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Show Cyan Magenta Yellow Black A10 Sanpete Messenger-Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition Wednesday, September 7, 2005 Snow win settles questions about offense and defense By John Hales Assignment editor COLORADO SPRINGS— Snow College football kicked off its season last week with the Badgers answering two of the team’s biggest pre-season questions with exclamation points. The first was whether the team’s defense would match the performance of last year’s squad. The second was whether Snow recruit Matt Asiata— who had been sought by BYU but chose to play for Snow instead— was as good an addition to the Badgers’ running game as coaches had hoped. The Badgers responded in the affirmative on both counts last Friday in a 17-10 victory over Air Force Academy Prep. Prior to the game, Snow head coach Titan Trimble addressed the defense question during a radio broadcast. He cited last year’s statistic of Snow holding opponents to an average 15 points per game, asking, “Can they [this year’s defensive line] bring the same level of play we had last year?” The d-line said yes, in spite of themselves. The Badgers not only held Air Force to 10 points, but also more or less imprisoned the Fal- cons in their own territory for most of the game, allowing Air Force into the red zone only once. Not bad for a first test of the season, but even better considering they managed it in spite of about 20 penalties against Snow, most of them on the defense. Trimble, noting the penalties in particular, said the game “showed we have a lot of work to do.” Trimble praised the defense for giving up only 223 yards to Air Force, but also noted that too many of those yards were on penalties. Considering that five of the penalties chalked up by Snow were personal fouls at 15 yards apiece, maybe as many as 100 or more of Air Force’s yards on offense were gifts from a not-quitedisciplined Snow team. But Trimble was pleased overall at how the defense performed, noting two sacks from sophomore linebacker Brett Madsen, two turnover recoveries that resulted in scores, and defensive coaches player of the game Ryan Jensen. The offensive Player of the Game was Matt Asiata, which gives an answer to the second question. The running back out of Hunter High School carried the ball 27 times (out of 51 total rush carries) for 126 yards (out of 225 total rushing yards). “The running back position was the biggest question mark we had on offense,” Trimble had said. After last Friday’s game, though, the “Asiata question,” now becomes the Asiata Factor. Trimble said that with Asiata’s contribution, Snow football should see a 60-to-40 passrun ratio. “That’s about opposite what it’s been in the past,” he said. “You don’t have to throw the ball 30 times to win anymore,” Trimble continued, adding that with more of a run game, Snow will probably post a lower passcompletion percentage, but there will be more yards per catch. But as good as Asiata was, it was quarterback James Pritchard who got things done for Snow. Pritchard runs scored both Snow touchdowns. Snow’s other points—one field goal and two PATs—came from the foot of Adrian Vera. Trimble praised the team’s offense for taking care of the ball and for shielding Pritchard from a tough Falcon defense. “[Pritchard] made good decisions with the ball,” he said, “and the o-line gave up zero PHOTO COURTESY SNOW COLLEGE / GARY CHIDESTER Sean Matagi sacks Air Force Prep’s quarterback and forces a fumble during Snow’s seasonopening 17-10 win. The team answered questions about the offense and defense with good results on both sides of the ball. sacks and did a great job protecting him.” He also noted that the offense committed no turnovers, though he acknowledged there were problems a couple of times transferring the ball from center to quarterback that need to be ironed out. The biggest question now is whether or not the answers to the first two will remain consistent throughout the season. The first test of that will be this Saturday when the Badgers meet the Bulldogs of Georgia Military College at Badger Stadium. In two games this season, the Bulldogs won one 17-14, and lost one in overtime 14-17, causing Badger coach Trimble to say, “It’s gonna be a dog fight. Expect a low scoring game.” Gunnison volleyball struggles in four early games By Mitch Peterson Staff writer Gunnison High graduate Alacia Satterfield has earned a spot on the Snow College softball team. Gunnison softballer joins Badger ranks By Mitch Peterson Staff writer EPHRAIM—Former Gunnison Lady Bulldogs multisport star Alacia Satterfield has won a spot on the Snow College softball team. Satterfield played catcher, infield and also pitched last year for the Bulldogs. Badgers coach Kelly Schoppe says Satterfield will probably play outfield and do some catching for Snow. “Alacia works extremely hard and pushes the other girls,” Schoppe says. “She has an awesome attitude and is very passionate about the game.” Satterfield says she’s excited to continue her career and already likes what she sees in this year’s Badger squad. After just a week of practice, “we’re already starting to gel as a team,” she says, and adds that “everyone is so good at this level.” Satterfield also played basketball and volleyball for the Bulldogs. MOAB—The Gunnison Lady Bulldogs volleyball team is off and running this year with a tough early schedule, including a couple of grueling trips for road matches. The Bulldogs opened the season in Blanding with a Region 12 match against the defending state champion San Juan Broncos and met the same fate as most teams that make that journey—a loss to the pe- Tennis (Continued from A9) On Thursday the Hawks squared off against the Juan Diego Soaring Eagles and were soundly beaten. Despite a mighty effort, Toni Garlick lost 6-1, 6-0 in first singles. Carlee Earl, in second singles, lost a heartbreaker 7-6 (2), 6-3. Earl’s games were long and difficult, and although she played well, she just didn’t finish. Playing third singles, Whitney Ericksen lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Ericksen, the only varsity player who went into split sets, fought hard in every point but to no avail. First doubles, Kristine Busby Gunnison rennial 2A favorites. Last Saturday, they headed east on I-70 again, this time to Moab for a region match with the Grand Red Devils. This one was close but the Devils came away with a hard-fought, threegame win. In between those two region contests, the Bulldogs hosted the Kanab Cowgirls and Wayne Badgers in non-region action, and although they lost both matches, fourth year coach Lindy King’s inexperienced team displayed some solid and Diana Robison lost 6-0, 6-1. Busby and Robison played hard, but Juan Diego’s serves and returns got the best of them. Courtney Mehew and Valerie De Mill played second singles and lost 6-3, 6-4. Mehew and De Mill played with a lot of heart but their opponents were just too strong. In extra matches, Natalie Workman and Kim Heaps were the lone winners with a score of 6-4. “I’m afraid our streak of 10 region championships in a row is in jeopardy. Juan Diego is just so tough that the race this year is for second place in our region,” commented coach Jeff Ericksen. skills against Kanab, and showed character when they rallied late to pressure the Badgers, a top-notch 1A squad. Gunnison started well against Kanab, but some Bulldogs errors and some accurate hitting by Kanab’s tall, frontline players led to a three-game win for the Cowgirls. After a day of practice, the Bulldogs played more consistently against Wayne, pushing them hard for three games. When Wayne scored the first six points of game three, King called time out to talk things over with her Bulldogs, and they responded, clawing their way back to take the lead at 12-11, thanks in part to some big kills by sophomore Terra Despain and junior Sam Coulter, and to seven serves in a row by senior Karlie Jensen. The Bulldogs eventually held a 21-18 lead, but the Badgers rattled off the last seven points for the 25-21 game-three win and a match victory. In addition to her serving skills, Jensen creates chances for the Bulldogs with back-line digs and passes, and gets points for the team with blocks at the net. “Karlie is a good defensive back row player, and her spike has really improved,” says King. “She’s very consistent for us.” Despain has a bunch of kills and service aces already this season, and the Bulldogs will rely on her steady allaround game throughout the year. Senior setter Jessica Hansen is playing her first year of organized volleyball. “She may not have a lot of skills early because of her inexperience,” says King. “But she’s come a long way. She works really hard.” Another senior who didn’t play last year, Jenna Whitney, should give the team some depth in the back row. Junior Lisa Bartholomew had solid games last week with her setting skills, while sophomore Breann Winters proved that her tricky serve will be tough to handle. The Bulldogs travel to Monroe Tuesday for a region match against South Sevier (results unavailable), then host Green River in a non-region match tomorrow night. (Continued from A9) Ì V iÌ° Ê> `Ê>ÊÀiÃiÀÛi`ÊÃi>ÌÊ Ê«> `Ê}>ÌiÊ>` Ãà iÌÊ"vv Vi°® V `Ê/ > ÀiiÊà ÜÃÊÀiµÕ Ài `ÃÌ À> vÊÌ iÊà ÜÊ>ÌÊÌ iÊ >ÞÊ iÊ` ÊÌ Ê Ê>Ì Û> >L i °ÕÌ> ÃÌ>Ìiv> À°V ÊÊ ÀÊ`iÌ> ÃÊÛ Ã ÌÊÜÜÜ ,ÊÎÓ{Ç® ÀÊV> Ên䣮ÊxÎn much to work with.” Gunnison’s defense further Rhett Jackson said of Mellor. demonstrated it is worthy of reAnd even though Gunnison spect when it ended two latemade some sloppy defensive plays in the first half that led to two Wild- game drives by Richfield with an cat scores, Richfield has to respect interception by Chad Avery and a defense that kept its potent pass- a much-deserved sack by Brandon Olsen. ing game grounded. Richfield’s quarterback unA Gunnison defensive misdoubtedly also gained a measure cue allowed Richfield quarterback Mike Costa to find a wide- of respect for Gunnison, particuopen Jordan Barney for a 70-yard larly for Bulldog Jake Childs, who touchdown pass at 9:26 of the spent much of the game in Richfield’s backfield, flushing second quarter. On Richfield’s ensuing pos- Costa out of the pocket and completing or session, assisting in another Coming up for the Bulldogs: sacks. pass to Gunnison B a r n e y The South Sevier Rams at recorded went for a Gunnison on Friday, Sept. 9 at t h r e e s c o r e . 7 p.m. sacks, and T h i s the team’s t i m e , constant pressure rendered the however, the Wildcat receiver Wildcat pass game ineffective. was anything but wide open. Five Gunnison committed two Bulldogs had a chance to bring fumbles, both of which were reBarney down but failed to wrapcovered by Richfield. One of up, allowing Barney to scramble those resulted in the Wildcats’ for a 54-yard score. “That’s something we’re go- final score, a 1-yard run at 8:34 of the third quarter. ing to work on,” says Jackson. Mellor scored the winning All in all, however, Jackson touchdown at 1:03 of the third says that Gunnison’s defense did quarter with a 3-yard scramble to a good job at keeping the Wildthe outside. Dalley also scored ancats contained. “We did a great job against other touchdown at 10:52 of the the run,” says Jackson, “If you fourth quarter. Gunnison’s defense will get have good run defense and you’re tested this week in their homecomnot giving them anything over the top, an offense doesn’t have SEAN HALES / MESSENGER PHOTO Bulldog Guy Mellor leans in for a score during Gunnison’s 2719 victory over Richfield last week. Gunnison’s offense, which produced nearly 300 yards rushing, was led by Ben Dalley with two touchdowns and over 120 rushing yards. ing match-up against the South Sevier Rams. Much like Richfield, South Sevier has an explosive passing game, which bodes well for the Bulldogs since their passing defense proved itself against Richfield. South Sevier racked up 82 points in their first two games, with only four touchdowns coming on the ground. Those games, however, were against 1A Milford and Parowan. In the Rams’ first game against a region opponent—last week versus North Summit— South Sevier could only tally two scores for 13 points. According to Jackson, his team just needs to keep improving to keep racking up wins. Still, region games are just around the corner and the 2A North Region will not be a cakewalk. “We know what we can do,” says Jackson. “We just have to stay hungry.” |