Spartans get by Wolves look ahead to Manti

By GARY ARRINGTON Sports writer

For the second season in a row, the Emery High Spartan football team went on the road for a first round play-off game and returned home victorious. Last Thursday afternoon, Emery traveled to Enterprise and defeated the Wolves 20-18 in a hard fought football game.
Enterprise scored the first two times they had the ball in the game and at first it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for Emery. Emery’s defense came alive and Enterprise did not score again until the waning moments of the game.
Sophomore defensive cornerback Bailey Faimalo may have had his best game in his young career as a Spartan. Faimalo intercepted three Enterprise passes in the game and should have been credited with a fourth but an official waved it off. The interceptions came at key points in the game. Enterprise received the second half kickoff and started at their 26-yard line. Faimalo’s first interception came on the third play of the drive. Emery scored on the ensuing drive and with a made extra point, Emery led for the first time in the game at 13-12.
After Emery stopped Enterprise on the next drive with a missed Enterprise field goal, Faimalo stopped the next drive with another interception and this one was returned for a touchdown. With another made extra point kick, Emery led 20-12. Faimalo also intercepted a pass when Enterprise was going for a 2-point conversion after an earlier touchdown.
Emery’s defense, after giving up 141 yards on the first two drives of the game, settled down and limited Enterprise to 122 yards the rest of the game. Junior linebacker Cory Cox led the defensive effort with 13 tackles.Senior defensive back Jake Bell followed with 12 tackles and senior linebacker Brett Sorensen had 10 tackles.
Emery scored their first touchdown on their second possession of the game.Starting at their 9-yard line, Emery ran 12 plays and culminated the drive with a 10-yard run by Cory Cox. The big play of the series was a fullback screen pass from Spencer Labrum to Cox that covered 46 yards.
Emery’s first touchdown of the second half came on a fourth down play at the 4-yard line. Emery ran a reverse with junior David Dyer scoring on a run to his right.
Emery finished the game with 277 yards of offense to out gain Enterprise, who finished with 263 yards. Sophomore Marco Mota led Emery with 81 yards gained on 16 attempts. Cory Cox gained 49 yards on 14 attempts plus had the one pass reception for 46 yards. Sophomore Dominic Rondinelli gained 49 yards on 16 carries. Labrum completed three passes in six attempts for 92 yards. Dyer had a reception for 35 yards and Sorensen had a reception for 11 yards.
Emery’s region had a good opening day as North Summit and South Summit also won their games and American Leadership Academy, qualifying as the final region participant, went on the road to Richfield and lost the game in overtime. Emery will now face region winner Manti this Friday night at 7 p.m. on Manti’s field.