SANDY — Eighth-ranked Snow College beat third-ranked Grand Rapids Community College 41-37 in the Top of the Mountains Bowl on a snowy Saturday, marking the Badgers' first bowl win since 2006.
"This win gets us back on track," said head coach Steve Coburn. "We dubbed this game as a program game. We needed to win this for our program."
Coburn predicted special teams would be a major factor in the game. He was right, as it was his team that made the big plays at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Badgers (10-2) stopped five PATs, including one two-point try by Grand Rapids at the end of the first half.
"We just showed that we can come together," said sophomore quarterback Quinn Mecham (Timpview High School). "Grand Rapids is a good team. This was just a fun game to play in."
Mecham threw for 352 yards and four touchdowns on the game. Tyson Church (North Sanpete High School) had a big game for Snow, as he had 13 carries for 61 yards and added a touchdown run. He also added seven receptions for 69 yards with two touchdown catches.
Church got Snow off to a good start, scoring on a 2-yard run in the first quarter.
However, Snow had trouble scoring in the red zone the rest of the first half. In the second quarter, GRCC's defense held them to two field goals, while GRCC took the lead into halftime 18-13.
"We've been there before," Coburn said. "It was very calm in the locker room (at halftime)."
Snow was taking on the sixth-ranked total offense in the nation — Grand Rapids averaged 462 yards per game. Snow gave up 468 yards in total offense on Saturday, but the Badger offense responded with 481 yards.
"Grand Rapids is a good offense," said sophomore defensive back Gavin Jones. "We really came together like brothers. When our team was depending on us, we came through."
On the first drive of the second half, Grand Rapids (9-2) had a pass completion that was fumbled. Snow then recovered the football and its offense capitalized off the Raiders' turnover with a 19-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Mazi Ogbanna, making it 20-18 for Snow. Snow held onto a 27-24 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Badgers scored on their first drive of the fourth quarter, going up 34-24 with 12:13 remaining. The Raiders then scored two unanswered touchdowns to go up 37-34 with 4:25 remaining in the game.
Then with about 2:40 remaining, Snow had to start a drive on its own 4-yard line. Snow eventually drove down the field for a 9-yard touchdown pass to Church with 42 seconds left.
This season marks the fourth straight year that Coburn has won 10 or more games as Snow's head coach.
"We couldn't go 9-3 on the season," Coburn said. "We needed to go 10-2 and that's what we did."