| Homecoming royalty: First attendants: Brett Mecham, Natalie Winn; King Landon Huntsman, Queen Taryn Baker; second attendants, Colton Leavitt and Alisha Royall. |
After the heartbreaking loss a week ago, it was mighty sweet for the Emery High Spartans to not only win their homecoming football game but it was fantastic that they did so with so much devastation to their favored opponent. Not saying the Hawks were over confident or cocky in their ways prior to the game but after the game the North Sanpete team was speechless and dazed with the way the Spartans had defeated them. Final score in this region contest was 47-21 in favor of our Spartans.
North Sanpete has played good football this season and had defeated some top rated teams prior to last Friday’s game. They were favored in this game to be victorious by all big city newspapers.
Emery on the other hand, had been playing good football, better than they had previously done for several seasons, but had lost a couple of close games that they probably should have won. Emery, looking back now, has been on the verge of figuring out exactly how good they actually can be. Emery can be competitive with any team in 3-A football this season.
Friday night, quarterback Dempsey Jeffs was almost perfect in the passing department. He was nine for 11 for 132 yards and a touchdown.
| Colby Snow heads out with the ball.e |
The two incomplete passes were an intentional spike and a last second throw into the end zone just before the half.
Emery’s running game was as good as ever. With starter Ryne Jones still sidelined with a foot injury, Colby Snow started and ran for 131 yards on 11 carries and scored a touchdown. Back Jordan Gee rushed 10 times for 36 yards, caught three passes for 60 yards and returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown in the closing moments of the game. Back-up fullback Chance Ariotti rushed eight times for 33 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Mike Jones rushed the ball 9 times for 71 yards and two touchdowns and also scored a touchdown on a 99-yard kick-off return.
The kick-off return was a thing of beauty with Mike Jones displaying both speed and finesse. Skyler Jorgenson had two great receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown.
All this scoring and all these statistics would not be possible if Emery did not have those unsung players called offensive linemen. As they have done all season, these five players toil in the trenches doing things that bring them no personal recognition, no mention in the newspaper or on the radio. That is now about to change.
At center for Emery is Cyal Christmas. Cyal is 290 pounds and the biggest player on the line. At guard are Sheridan Oviatt and Nico Ricchetti. Blake Mortensen and Wade Bohn play the tackle positions for the Spartans. As Emery piles up those huge amounts of offensive yards this season, half the credit at least has to go to these guys for them doing their jobs. With the exception of Cyal, none of these lineman are what you would call huge with not one of the latter four weighing over 190 pounds. But everyone one of them has the attitude of whatever it takes for Emery to be successful. They work hard in the games, they work hard every week in practice and they each refuse to miss game time with soreness because they know there is still a job to be done. So next time you see one of these guys in passing, tell them nice job because they have earned it. These guys open the holes that the backs run through.
After a slow first half, with Emery leading at halftime 6-0 thanks to Mike Jones’ first score on the ground, the second half was explosive. North Sanpete scored on their first drive to tie the score. On the ensuing kickoff, Emery returned it to take back the lead at 14-6. North Sanpete came right back and tied the score at 14-14. Emery answered the call in their first offensive series as they moved 66 yards down field and scored on a Snow 29-yard run. Emery led 20-14. North Sanpete was then shut down by Emery’s defense and punted. Emery marched 59 yards on this possession and Jorgenson scored on the 19-yard pass play. Emery led 28-14.
| Kameron Stilson, 62, and Wade Bohn, 51, head for the North Sanpete runner. |
North Sanpete then scored what would become their last touchdown to trail 28-21. Chance Ariotti scored from seven yards out to culminate a 67-yard drive as the Spartans continued answering the call and playing to win. Snow had a 36-yard run to start the series. Emery led 34-21. North Sanpete then stumbled on their next series, as they were unsuccessful to pickup a first down at their own 40-yard line. A halfback pass could have maybe gone all the way but the open Hawk dropped the ball. Emery then scored again as Mike Jones ran it in from 16 yards out.
North Sanpete had one more series and marched from their own 33-yard line down field deep into Emery territory. On first and 10, the Hawk QB threw a pass short into their right flat and Jordan Gee stepped in front of the Hawk receiver and returned it for the TD and the final score of 47-21.
Emery had 395 yards of offense in the game but more importantly, Emery scored every time in the second half that they got their hands on the football. Emery answered every challenge thrown at them and excelled both offensively and defensively.
Emery now closes out the regular season with a non-region game at Park City. The game is scheduled for Friday night but likely will be played Thursday night to allow the coaching staffs of each school to scout their next week’s opponent as the state play-offs begin.