DEFENSE SAVES THE DAY
by Adam Mason

Badgers Take Pima 21-13

Tucson, AZ-It wasn’t quite the team they have played in past years, but No. 7 ranked Snow College (4-0, 6-1) beat a fighting Pima team (0-4, 0-6) on Saturday 21-13.

Last year the Badgers played Pima Community College in Ephraim and gave the Aztecs a thumping 71-0. This year was a much different team, according to head coach Steve Coburn.

“Coach (Patrick) Nugent has brought something here that hasn’t been present in years past,” Coburn said. “That never quit, never die attitude and once you let them go, they get explosive.”
Snow College quickly jumped out 7-0 on their first scoring drive, but would not score again until the third quarter on a four yard TD pass from sophomore quarterback Quinn Mecham (Timpview High School) to freshman tight end Drew Robinson (North Summit High School).

“The offense didn’t play very well,” Coburn stated. “We didn’t have a good practice Wednesday or Thursday, so that means we didn’t have a good day Saturday, but that has to go on the back of the coaches.”

The Snow College offense also struggled down the stretch and needed the defense to come to the rescue. With 11:52 in the fourth quarter the Aztecs were faced with a fourth and long when freshman linebacker Aaron Corbiere tackled the kicker at the Aztec 10 yard line, which led to a Snow touchdown to make it 21-0.

The Aztecs still would not quit as they capitalized off of three Badger turnovers in the fourth quarter to eventually make it 21-13 with just over seven minutes left.

“You can’t turn the ball over,” Coburn said emphatically. “We got to learn to finish ball games. You give a good team the ball three times, they’re going to take advantage of it.

Snow’s defense had five sacks in the game. None bigger than sophomore defensive line Isley Filiaga (Timpanogos High School) coming with 2:17 to put the game away for good.

Quinn Mecham completed 13 of his 25 passes for 166 yards including two touchdown throws and a rushing touchdown. Sophomore running back Tyson Church (North Sanpete High School) had 18 carries for 135 yards.

Snow will now begin a three game home stand starting with No. 12 ranked Eastern Arizona.

“We need everyone back home to come cheer us on,” Coburn said. “Because we got the meat of our schedule these next three or four games.