| Quarterback Joey Bernard is brought down after gaining on the ground for the Spartans. |
Playing their first game ever against the 4-A Provo Bulldogs, the Emery High Spartans watched a game-ending fumble in overtime dash their chances at a victory. The final score was 35-29 Provo. The Spartans effort in this ball game was led by senior tight end Mike Blomquist and senior quarterback Joey Bernard. The 2 connected up on 5 passes for 106 yards and 3 touchdowns. Bernard also scored on a 1-yard run.
Provo scored the first 2 touchdowns of the game on a 17-yard run and a 35-yard run to take a 14-0 lead. Emery responded in the 2nd quarter with 2 of Blomquist’s scores. He scored on plays of 21 and 7 yards. Daniel Espino kicked both extra points. At halftime the score was tied at 14-14.
In the 3rd quarter, the Bulldogs scored again, this time on a 37-yard run. The Spartans responded with the Bernard score and a 40-yard pass to Blomquist to lead 29-21. Espino kicked another extra point and Emery scored 2 off another pass from Bernard to Blomquist.
Provo scored midway through the 4th quarter and added a 2-point conversion to tie the score at 29-29. Provo had an opportunity to win at the end of regulation but the Emery defense tackled the Provo ball carrier at the 6-yard line as time ran out.
In overtime, Provo got the ball first. They ran a play for no gain and then suffered a 6-yard loss on a sack to make it 3rd and goal at the 26-yard line. The Bulldogs then ran a play action play to the right that was stopped but allowed the Provo ball carrier to cut back to the left and score from 26 yards out. Emery blocked the extra point.
On Emery’s first play of overtime, Emery was stopped for no gain on a run up the middle. Bernard then hit Trevor Thompson with a pass over the middle and Thompson was tackled at the 4-yard line. On 1st and goal, the exchange between Bernard and Spencer Cook was mishandled, Provo recovered the fumble and game was over. It ended way to abruptly.
The Emery Spartans probably played their best game of the season against Provo. The Emery running game was not as effective due to the emphasis that Provo put on stopping the run and the size of their players. Provo’s linemen probably outweighed Emery’s linemen by 75 pounds each.
Emery also missed two field goals in the game.
Coach Reynolds had this to say, “I thought we played really well, we are coming together as a team at the right time as we prepare to enter region play.”
The Spartans open region play this week at North Sanpete. Game time is Friday at 7:00pm.