EPHRAIM — A furious fourth quarter rally by Snow College fell short Saturday night as Glendale College built a 22-point lead and held on for a 32-26 victory.
With the win, Glendale clinches the Western States Football League title and will likely maintain its No. 1 ranking in the NJCAA Top 20. Snow College, ranked sixth in the NJCAA going into the game, is left playing the "what if?" game.
With 1:22 remaining in the second quarter, James Pritchard, Snow's sophomore quarterback, fumbled on first and goal from the Glendale five-yard line and the Gauchos hung on to a 16-3 halftime lead. Then, on the opening drive of the third quarter, the Badger defense appeared to force an incompletion on third and long but a roughing-the-passer personal foul gave the Gauchos a first down. Glendale scored four plays later taking a 23-3 lead.
Snow's biggest mistake came in the fourth quarter when Adrian Vera, punting from his end zone, fumbled the snap and tried to throw the ball away. A Gaucho intercepted the desperation pass and pranced into the end zone for a 32-10 lead.
Snow's offense finally caught fire midway into the fourth quarter. James Pritchard passed to Alex Richards, a freshman receiver from Mt. Pleasant, for 13-yard and 28-yard touchdowns. but the Badgers were unable to recover an onside kick with 30 seconds remaining and the Gauchos ran out the clock.
Pritchard finished 11-of-21 for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Cade Cooper, a freshman quarterback from Lehi, led Snow's first touchdown drive in the third quarter. He finished 5-of-8 for 78 yards. Matt Asiata, Snow's freshman running back from Hunter High, carried 20 times for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Snow outgained the Gauchos 389 yards to 347 yards but mistakes at critical times ended hopes of a Badger upset.
Snow falls to 8-2 and will add an additional win this week because Pima College has forfeited the season. Snow will host the second annual Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl Saturday, Dec. 3 at noon in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The Badgers' opponent will be announced Monday, Nov. 14.