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Sandy • Saturday's Top of the Mountains Bowl featured almost everything in football's bag of tricks — surprise onside kicks, blocked punts, a two-point conversion after a blocked PAT, flea flickers … and points. Oh, were there points.

But the most important plays of the game weren't of the flashy variety.

They were runs up the middle that ate up yards and clock, and sealed Snow College's victory at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Matt Wright carried 11 times for 48 yards and a touchdown on a 70-yard drive that ate up more than seven minutes to secure the Badgers' 48-36 victory over Iowa Western.

It was Snow's fifth Top of the Mountains Bowl victory in the past seven years.

The drive turned away a second-half comeback by the Reivers (9-2), who trailed 34-7 in the first half before storming back to narrow the deficit to 41-36.

"Their offense is pretty tough," said Snow linebacker Robert Atiga, who had a blocked punt in the second quarter. We were just trying to stop them however we can. In the second half, they came out with wide receivers everywhere."

Iowa Western quarterback Zack Stoudt threw 76 times, completing 39 for 440 yards and three touchdowns.

But Snow's Colter Smith was more efficient. The sophomore from Ben Lomond High threw for 309 yards and a bowl-record six touchdowns.

"It's always nice to get a big win," said Smith, the Badgers' offensive MVP of the game. "The way this year has gone, it's great to end it with a bowl win."

Snow (10-2) recovered a surprise onside kick, completed a double reverse option pass and blocked a punt, extra point and field goal. Iowa Western also recovered an onside kick and converted the blocked PAT into a two-point conversion when Willie Baughman picked up the ball and threw to Max Miller in the end zone.

Snow forced three turnovers and held the Reivers to just 21 yards rushing on 17 carries. —

Scoring summary

Iowa Western 7 8 14 7 — 36

Snow College 20 14 7 7 — 48

IW • Waters 8 pass from Stoudt (Dickson kick)

Snow • Brown 63 pass from Smith (Sweat kick)

Snow • Loftin 12 pass from Smith (kick failed)

Snow • M. Atiga 24 pass from Smith (Sweat kick)

Snow • Morton 13 pass from Smith (Sweat kick)

Snow • Kinikini 3 pass from Smith (Sweat kick)

IW • Singleton 3 run (Miller pass from Baughman)

Snow • Lloyd 50 pass from Smith (Sweat kick)

IW • Waters 7 pass from Stoudt (Dickson kick)

IW • Stoudt 1 run (Dickson kick)

IW • Hill 27 pass from Stoudt (Dickson kick)

Snow • Wright 9 run (Sweat kick) —

Snow College 48, Iowa Western 36

R Snow QB Solter Smith sets a bowl record with six touchdown passes as the Badgers win the Top of the Mountains Bowl for the fifth time in seven years.

• Snow's Matt Wright rushes for 48 yards and a touchdown on a 70-yard drive in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

• Iowa Western quarterback Zack Stoudt, son of former Cowboys and Steelers QB Cliff Stoudt, throws for 440 yards on 76 pass attempts.