After a long, hot bus ride and with game time temperatures right at 100 degrees, the Emery Spartans lost their season opener in football to a good Grand High School 27-14.
Coach Jimmy Jones talked about Grand, “They are going to be a pretty, good football team. They have size and speed.” Grand High School is almost the size of Emery High in number of students.
Grand took advantage of Emery mistakes throughout the game to get the win. An interception by Grand led to an early touchdown with another interception at the Grand 15-yard line stopping an Emery drive. A fumble by Emery stopped the Spartans at the Grand five yard line after a good drive.
Grand scored once in each quarter while the Spartans scored once in the second and fourth quarters.
Emery received the opening kick-off and was tackled at their own 19-yard line. After 12 plays, Emery stalled at the Grand 41-yard line and punted. Emery held on defense and the Spartans next possession started at the Grand 49-line. Emery threw an interception on the third play to negate great field position. Grand scored on their next series to lead 6-0.
After Grand scored on their next possession to lead 13-0, Emery would march from their own 25-yard line down field and would score on a three yard pass from Gatlan Huntington to Tanner Procarione. Huntington kicked the extra point and Emery trailed at the half 13-7.
In the second half, Emery threw another interception on their first series at the Grand 21-yard line. The Spartans had started the drive at their own 35-yard line and had marched 35 yards. Chance Ariotti ran nine yasrds up the middle, Colby Snow ran nine yards around the right side, Ariotti again up the middle for three yards before JT Noyes went around the left side for 13 yards. After a one yard pickup by Huntington, Huntington threw the interception to end the drive.
Emery would score on the next drive that started at their own 17-yard line. Emery would run off 15 plays before scoring. Noyes picked up 16 yards on the first play to get things started right. Huntington completed four of five passes attempted in the drive including one to Cameron Hansen for 10 yards and the touchdown. Hansen also caught 7-yard and 10-yard passes and Snow caught an eight yarder.
In Emery’s last drive that started at the Emery 34 yard line, Huntington completed a pass to Hansen for 17 yards to get to midfield. Ariotti picked up nine yards on the ground before Huntington hit Procarione for a 35-yard pickup. Unfortunately, Tanner fumbled the ball during the run and Grand recovered ending Emery’s hopes for a comeback.
Huntington completed eight of 12 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. He had an interception. Ariotti led the team in rushing with 62 yards on 14 carries, Noyes had 46 yards on six carries and Snow had 45 yards on eight carries.
Derrick Allred led the defense with 10 tackles, six unassisted. Snow had nine tackles and Ariotti had eight tackles.
Coach Jones talked about his team, “There were positive signs for us in the game even though I hate to lose. Offensively, for the first game of the season with all new guys, we weren’t too bad. If we eliminate the turnovers and penalties, we could be pretty good. Defensively, we got a little work to do but we have the people that could make us pretty good if they want to work at it.”
Emery stays on the road this week with a game at Canyon View High in Cedar City on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Emery Spartans lose opener to Grand
"Tanner Procarione is the intended receiver, but the Red Devils knock the ball down."