The Emery Spartans saw their region football record drop to 1-2 after they dropped a game in overtime to the Juab Wasps. Unfortunately, whether you caught this game live, on the radio or on TV, Emery won this game everywhere except on the scoreboard.
In the first half of this game, the Spartans offense got into Juab territory on every drive but never were they able to actually put points on the scoreboard. The Emery defense was even more impressive as they allowed an average of only 13 yards per drive on six first-half Juab drives. Three of those Juab drives ended in Emery intercepting Juab passes.
On Emery’s first possession of the ballgame, the Spartans drove from their 34-yard line down to the Juab 6-yard line only to turn the ball over on downs.
Emery’s second drive started at the Juab 36-yard line after an interception by Emery’s Clay Collard. Emery got to the 19-yard line only to gain no yardage on four straight plays.
Emery’s third drive started at the Juab 42-yard line after an interception by Emery’s Kashe Potter. This drive stalled when the Spartan quarterback was sacked in Emery territory and the Spartans punted.
The second half started with Emery receiving the kickoff and returning it to their 21-yard line. After an 8-yard run by Colton Fasselin, a 15-yard Wasp penalty, a 14-yard run by Fasselin and two runs by Jade Fielder totaling 15 yards, Emery had a first down at the Juab 27-yard line. Emery ended the drive with a fumble that Juab recovered at the Juab 39-yard line.
On the very next drive, Juab put their only drive of the night together and scored the first points of the game on the six-play drive. On second and 23 yards to go, Juab found an open man in the left corner of the end zone for the score. With the extra point being good, Juab led 7-0.
Emery responded with a 74-yard drive and tied the score. On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Cody Jones connected with wide-out Nick Stoddard on a play that went for 50 yards before Stoddard was tackled. Fasselin then ran for five yards, Fielder ran for eight yards, Fielder lost a couple of yards and then Fasselin scored from 15-yards out. Quinn Montgomery kicked the extra point and the game was tied at 7-7.
On Emery’s second to last drive in regulation of the game, Emery drove 52 yards for a first and ten at the 15-yard line. After a penalty on each team, and three Emery plays gained only four yards, Emery went for a field goal from the 33-yard line and it was just barely wide. The score was still tied.
After the Spartan defense allowed Juab only 14 yards on their next series, Juab lines up to punt. Emery, looking to block a punt, saw the snap sail over the Juab punter’s head and Emery downed the ball at the Juab 10-yard line.
On first and goal, the Emery pass was incomplete. On second and goal, the Emery quarterback was sacked for a 12-yard loss. On third and goal, another Emery pass was incomplete. On fourth and goal, Emery went for another field goal only to see this one blocked and this game was headed to overtime.
Emery had the ball first in overtime and actually lost yardage in the series, as they could not score with their turn. Juab then had a turn on offense and on fourth and 10, the Wasps completed a 19-yard pass to the six-yard line for a first down. On third and goal, Juab found an open receiver in the end zone and just like that the game was over.
Taylor Cox ran the ball 14 times for 82 yards. Colton Fasselin ran the ball 15 times for 100 yards and Jade Fielder ran the ball six times for 35 yards. Cody Jones was sacked five times for a net loss of 58 yards. Jones completed four of 18 passes for 81 yards. Stoddard gained 76 yards on pass receptions and Fielder gained 14 yards on pass receptions.
Juab netted 80 yards in the first half and 83 yards in the second half. Juab only netted 22 yards in the second half after the touchdown drive.
Emery had three interceptions on defense and Nathan Mecham led the Spartans in tackles with 18 tackles. Geren Payne, McKay West and Clay Collard all finished the night with six tackles each.
Emery now will host Delta in a must-win game this Wednesday night. Game time is 7 p.m. Delta and Juab are tied for the region lead with 3-0 records.
Spartans on the road with Juab Wasps
"After a block on the field goal attempt, holder Nick Stoddard, 11, breaks out of the pack in an attempt to score a touchdown on the last play as time runs out in the ball game with a tied score of 7. Stoddard makes it to the 7 yard line."