The Snow College football team started quickly and never trailed in a 51-28 win over the Falcons of Lackawanna College on Saturday; the win hopefully retained their top four NJCAA ranking and secured their spot in the first ever national playoff.
Snow quarterback Gabe Sweeten threw three touchdown passes on the Badgers first three possessions, while the defense stopped the Falcons from making a first down. The Badgers scored on a 34-yard pass from Sweeten to Caden Leggett for 34 yards, 8-yard pass to Targhee Lambson and a 59-yard pass to Dionte Davis. Stockton Lund was perfect on all his extra points for the day.
“It was a great start for us” said Snow’s Coach Zac Erekson. “We had a good game plan and we were able to execute right from the start.”
For anyone thinking this would be a blowout the Falcons had other thoughts. Lackawanna then came back with a score in the beginning of the second quarter to cut the Badger lead 21-7. After a 35-yard Lund field goal for the Badgers to make it 24-7, the Falcons added another touchdown to cut the lead again 24-14 at the half.
“They made some adjustments in the second quarter that gave us some problems,” said Erekson. “At halftime, Coach Madison Atwell made the adjustments we needed to gate back on track.”
Snow College added another field goal and two more touchdowns in the third quarter to get the Badgers a little more breathing room. Lund kicked a 27-yard field goal on their first possession then Lambson added touchdown runs of 4 and 3 yards to end the third quarter and a 41-14 Badger lead.
“Lackawanna is a well-coached team and we had to make adjustments throughout to stay ahead,” said Erekson. “We had some key players step up and make plays for us. Gabe came in and played a great game, making good decisions. He threw it well; he made the right decisions on when to run.”
The Badgers finished their scoring on a 38 yard Lund field goal and a 2-yard run by Carson Manookin in the fourth quarter and the 51-28 Badger win.
Now Snow College plays the waiting game to see if they have done enough to hold their spot in the top four. With No. 1 East Mississippi and No. 3 Jones College each losing over the weekend, the Badgers have moved up to number two. If Snow College can maintain that position they would host the first round of the national playoffs.
