Former Jonathan Alder gridder Trey Pugh (left) prepares to catch a pass for Northwestern. The Wildcats will face The Ohio State Buckeyes for the Big Ten championship on Saturday. (File photo)
College football’s conferences are playing championship games today (the Pac 12) and Saturday.
There are three former local high school players whose college squads are involved in some of those games.
Jonathan Alder’s Trey Pugh is a Northwestern tight end.
The Wildcats will face The Ohio State Buckeyes for the Big Ten title game.
Former Fairbanks offensive lineman Sam Rengert is a member of the Iowa State team.
The Cyclones will tangle with Oklahoma for the Big 12 crown.
Marysville High School graduate Nathan Snyder is the punter for Ball State University.
The Cardinals will play Buffalo for the Mid American Conference championship.
Pugh, who played vital roles on Jonathan Alder state playoff teams, is designated as a redshirt junior for Northwestern.
He was one of 13 true first-year players to see action for the Wildcats during the 2017 season. Pugh played in 11 games, primarily on special teams.
As a sophomore during the 2018 campaign, he played in nine games.
He caught two passes for 25 yards during the Big Ten title contest against the Buckeyes.
Pugh, 6-5 and 250 pounds, was limited to just four games in 2019 due to injuries and snared two passes.
He was not able to play during the 2020 regular season, reportedly due to injuries suffered during preseason camp.
Pugh declined to comment to the Journal-Tribune on the championship game.
Rengert is a 6-7, 300-pound freshman at Iowa State.
He is studying kinesiology as a health major.
Rengert chose the Cyclones over West Virginia, the University of Cincinnati and Rutgers of the Big Ten.
He could not be reached for comment about the upcoming game against Oklahoma.
Snyder, who is a marketing major, has been Ball State’s regular punter since his freshman season of 2017.
He has punted 133 times during his career to date for 5,340 yards and is averaging 40.2 yards per punt.
In six games (the season was shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic) this year, Snyder has punted 19 times for 815 yards (42.9).
Snyder, who could not be reached for comment, currently ranks third in the conference in punting.
The 6-4, 225-pound senior has had eight punts travel 50-plus yards this fall.
MHS grad Nathan Snyder punts for the Ball State University football team. Snyder will play against Buffalo in the Mid American Conference championship contest. (File photo)
Fairbanks High School graduate Sam Rengert (66) prepares for the snap during a 2019 game. Rengert is a member of the Iowa State team that will play Oklahoma for the Big 12 title. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)