By RAY SCHWARTZ
Herald Correspondent
EPHRAIM – A 21-point explosion in the first period and a rock-hard defense paved the way as the Snow College Badgers, the nations’s third-ranked junior college team, roared to their eighth straight win, 29-7 over Scottsdale Community College of Arizona.
It was homecoming for Snow and N. LaVerl Christensen, editor emeritus of the Daily Herald, was one of five distinguished alumni of the college to be honored as an outstanding citizen in his community.
More than 6,000 fans watched the game. Coach Walt Criner’s Badgers, the only undefeated college team in the state, also scored their seventh straight win the Western States Football League, which they lead with a 7-0 record.
Snow quarterback Kevin White passed for two TDs and Trey Nicholson ran 72 yards for another six as Snow raced to a 21-0 lead in the first period.
After jumping to a 21-0 lead, the Snow defense, led by Cleve Maartman and Paul Schwenke, American Fork’s Bronco Mendenhall and Orem’s Todd Chynoweth took over and held the Arizona team to one TD which came in the second period.
Leonard Chitty booted a pair of field goals in the second half, one of 40 yards in the third period and one of 48 yards in the fourth quarter. Chitty also kicked 3 PATs for the Badgers and Snow scored a safety in the fourth period when Scottsdale’s punter Chris Dugan bobbled a snap and was tackled in the end zone.
Scottsdale scored its lone touchdown in the second period on a seven-yard dash by Kelton Lasley to climax a 51-yard drive.
White’s touchdown passes for Snow were caught by Mark Waterman for seven and 38 yards. The first TD pass was set up by a Ryan Campbell fumble recovery on the Scottsdale nine-yard line. On the second scoring aerial to Waterman, Darren Green wiped out the last Scottsdale defender to clear the way for Waterman.
On Nicholson’s touchdown run, the Alliance, Ohio player burst through the center of the line, veered to his left and outdistanced the Scottsdale defense.
Mendenhall, a cornerback, broke up at least two Scottsdale pass plays with defensive gems, while linebacker Chynoweth came up with several jarring tackles.