Final field goal clinches victory for Snow Badgers over Tyler
EPHRAIM—Ian Sanches kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired Saturday, capping Snow College’s final drive and giving the Badgers a 26-24 victory over Tyler Junior College at Terry Foote Stadium.
Messenger photo by Kyle Parry.
Tyler took its first lead of the game with 2:43 remaining when Luke Ullrich connected with Caleb Spadone for a 17-yard touchdown, putting the Apaches in front 24-23. Snow started its final possession at its own 18-yard line and immediately lost 9 yards on a sack, but the Badgers kept the drive alive and moved into Tyler territory with the help of two pass-interference penalties and an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty.
Jadyn Buckner then carried three times for 9 yards, leaving Snow with fourth and 1 at the Tyler 24. After timeouts by both teams with three seconds remaining, Sanches converted from 41 yards as the clock ran out.
It was Sanches’ second field goal of the night. He connected from 52 yards with 3:31 remaining in the second quarter, a kick Snow College Athletics reported as a school record. The field goal gave the Badgers a 16-7 lead and was Sanches’ second kick of at least 50 yards this season.
Snow controlled the scoreboard early. Dylan Story capped the opening possession with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Grayden Dumas for a 6-0 lead. The Badgers then stopped Tyler twice in Snow territory, first on a Meeks Falatea interception and later on fourth down.
Early in the second quarter, Story found Denver Fauntleroy for a 50-yard touchdown on third and 18, extending the advantage to 13-0. Tyler answered with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Ullrich to Bradyn Walker.
Falatea intercepted Ullrich again on Tyler’s next possession. Snow gave the ball back on the following play, but Caleb Darthard forced a fumble and Wesley Valgardson recovered it. Sanches’ 52-yard field goal followed later in the drive. Tyler closed the half with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Ullrich to Camron Vines, cutting Snow’s lead to 16-14.
The Badgers pushed the margin back to nine in the third quarter. Buckner finished a six-play, 70-yard drive with a 28-yard touchdown run, giving Snow a 23-14 advantage. Falatea added his third interception of the game later in the quarter, and Tyler missed a 46-yard field-goal attempt.
Tyler cut the deficit to 23-17 on Aidan Moore’s 24-yard field goal in the fourth quarter after recovering a Snow fumble. The Apaches then drove 90 yards for the go-ahead touchdown before Snow answered with Sanches’ winning kick.
Tyler outgained Snow 445-333, including 265 rushing yards, but the Badgers forced four turnovers. Snow finished with 151 rushing yards and 182 through the air.
Buckner carried 31 times for 155 yards and a touchdown. Story completed 16 of 37 passes for 182 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Dumas caught four passes for 40 yards and a score, while Fauntleroy’s lone reception went for the 50-yard touchdown.
Falatea finished with three interceptions and six tackles. Darthard led Snow with 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while Kolter Stuart recorded 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
The victory was the 50th of head coach Zac Erekson’s Snow College career. He became the fourth coach in program history to reach 50 wins, joining Steve Coburn, Paul Tidwell and Robert Stoddard.
Snow improved to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in Southwest Junior College Football Conference play. The Badgers will travel to Brenham, Texas, to face Blinn College Saturday at 2 p.m. MDT at Cub Stadium.