FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
ZIONS BANK TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS BOWL
INVITES TWO PERENNIAL POWERS
FOR THIRD ANNUAL GAME
Coffeyville and Snow will Match-up December
2 in Salt Lake City
EPHRAIM, Utah—November 14, 2006—The
Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl announced today that Snow College, ranked
third in the NJCAA, will meet Coffeyville College, 13th in the NJCAA, in the
third annual Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl. The game will be played at
12:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2 in Rice-Eccles Stadium located on the University
of Utah campus in Salt Lake City.
"The Kansas and Western States Football Leagues are perennially among the top
in the NJCAA and Coffeyville and Snow are perennially at the top of those leagues,"
said Kevin White, chairman of the Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl Committee.
"But our bowl isn't just about tradition - both of these teams deserve to be
here based on their performances on the field this season."
Snow
Both Snow and Coffeyville began the season ranked in the NJCAA Top 10. The Badgers
proceeded to win eight in a row (including road wins over highly ranked Glendale
and Scottsdale) en route to the number one ranking in the NJCAA and JC Gridwire
polls. Snow fell in a close one at Eastern Arizona in week nine, dropped in
the rankings and then climbed to third after winning their final two games.
Snow leads the nation in offense - averaging 463 yards and 39 points per game.
Cade Cooper, a sophomore from Timpview High, leads the nation in passing having
completed 210 of 311 passes for 2,901 yards, 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Matt Asiata, a sophomore from Hunter High, is the fifth leading rusher in the
NJCAA averaging 136.5 yards per game for 15 touchdowns. Snow also fields the
12th and 13th ranked receivers - Alex Richards with 41 catches for 525 yards
and six touchdowns and Devin Frischknecht with 45 catches for 656 yards and
six touchdowns.
Snow's defense is fourteenth in the NJCAA - giving up 99 yards rushing and 103
yards passing or 202 yards per game. Snow's defensive leaders include lineman
Junior Tea and Thor Pili, linebackers Jamison Fitt and J.D. Folsom and safety
Aric Hutchinson.
Coffeyville
Coffeyville narrowly lost their opener to Blinn College - the number one team
in the NJCAA at season's end. The Red Ravens then went on a four-game winning
streak including a 24-6 defeat of Fort Scott on the road and climbed back into
the NJCAA Top 10. A narrow loss to Butler was followed by three more wins to
clinch a second place regular season finish. Coffeyville then fell in a rematch
with Fort Scott 21-6 in the semifinals of the Kansas league championship.
The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference selected eight Red Ravens to
the post season first team - four on offense and four on defense. On offense,
Nate Guillory leads Coffeyville with 972 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was the
12th best running back in the NJCAA. Guillory was a first team selection, along
with Nate Morris at fullback, Deon Murphy at wide receiver and Joe Blaes at
offensive guard. Coffeyville averaged 307 yards per game - 189 rushing and 118
passing.
Coffeyville's defense gives up just 227 yards per game - 124 rushing and 103
passing. They're led by All Conference linebacker, Larry Asante who had 76 tackles
- 11 for a loss. He is joined on the first team by linemen, Troy Epps and Charwell
Brown and defensive back, Gary Chandler. Epps finished the season with 63 tackles,
16 for a loss including five sacks, three blocked kicks and three forced fumbles.
Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl Classic
The Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl provides a first class bowl experience
for two junior college football teams with preference given to Snow College
located in Ephraim, Utah. As long as the Badgers finish above .500 they will
host the game. Zions Bank is the title sponsor of the game and recently committed
to another three years of financial support for the event. Proceeds from the
game will go to the Snow College Foundation for general scholarships.
To purchase tickets, dial (435) 283-7026.
Tickets are $10 for adults, children and senior citizens. University,
college and high school students may purchase tickets for $5 with a
student ID. Tickets will also be available on game day approximately
one hour before kickoff in the Rice-Eccles Stadium ticket office.
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