It was homecoming for the Emery High Spartans last Friday night and Emery was facing the Union Cougars. Union, one of the top three teams in 3-A football along with Judge Memorial and Morgan, came to town seeking to avenge a loss just a year ago that Emery gave to the Cougars on their home field. Union, a senior laden team with 20 players in their final high school season, easily dispatched the young Spartan team by the score of 49-7.
Emery was down 13-0 after the first quarter, lost the second quarter 29-0 and then played the second half evenly at 7-7 as they allowed just a kickoff return for a touchdown in the second half. Emery outgained the Cougars 159 yards to 44 yards in that second half.
Emery’s lone score came in the final period of play. Emery began the drive at their own 17-yard line and scored in eight plays. Tyler Olsen gained 6 yards around the left side followed by Matt Mecham up the middle for a 28 yard run. Olsen then gained another 15 yards on a run followed by Dieli being stopped near the line of scrimmage. After an incomplete pass, Olsen ran the ball twice more for gains of 11 yards and 15 yards and then scored on a pass from Jorgensen with the play covering 33 yards.
Junior Tyler Olsen led the Spartan offense with 94 yards rushing on 11 carries and also caught two passes for 45 yards. Senior Matt Mecham gained 60 yards on seven carries and caught one pass for no yards.
Sophomore quarterback Zach Jorgensen completed 10 passes out of 23 attempts for 117 yards and Jorgensen ran the ball five times for minus 21 yards. Sophomores Ashton Dieli ran the ball eight times for 11 yards and Cameron Petersen ran the ball three times for 18 yards.
Mecham was the leading tackler on the team with 12 with fellow linebacker Mo Derrick right behind with 9 tackles. Evan Swenson and Bryce Dugmore each had 6 tackles and Dieli and Kobe Butler each had 5 tackles.
Emery will play their final home game of the season this Friday night against the Grantsville Cowboys. Grantsville’s lone win came a week ago against Carbon and last week they lost to Judge Memorial 42-14.
On Oct. 9, the Spartans will play Judge Memorial in Salt Lake. On Oct. 15 the Spartans will be in Cedar City against Canyon View and the final game of the regular season is at Carbon on Oct. 24.
Cougars claw Spartans in homecoming game
"On the offensive line for Emery Logan Labrum, Kayden Avila, and Koby Butler."