Just past the midway point of the season, two Utah junior college football teams are still in the running for postseason bowl bids, while Ricks Junior College of nearby Rexburg, Idaho, is hoping for a shot at the national JC title.
Dixie College, which was ranked as high as 3rd in the country earlier in the year and now ranked 11th, is 5-1 with the tough part of its schedule coming up while Snow College is 3-2-1 as it approaches the homestretch. Ricks is ranked 5th in the country and is unbeaten at 5-0.Dixie has a bye this week, while Snow is home against Scottsdale CC today in Ephraim. Ricks plays host to Spokane Falls in a non-league game.
The Rebels, who have played in a postseason bowl game five of the past six years, winning them all, are looking to make another bowl appearance this year. Dixie had hoped to have a shot at the Mid-America Bowl in Tulsa, which will pit the No. 1 and 2 teams in the national championship, but a loss to Mesa two weeks ago spoiled their chance. Now the Rebels are hoping for their fourth straight Rotary Bowl appearance Dec. 2 in St. George.
"We're a little disappointed, but we could be worse," said Dixie Coach Greg Croshaw. "We've got by far the toughest part of our schedule coming up."
The Rebels have been a running team this year behind Teddy James, a tailback out of Las Vegas, who has 627 yards and Wilson Kauvaka, a fullback from West Jordan, who has gained 350 yards.
Croshaw has tried three different quarterbacks and has settled on Tyler DeHart, a freshman from Alta.
Among the top local players for Dixie are Scott Brumfield, a 6-foot-10, 320-pound offensive lineman out of Spanish Fork, whom Croshaw calls "probably the most-recruited player we've ever had," offensive linemen Roger Horne of Davis and Jason Barker of Layton, and kicker Bill Hansen from Dixie High.
Snow is trying to get back to a bowl for the first time since 1985 when it won the national championship. After Scottdale today, the Badgers face the BYU JV, Phoenix, Dixie and Glendale to finish the season.
The Badgers have 16 Utah players starting for them, including nine on defense. Quarterback Greg Stevens and the No. 1 receiver Tyler Nielsen are both Ephraim boys.
Other top local players include Wade Christensen, a tight end from Richfield, Derek Farr, an offensive lineman from Wasatch, Scott Giles, a linebacker from Provo, Clint Christensen, a linebacker from Grantsville and Tim Simmons a free safety from North Ogden.
Coach Paul Tidwell is figuring if his team can win its remaining games it could have a shot at going to the Centennial Bowl in Rexburg. For that to happen, Ricks will need to keep winning and have a shot at the national championship in Oklahoma. Otherwise Ricks will likely get the Centennial Bowl berth.
Ricks, under former Murray Coach Ron Haun, is leading the Western States Football League with its perfect record. The Vikings like to pass the ball behind the arm of hometown product Brian Downey, who has thrown for over 1,179 yards.
Two of the top prospects on the Vikings are tight end Brian Moss who has 30 receptions and David Dixon, a 290-pound defensive lineman from Auckland, New Zealand.
Ricks doesn't have as many Utah players as in the past, but a few are making a contribution this year. Scott Walker, a defensive back from Provo, leads the team in interceptions, Todd Tuttle of Murray is the second leading receiver and Neal Gray of Lehi is a starting offensive lineman.
One big hurdle for Ricks will be Dixie next week in Rexburg. Snow and Dixie meet up Nov. 4 in St. George.