SNOW COLLEGE TO PLAY IN INAUGURAL
SYRACUSE CARRIER DOME BOWL
November 26, 2012
Contact: Marci Larsen
Snow College
435-283-7013 (office)
435-851-1230 (cell)
EPHRAIM—It will be a match-up of the old against the new on the campus of Syracuse
University in the inaugural Carrier Dome Bowl next Saturday in Syracuse, New York.
Snow College (Ephraim, Utah), the oldest two-year college west of the Mississippi
River, will be taking on the Avengers from ASA College (Brooklyn, N.Y.) which was
founded in 1985. Snow (10-1) has been playing football since 1920; ASA since 2009.
Snow will be appearing in a bowl game for the 20th time. ASA (9-0) will be making
its first-ever post-season appearance.
Syracuse will be the furthest east Snow has ever played football. "This is an exciting
time for our program," said head coach Tyler Hughes. "To play in the Carrier Dome
against another top-ranked team is a great opportunity. We are looking forward to
it."
This fall Snow won its first outright WSFL (Western States Football League) title
since 2008. Badgers were honored not only as the Most Valuable Offensive and Defensive
Players of the Year in the WSFL (running back Breon Allen and defensive tackle Ofa
Hautau), but also Coach of the Year (second-year head coach Hughes).
Nine other Badgers joined Allen and Hautau on the All-WSFL First Team, the most to
be so honored in school history. The other first-teamers are: wide receiver Damond
Powell; offensive linemen Justin Manu and E.J. Pauni; defensive linemen Jake Miller
and Thomas Bryson; linebacker Nik Wolford; defensive back Kapena Clark; placekicker
Spencer Groner; and punter Chris Van Orden.
The Badgers lead the nation with 64 sacks, 8 defensive touchdowns and 8 safeties -
all justification for three of the four all-conference defensive linemen being from
Snow College.
The Badgers have scored 541 points, the most in school history, besting the 516 points
they scored in 2010 in 12 games. The only time the Badgers were held to under 40 points
was in their 47-30 loss at Georgia Military College in the third week of the season.
Through 11 games Snow has averaged 49.2 points per game - beating their previous record
of 44.6 in 1998.
With such gaudy numbers, one would think that the Badgers' bowl opponent would be
shaking in their cleats at the prospect of facing such a high-scoring machine. All
except for one problem - the Badgers' bowl opponent, ASA, has averaged even more points
per game this season and given up less.
ASA, champion of the Northeast Football Conference, has played nine games so far this
season (their game scheduled Nov. 3 against Louisburg was cancelled due to Hurricane
Sandy) and has outscored their opponents 451-77. That's an average of 50.1 points
scored to only 8.6 points given up. ASA has recorded shut outs in four of their nine
games, while holding opponents to an average of only 33 rushing yards and 82 passing
yards per game. Though its defense has been dominating, Snow has been vulnerable to
the big play this year, giving up an average of 17.3 points per game.
Plus, the Badgers are the underdog, currently ranked fourth in the nation while the
Avengers are ranked third. Snow will also have to travel 2,000 miles across two time
zones to get to Syracuse, while ASA will only have to travel upstate on a bus. As
far as motivation is concerned, the Avengers have a chip on their shoulder - watching
as another pair of undefeated teams, top-ranked Iowa Western and second-ranked Butler,
play for the national championship the following day in the Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar
Falls, Iowa. The Graphic Edge Bowl has been declared by the NJCAA to be the "National
Championship Game" leaving undefeated ASA out of the title picture.
This season ASA has been led by freshman quarterback Daniel Pietrangelo who has completed
64 percent of his passes for 1,439 yards and 16 touchdowns. Sophomore running back
Hosey Williams (Miami, Fla.) has rushed for 1,172 yards for an average of 130.2 yards
per game, and has scored 13 touchdowns. The Avengers' top receiver is Ouslet Volcy
with 29 receptions for 594 yards and eight scores. Head coach Dennis Orlando, Jr.
is the only football coach ASA has ever had, going 25-10 since starting the program
four years ago.
"ASA has had a terrific season," Hughes said. "Going undefeated is a big accomplishment
and we know that we need to be at our best when we take the field."
Leading the Badger offense this year, Allen has 1,634 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns,
both tops in the nation and Snow College season records. He also has three receiving
touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Christian Stewart, named second team All-WSFL, has
completed 53% of his passes for 2,599 yards and 34 touchdowns. Stewart's favorite
target has been Damond Powell who has a school record 1,082 yards receiving on 38
receptions and 13 touchdowns. Powell's 28.5 yards per reception leads the nation.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, Dec. 1. The game will be broadcast
on KMTI radio and streamed live on iHigh.com.
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Founded in 1888, Snow College serves nearly 5,000 students on its Ephraim and Richfield Campuses. With a full offering of transfer and career and technical programs, Snow College is committed to meeting the needs of Central Utah and beyond.