Snow handles Mesa

MESA, Ariz. — The Snow College football team went up against No. 12 Mesa Saturday and defended its national No. 1 ranking, winning 48-17.

The victory moved the Badgers to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Western States Football League. The loss was Mesa's first of the year.

"We knew this was going to be a battle," said Snow coach Steve Coburn. "We are happy to come away with a victory."

With Snow starting quarterback Jon Eastman sidelined for the game with a broken foot, backup Houston Erbstoesser stepped in to go 16-for-24 for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Erbstoesser also ran for a score.

"Houston did a nice job managing the game," said Snow offensive coordinator Tyler Hughes. "It is important to have a quarterback with poise and he definitely had that tonight."

The game was never really in question for the Badgers. The nation's No. 1-ranked defense held Mesa to a field goal in the first half and 2 TDs in the second, limiting the Thunderbirds to 221 yards.

The Badgers scored first on the Erbstoesser run and then tacked on another touchdown on a Tu Tui fumble recovery in the endzone to give Snow a 14-3 lead.

The Badgers took a 21-3 lead into halftime following a Erbstoesser late second quarter touchdown pass to receiver Adam Frandsen.

Snow continued to put points on the board in the second half with a Soni Sotele 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, before giving up its first touchdown of the game. The Badgers bounced back quickly with a 48-yard Erbstoesser to Sam Thomas touchdown pass to make it 35-10.

The Badgers tacked on two more touchdowns and Mesa added another to finish the game 48-17.

Snow's Soni Sotele was the game's leading rusher with 154 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

Snow will play host to Phoenix on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Badger Stadium in Ephraim.