| Sheridan Oviatt puts the tackle on the Falcon. |
It started badly, it went quickly and then it was over victoriously as the Emery Spartans defeated the Canyon View Falcons 41-21 in preseason football at the Emery field.
First, the starting badly. In the first series of the ball game, Emery lost 10 yards before they fumbled the ball away at their own 15-yard line. On fourth and seven at the Emery 12-yard line, Canyon View threw a touchdown pass to their preseason all-stater at tight end and Emery trailed 7-0.
Now, the quickly part. The next two Emery series and the next Canyon View series were all at least 11 plays long and the half was over with each team having possessed the ball only three times each. Emery’s second series was 13 plays long, Canyon View’s second series was 17 plays long and Emery’s final series was 11 plays long. Time expired as Canyon View was on play four of their third series.
And then victory came as Emery soundly defeated the Falcons with a big second half of football. After a bitter defeat last week to Duchesne, the Spartans played well all game long to grab the win. Emery actually feels like they played well enough to win last week but things just did not go their way. This week, they made sure things went their way and played a pretty good football game.
On Emery’s 13-play drive, they started at their own 24-yard line and slowly marched down field on the ground as the three Emery backs took their turn carrying the ball. Emery scored on a 3-yard pass from Dempsey Jeffs to Jordan Gee.
Canyon View’s long drive ended at the Emery 11-yard line. Emery then marched to the Canyon View 37 yard line before they stalled. The score was tied at the half 7-7.
In the second half, Canyon View returned the kick-off to their 32-yard line. After two negative rushes and an incomplete pass, on fourth and 19, the Falcon center snapped the ball over the head of the punter and Emery got the ball at the Falcon 4-yard line. Mike Jones ran the ball twice and scored from a yard out. Yochio Espino kicked his second straight extra point.
On the ensuing Emery kick-off, the Falcons fumbled the ball and Emery recovered at the Falcon 29-yard line. Gee ran for 20 yards on the first play, Mike Jones picked up a yard, Gee picked up two more yards and then Jeffs hit Ryne Jones for a touchdown with a 5-yard pass. Espino’s kick was good again and Emery led 21-7 early in the third quarter.
Canyon View then scored on a 43-yard run around their left side and the game was again interesting. After Emery went to punt on fourth and eight on their next series, the Emery snap went over the head of the Emery punter and the Cody Allen was tackled at the Emery 13-yard line trying to find running room. Canyon View was now in position to score again. Cyal Christmas recovered a Canyon View fumble on their first play of the next series and Emery dodged a bullet.
In the fourth quarter, Emery would score three more times. After a Falcon punt, Emery had the ball at the 50-yard line. After five straight running plays, Mike Jones scored from two yards out. Gee carried the ball for eight yards followed by Mike for three yards, Ryne Jones for 26 yards and Gee for nine more yards. On the next series, Emery held the ball for 10 plays and 83 yards and scored on a Ryne Jones to Gee pass that covered 15 yards.
With time running out, Canyon View fumbled the ball at their 15-yard line and it seemed to just sit there for the longest time unnoticed by either team. Blake Mortensen then saw it, picked it up and carried several Falcons into the end zone as he closed out the scoring. Espino finally missed on this extra point try.
This was a game that featured 18 penalties being called and enforced. Several others were declined, as the team would then have to punt. Fourteen of the penalties were on the Falcons as their way of playing aided the Spartans.
Mike Jones, Ryne Jones and Jordan Gee each carried the ball at least 10 times and each player scored at least once in the game. Gee finished with 89 yards, Ryne with 76 yards and Mike with 39 yards.
Emery is home again this Friday night, as they will host the Ben Lomond Scots in another preseason football game. Game time is 7 p.m.