Badgers come up short in 20-14 loss at Blinn

By Robert Stevens

BRENHAM, Texas—Snow College moved the ball inside the Blinn College 10-yard line with a chance to retake the lead in the fourth quarter, but a fourth-down stop helped the Buccaneers hold on for a 20-14 win Saturday.

The Badgers finished with more total offense, more first downs and nearly 13 more minutes of possession than Blinn, but two interceptions and four failed fourth-down attempts kept Snow from converting those advantages into a road victory.

Snow outgained Blinn 252-233 and recorded 21 first downs to the Buccaneers’ 18. The Badgers ran 75 offensive plays and controlled the ball for 36 minutes, 20 seconds, but finished 0-for-4 on fourth down and scored on two of four trips into the red zone.

Snow struck first after taking the opening kickoff at its own 28-yard line. Quarterback Dylan Story connected with Makai Peterson for a 32-yard gain during the 10-play, 72-yard drive, and Aquaylis Jordan finished it with an 11-yard touchdown run. Ian Sanches’ extra point gave the Badgers a 7-0 lead with 11:29 left in the first quarter.

Blinn tied the game on a 16-play, 91-yard drive and then took advantage of Snow’s first turnover late in the second quarter. The Buccaneers intercepted Story and returned the ball 58 yards to the Snow 20. Four plays later, Bryson Batts scored from 1 yard out to give Blinn a 13-7 halftime advantage.

Snow’s defense helped turn the game back in the Badgers’ favor early in the third quarter. Fale Atuaia forced a fumble on Blinn’s opening possession and Jaden Manwaring recovered at the Buccaneers’ 49.

The Badgers turned the takeaway into an eight-play touchdown drive. Jadyn Buckner broke a 17-yard run, and Tala Taulapapa eventually scored from 4 yards out. Sanches converted the extra point to put Snow back in front 14-13 with 9:54 remaining in the third.

The defense kept Blinn off the scoreboard for the rest of the quarter, but another interception changed the game on the first play of the fourth. Blinn took possession at the Snow 32 and needed only two plays to regain the lead. A 25-yard pass set up Lorenn Johnson’s 7-yard touchdown run, giving the Buccaneers a 20-14 advantage.

Snow later put together its best chance to answer after taking over at the Blinn 41. The Badgers handed the ball to Taulapapa on eight consecutive plays, and he gained 35 yards to reach the 6. On fourth-and-1, however, Blinn stopped Taulapapa for no gain with 4:15 remaining.

Snow’s defense forced another punt and gave the offense one final possession at the Blinn 49 with 1:50 to play. The Badgers gained 4 yards before an incomplete pass on fourth-and-6 ended the drive.

Taulapapa led Snow’s rushing attack with 75 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Buckner added 63 yards on 14 carries, while Jordan finished with 26 yards and a touchdown. Snow rushed for 159 yards as a team.

Story completed 9 of 25 passes for 93 yards with two interceptions. Peterson led Snow’s receivers with 38 yards on two catches, including the 32-yard reception on the opening touchdown drive.

Manwaring and Caleb Darthard led the defense with 11 tackles each. Sau Tafisi recorded 10 tackles, while Kaleb Miller finished with six tackles and two tackles for loss.

The loss dropped Snow to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in Southwest Junior College Football Conference play. The Badgers have a week off before traveling to Roswell, New Mexico, to face New Mexico Military Institute on Saturday, Oct. 17, at noon MDT.