Snow and Phoenix both edged their opponents Saturday to share the early lead in the Western States Football League standings.
Snow outlasted Arizona Western 30-29 in Ephraim, Utah, while Phoenix slipped past Scottsdale by a 16-15 score in Phoenix.In non-conference action, New Mexico Military Institute thumped Ranger (Texas) JC 43-33 in Roswell, N.M., and Ricks rolled over Walla Walla (Wash.) 36-3 in Walla Walla.
Chad Fotheringham passed for 368 yards and three touchdowns to lead Snow, connecting with Mitch Berg on scoring strikes of 36, 15 and 24 yards. Illy Allen led Arizona Western, gaining 139 yards on just four runs, including touchdown scampers of 54 and 71 yards.
Phoenix kicked a 39-yard field goal with less than two minutes to play to pull out victory. Tony Thomas scored on a 2-yard run for Phoenix. Terrance Brown scored on a 57-yard punt return and Boo Riley on a 1-yard run for Scottsdale.
New Mexico Military rushed for 225 yards against Ranger, led by Rickey Weaver with 90 yards on eight carries, including a 60-yard touchdown run. Darion Jones scored on a run of 37 yards and a returned punt 81 yards for another score.
Kameron McCluskey rushed the ball 13 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 53 yards and a score to lead the Vikings, who rolled up 376 yards of total offense. Ben Cahoon also had eight catches for 118 yards and one TD for Ricks.