POCATELLO, Idaho -- There's a good probability Ricks College will win its first national championship in football tonight.
Top-ranked Ricks (10-0) has a title-deciding showdown with second-ranked Butler County (Kan.) Community College (11-0) in the Real Dairy Bowl at 7 p.m. in Idaho State's Holt Arena.By virtue of their loftier ranking and the proximity of their Rexburg campus, the Western States Football League champion Vikings have to be considered favorites to claim the NJCAA crown that's eluded them. They finished ranked No. 2 in the nation in 1981, '86, '92 and '94.
"We're playing for a national championship, and that brings to the surface the great tradition at Ricks," said Vikings coach Ron Haun, who is the winningest coach in juco history (150-34-2) but has never won a title.
Their future after this weekend isn't quite so bright, however.
Just two weeks ago, athletic directors from the Western States Football League agreed at the last minute to keep the football conference alive for at least one more year.
The six Arizona schools had threatened to form their own league because of disparities between them and Ricks, Dixie and Snow. The Arizona schools were concerned with travel costs, size of rosters and coaching staffs, and "grayshirting," the process that allows players to enroll in school before an LDS mission without wasting eligibility.
Some of the athletic directors convinced the group to explore options to help ease inequities and keep the league functioning. They'll meet again in two weeks. Had the WSFL disbanded -- or if/when it does -- the future would be bleak for football programs at Ricks and the Utah junior colleges.
"The word was that the Arizona schools didn't want to participate in the WSFL; they didn't want Ricks in because of our dominance," Ricks athletic director Garth Hall told the Scroll, the school newspaper. "I think that (feeling) has been shifted and we're all now focused on what we can do to save the league. . . . I need to emphasize that we're still in a fragile state right now."
Ricks started the season ranked No. 3, but it moved up to the top spot after whipping the Utah All-Stars 63-0 the first week. Since then, they've downed five teams who have been ranked in the Top 15 this season. Ricks has outscored its opponents 301-78.
They'll likely get matching rings, too, if quarterback Ryan Harris has another of his outstanding performances. He's had a superb year, throwing for 2,063 yards and 20 touchdowns while completing a school-record 63.3 percent of his passes.
The Vikings will also depend on running back Steve Later, a Brighton High alumnus, who has school records in scoring (126 points) and touchdowns scored (20) this season.
Butler, which won the Jayhawk Conference, counters with a smash-mouth type of football. The Grizzlies' most dangerous weapon is tailback Rudi Johnson, who netted 1,423 yards rushing and scored 13 TDs.
GAME NOTES: The game will be broadcast live in Utah on KSRR 1400-AM . . . Eleven Ricks' players were named to the Region 18 All-Star first team: Steve Later (RB), Cory Woolstenhulm (TE), Teag Whiting (OL), Bart Teuscher (OL), James Walker (OL), Mike Clark (K), Jared Lee (DB), Grant Prior (DB), Keith Conners (LB), Junior Ioane (LB) and Kurt Wallin (DL) . . . As usual, the Ricks roster is loaded with Utah talent. The Vikings have 22 players from the Beehive State.