Spartans lose heartbreaker by one

By GARY ARRINGTON Sports Writer

Injuries take toll as Emery loses 22-21
With wide receiver Tanner Procarione and cornerback Dusty Jensen sidelined before the game started, the not-so-deep Emery Spartans could not afford to lose more personnel in the football game at North Sanpete. Unfortunately, that is what occurred as linemen Sheridan Oviatt and Josey Johnson went down early in the game. Both started on each side of the ball.
Despite the injuries, Emery hung in to the end and then lost a heartbreaker to the Hawks 22-21.
The game started well for Emery. JT Noyes returned the opening kick-off to the Emery 38-yard line for good field position. After a 2-yard run by Chance Ariotti, Noyes went left and scampered 65 yards for what looked like a touchdown only for it to be called back by a penalty that was called 40 yards behind the action.
Emery punted and North Sanpete scored on their position to take the lead at 8-0. After Emery was held on offense, North Sanpete got the ball back for the second time. Emery’s defense was up to the task, held the Hawks, forced a punt and then Cameron Hansen blocked it. Colby Snow picked up the ball and scored only to have this called back by an inadvertent whistle.
Emery’s offense took over on the Hawk 35-yard line. Ariotti ran the ball seven straight times and scored from nine yards out. PAT was no good and the Hawks led 8-6. On the next series, Derrick Allred caused a Hawk fumble that was recovered by Drew Bohn at the Hawk 20-yard line. Gatlan Huntington hit Hansen with a pass for the touchdown followed by another pass for the 2-point conversion and Emery led 14-8. That was the score at the half.
Emery got the ball just before the half at the North Sanpete 48-yard line. Another pass to Hansen was good for 36 yards. Ariotti picked up nine yards on three carries and a Hawk penalty was thrown in but Emery could not score as they knocked on the door as time ran out.
The Hawks scored on their first possession of the second half to tie the score. Emery had held them only to see the work undone by a roughing the kicker penalty on a punt.
Emery took the lead right back on the Spartan’s next series. An 8-yard pass to Nick Stoddard followed by a 7-yard run by Ariotti gave Emery a first down at their own 48-yard line. Huntington then evaded tacklers on a 52-yard run to the end zone. Huntington kicked the extra point and Emery led 21-14.
A good kick-off return by North Sanpete aided by a 15-yard Emery penalty gave the Hawks the ball at the Emery 38-yard line. They would score just as the fourth quarter started and took the lead on a 2-point conversion.
Emery fumbled the ball away on their next possession but took it right back on a Huntington interception. Emery had the ball at the Hawk 46-yard line and picked up two first downs before the drive stalled at the Hawk 25-yard line.
North Sanpete then ran out the clock to grab a one-point region victory to grab third place in region 8 and make it necessary for Emery to win when they host Salem Hills this Friday to take fourth.