No. 13 Snow stuns No. 6 Butler in bowl game

Snow College heard time and again during the build-up to its bowl game against No. 6 Butler Community College how big, fast and talented the Grizzlies (9-2) were.

Butler featured a host of future Division I prospects who will soon be playing at schools like Nebraska, Kansas State and Arizona State. Butler entered the Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl having won three NJCAA titles over the past several seasons.

But by the time it got onto the field at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, No. 13 Snow matched its lofty opponent blow for blow in a 17-14 Badger win.

The Badgers (10-2) held Butler to 212 yards of total offense — a whopping 279 yards below their season average — and quarterback James Pritchard tossed two touchdown passes to Ryan Neeley, including the game-winning strike early in the fourth quarter.

"All we heard was how much more gifted they were," said strong safety Zeke Mendenhall, "but I think we were the better team."

First-year coach Titan Trimble ranked Saturday's win as the second-biggest in school history, only behind Snow's 1985 national championship win.

"For me, personally," said Trimble, "I really feel like this is probably the biggest win (after the national championship). (Butler) was ranked No. 1 all year long."

Trailing 7-0 midway through the second quarter, an outstanding defensive stand from Snow helped bring the Badgers back into the game.

Following a crazy incident, which included the ejection of Snow running back Matt Asiata, Butler had first-and-goal from the Badgers' 7. After a 6-yard rush by Ryan Torain on first down, Snow held Butler out of the end zone on the next three plays, including an outstanding stop from Mendenhall on fourth down.

"It was almost as if nobody wanted (Butler) to get in," said strong safety Chase Palmer, "but it wasn't for themselves. It was for the other guys."

Snow's defense seemed to feed off Asiata's ejection. Trimble charged onto the field upon learning that his star running back had been kicked out, and his defenders responded with the huge stop.

"After that happened," said Trimble, "I really felt momentum was on our side for the rest of the game."

Two drives later, Pritchard found Neeley in stride, and the Alta High graduate raced into the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown strike, evening the score at 7-7.

Butler's lead was restored early in the third quarter when Jamario Kendrick caught a 3-yard TD pass from Paul Eck.