the clock.

Pritchard finished 11-21 for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Cade Cooper, a freshman quarterback from Lehi, led Snow’s first touchdown drive in the third quarter. He finished 5-8 for 78 yards. Matt Asiata, Snow’s freshman running back from Hunter High, carried 20 times for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Snow’s offense actually outgained the Gauchos 389 yards to 347 yards but mistakes at critical times ended hopes of a Badger upset.

Snow falls to 8-2 and will add an additional win this week because Pima College has forfeited the season. Snow will host the 2nd annual Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl Saturday, December 3 at noon in Rice-Eccles Stadium. An opponent for the Badgers will be selected and announced Monday, November 14.

The Snow College games can be heard locally on KMTI-Am 650 and right here on SnowBadgers.com