For Ricks College, the Real Dairy Bowl Dec. 2 finished much the way that the regular season did: successful, but ultimately disappointing. Playing the 11th-ranked team in the country, Snow College of Ephraim, Utah, the 14th-ranked Vikings couldn't hang on to a late lead, losing 29-26.

The Vikings were ranked second nationally to start the year after 1994's perfect 11-0 season and had hopes of earning a national title. A surprising 32-23 loss to Glendale Community College in the third week of the season ruined the team's title aspirations. In the Real Dairy Bowl, much like the regular season, things looked like they may go Ricks' way, but just didn't quite work out as hoped.Much of the credit for the Snow victory can be given to the Snow College's returned-missionary quarterback, Joe DuPaix, who served in the Colombia Barranquilla Mission. The former prep from Skyline High School in Salt Lake City led his squad to two touchdowns in the last five minutes of the game to earn the Real Dairy MVP award and help the Snow College Badgers clinch a national top ten finish with a 9-2 record. All this in a year when they were picked to finish last in the Western States Football League.

"DuPaix is the heart and soul of that team," said Ricks' defensive coach Dave Walker. "We couldn't tackle Joe DuPaix. We knew the thing we most wanted to do, but we couldn't do it at the end."

The Vikings held a 26-17 advantage with 4:57 on the clock after Jesse Neville's 24-yard field goal, his second of the game. Snow was left with a difficult task, but DuPaix was up to the challenge. On fourth and nine, deep in his own territory, DuPaix scrambled away from a heavy Ricks' rush and scampered for a first down. A few plays later, once again flushed from the pocket, DuPaix streaked down the sideline for a 40-yard score.

With less than a minute left in the game, Snow had the ball one last time. DuPaix again avoided swarming Viking defenders and hit Lance Mickelsen in the end zone with a 15-yard scoring pass, propelling the Badgers past the Vikings for the bowl victory.

Ricks had some fireworks of its own earlier in the game. Neville kicked a 49-yard field goal to start the scoring, a Real Dairy Bowl record. After DuPaix's first rushing TD in the first half, Viking quarterback Jeremy Livingtston found Kameron McCluskey down the middle for a 52-yard scoring pass. Later Livingston ran one in from one yard out and tossed another TD, a 61-yarder to Mike Clark. Snow was just too much to overcome, however.

The rivalry between the teams was intense but friendly as many of the players knew each other off the field. A large segment of Ricks and Snow players hail from Utah, Idaho and the Pacific islands.

While Snow is not a Church school, there was still a strong spiritual influence on the team, with many of its players members of the Church. After the game-ending celebration was over, the team met in the end zone for a word of prayer. Many players had tears in their eyes, happy for what they had accomplished.

"Everyone told us we were nothing this year," said teary-eyed Badger defender Charlie Crutchley of Nevada. "We are team, that's it, we're family. Most of us are walk-ons."

Snow's former coach quit the team right before recruiting season, partially because of major budget cuts, leaving the team short of talent. First-year coach Keith Uperesa was proud of his troops.

"Back in the spring we really bonded. With our closeness we made up our minds to make the best of what we have," he said.

"We like to show that we can play with them (Ricks), with a program of this caliber."

"I am excited and very relieved," said DuPaix who plans to be married in the Salt Lake Temple on Dec. 18. "I feel like `Wow, we did it.' "