FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cade Cooper Throws for Five Touchdowns
to Lead the Offense Over the Defense  

EPHRAIM, Utah—April 24, 2006-—Snow’s offense defeated the defense 59-49 on a sunny spring day in Badger Stadium Saturday. Several hundred people were treated to an early look at what the Badgers may look like this fall – Coach Steve Coburn’s first regular season as head coach. The game featured the Snow offense versus the Snow defense.

“We wanted to accomplish two things in spring ball – identify who will be our key players and raise the effort and expectations of the offense to match what we’ve seen on defense the past few seasons,” said Coburn. “I think we did that. There is plenty of work to be done but plenty of reasons to be optimistic and excited.”

Reason number one may be Cade Cooper. The freshman, who played an average of two possessions a game in 2005, solidified his place as first-string quarterback and a leader of the team. Cooper threw five touchdowns for over 300 yards Saturday – including a game-clinching touchdown pass to Kimball Burton with two minutes remaining.

“There could be bombs going off at Cade’s feet and he wouldn’t know it,” said Coburn. “We put a lot of pressure on him this spring and he reacted remarkably well.”

Cooper also completed touchdown passes to Jordan Washburn, Matt Hadfield, Devin Frischknecht and a 65-yard screen pass for a score to Matt Asiata.

“We learned this spring that Frischknecht will be a playmaker at tight end. We’ll run a lot of offense through him. Matt Hadfield has perhaps improved the most since last season and Asiata has been terrific,” remarked Coburn. “Colt Mund has also made himself a much better player through winter and spring workouts. We’ll have a lot of weapons in the fall.”

Coburn also complimented the offensive line and singled out Tyrell Curtis and Luke Bair as players who needed to perform well in the spring and did. They join mainstays from last season: Scott Hunter, West Potter and Curt Jensen.

“We know we can run so it was important for me to see improvement in the passing game this spring,” said Tyler Hughes, Snow’s offensive coordinator. “Our passing attack is improving. I’m optimistic that by fall we’ll have a balanced offense that can attack a defense a lot of ways.”

To make the game interesting, Snow coaches designed a point system that rewarded the defense for good play. For example, if the offense was held to three downs, the defense earned two points. A fourth down stop was worth two points and any stop that resulted in a punt was worth one point. In addition, a turnover was worth three points.

Speaking of defense, the play of the game may have been Chris Muehlmann tipping and then intercepting a pass and running for a touchdown early in the second half. The play seemed to ignite the defense, which only gave up one touchdown in the final half.

“I thought we hung our heads a bit in the first half and stopped playing fundamental football. We made some mistakes but we also have to credit the offense. There are some playmakers on that side,” remarked Justin DeCol, Snow’s defensive coordinator. “I really got into the defense at halftime and they responded. The effort was there the entire game but we played fundamentally sound football in the second half.”

Coaches singled out Jamison Fitt and Chad Gochis at linebacker, as well as Sean Matagi on the defensive line and Luis Alvarez at cornerback as defensive standouts.

While many “players” have been identified in spring ball there will be an infusion of freshman talent in the fall. Fitt, a starter at middle linebacker, related his plan for maintaining a starting position.

“It’s just how hard you work – that’s often the difference between first, second and third team,” said Fitt. “It’s an elite thing to come to Snow College and play football. There is a lot of talent here but our success this fall will be dictated by how hard we work in the summer and the condition we come back in.”

Snow opens the 2006 season on Saturday, August 26 at home against Air Force. A winning season will culminate with a third consecutive visit to the Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl.

Snow College, founded in 1888, serves approximately 3,000 students at its Ephraim campus. The college provides general education and applied technology programs leading to Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Pre-Engineering degrees, and certificates of completion in a number of occupational areas.  Once owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Snow College became a state college in 1932.

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