The Emery High JV and sophomore teams opened their 2008 football season with home victories last Thursday night in Castle Dale. The JV team won 19-14 and the sophomore team won 6-2. The Emery High Varsity team played in Cedar City Friday night and, due to Labor Day, came after this paper had already gone to the printer. That game will be reported with next week’s game at Desert Hills.
With all of Emery’s juniors playing in the JV game, along with some younger players, the Spartans got out to an early lead and then played well enough to win. The Spartan juniors that see varsity playing time only played the first half of this game.
Emery got the opening kick-off at their own 24-yard line and marched down field 76 yards in six plays to score. Dusty Jensen picked up three yards on the first play with Derrick Allred picking up no yards on the second play to bring up third down and seven yards to go. JT Noyes ran 19 yards around the left end to get the first down. After a two yard pickup by Allred, Noyes picked up 20 yards on his next carry. On first and 10 at the Canyon View 33-yard line, qb Derek Tuttle hit Joey Stream for the touchdown with a long pass.
After blocking a Canyon View punt at the Canyon View 11-yard line, Emery failed to score in four tries and gave the ball back at the Falcon three yard line.
Emery got the ball right back at the Falcon 22-yard line and scored in two plays. A 12 yard run by Jensen and after a five yard Emery penalty, a 15 yard run by Noyes for the touchdown. Quinn Montgomery kicked the extra point.
Emery would also score on their next possession. On a drive that started at their own 23-yard line, Emery would score in five plays. Jensen lost three yards on the first play but Emery came right back with a 33-yard pickup on a pass from Tuttle to Stream. Noyes picked up seven and five yards on the next two plays and Allred would then score on a 23-yard run. Emery went to the locker room up 19-0. Emery picked up 229 yards in the first half while the Falcons only had 31 yards.
The second half saw the play swing a little as Canyon View would get 169 second half yards and two touchdowns while the Spartans would only pick up 74 yards. Cory Hansen was effective at fullback in the second half as he carried the ball seven times for 40 yards.
The Emery sophomores gave up a safety to trail 2-0 before Taylor Cox would score on about a 60-yard run to put Emery up.
The Emery JV and sophomore teams will host Desert Hills next Thursday afternoon at the high school and the varsity team will travel the next day.
Emery football action v. Cedar
"Colton Fasselin"