RICKS ACCEPTS BOWL INVITE

Glendale Community College has become the fourth consecutive team to win the Western States Football League without suffering a loss during the season.

Glendale, a 31-26 winner at Snow College Saturday, finished the season at 8-0 and 9-0 overall.Previous years have seen Snow College, Ricks College and Dixie College win the league without a loss.

The Gauchos will now host the Valley of the Sun Bowl Nov. 24 in Glendale, Ariz. An opponent is expected to be named this week.

Ricks scored with four seconds remaining to edge Mesa Community College 26-24 in Mesa, Ariz., Saturday night. The victory gave the Vikings second place in the league with a 6-2 record.

At 8-2 overall, Ricks will accept a bowl bid for the Nov. 18 Real Dairy Centennial Bowl in the Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho.

Its opponent will be Walla Walla, Wash. The same teams played last year, with Ricks winning 42-38.

Dixie College beat Phoenix College 51-7 and Arizona Western defeated Eastern Arizona 30-6 to complete 1988 league play.

Dixie and Arizona Western tied Mesa for third in the league with 5-3 records.

Dixie is expected to host the Dixie Rotary Bowl Dec. 3 in St. George. Arizona Western College also is hoping to receive a bowl invitation.

The Dixie Rebels are 7-3 overall.

Ricks quarterback Tom English found wide receiver Chris Schrade alone in the end zone from 15 yards to cap a furious 23-point fourth quarter comeback for the Vikings. The play came with four seconds left and followed confusion among players when time had unofficially expired on the scoreboard.

Dixie free safety Parker Ragsdale snagged three interceptions including a 55-yarder for a score and strong safety Caler Dalley scored twice on interceptions of 45 and 60 yards to lead the Rebels in their victory over Phoenix.