Late Flurry Pushes Tritons Past Snow in 2025 Game One Bowl

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Iowa Central Tritons (8-4) took on the Snow College Badgers (6-5) on Sunday afternoon in a rematch of the 2023 edition of the game. It was the Tritons who prevailed with a 38-24 win over Snow, claiming the trophy for the 48th edition of the Game One Bowl.

The first quarter went the way of the Badgers, as Iowa Central was held scoreless on its first three drives of the game. Snow drew first blood with running back Matt Wilson breaking a tackle and outracing the defender to the edge for a three-yard rushing touchdown. The Tritons nearly got on the board but were stopped by a stiff Badgers defense on fourth down at the two-yard line.

Both teams turned up the heat in the second quarter with six turnovers — three committed by each team — along with 27 points scored. The Tritons rolled into the half with CJ Phillip scoring a three-yard touchdown to finish a three-play, 30-yard drive to tie the game at 7-7. Two minutes later, Trevon Taylor tossed one up to Marcellus Chandler, who reeled in the ball for a 27-yard touchdown to put Iowa Central up 14-7.

Snow responded with a scoring drive off an interception from Marrio Williams Jr., allowing Joseph Brandt to connect on a 32-yard field goal to bring the score to 14-10. Snow got the ball back with three minutes on the clock and drove down the field in just two, making it 17-14 on an eight-yard rushing touchdown from Quezon Villa.

Iowa Central capped off the half with a 49-yard drive in 50 seconds to even the score at 17-17 on a 41-yard field goal from Anderson Trejo.

After an exhilarating second quarter, both defenses tightened, keeping the third quarter scoreless. Snow prevented the only red-zone appearance of the half when Salehe Koonooka-Williams forced a fumble.

The fourth quarter brought the action back in full effect. The Badgers started the quarter strong with Wilson walking in for his second touchdown of the game to take a 24-17 lead.

Iowa Central answered with a drive from its own 12-yard line, capped by a five-yard rushing touchdown from Phillips. The Tritons then made a stop on defense and regained possession. On the first play of the new drive with three minutes left, Phillips was pitched the ball as Damarcus Creecy was being tackled, and then outran all defenders for a 77-yard touchdown, making it 31-24. After a Kadarius Williams interception with a minute left, Williams' second of the game, Creecy linked with Tony Terry for a 74-yard catch and run for six, sealing the game.

The Tritons won 38-24 to secure their eighth-straight Game One Bowl victory.

The win also sealed Triton's coach Jesse Montalto's 12th straight Game One Bowl win and the Tritons' eighth overall. Iowa Central improved to 21-8 all time in the Game One Bowl, dating back to the first edition in 1978. Snow drops to 0-3 in the Game One Bowl.

Both MVP honors went to players from Iowa Central. CJ Phillip earned Offensive MVP honors after rushing for 125 yards and three touchdowns on only 10 carries. Christian Barney earned Defensive MVP with 11 tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble that he also recovered.