Last Friday night was not good for the Emery Spartan football team as they traveled to Roosevelt to play Union High in an important football contest. Although the Spartans outplayed the host team throughout the game and especially in the first half, Emery returned home with a 19-6 loss on their 3- A North region record.
The Spartans were down 6-0 at the half after allowing a 76-yard touchdown play in the second quarter. The Spartan defense had played very well in that first half and had allowed Union just 62 yards of offense before the play and then allowed just 7 yards the rest of the half. One play it was but the Cougars took advantage of that play and grabbed the lead early on.
The Spartan offense on the other hand had dominated the action in the half but squandered three scoring drives that possibly could have had the Spartans up big at the half but instead the visitors were shut out. Emery’s first drive got deep into Cougar territory and on a sweep around the left side nearly scored but it was not to be as the play was called back due to a penalty and the drive ended on a failed fourth down attempt.
The Spartan second drive ended at the Cougar two-yard line when Emery back Austin Allred fumbled the ball after having gained 43 yards on the play. It appeared a Cougar tackler was able to hit the ball with maybe a helmet and dislodged the ball and the Cougars recovered.
After the third drive ended with a Spartan punt, Emery’s fourth drive ended at the Union 5 yard line as Emery back Bryce Dugmore fumbled there after a 9-yard pickup. Emery gained over 198 yards on offense in that first half but when into the locker room down by that 0-6 score.
Union scored twice more in the second half, once in each quarter, and Emery finally scored on their second drive of the second half on a pass play from Zach Jorgensen to Kolton Butler that covered 13 yards. Emery had the ball four times in the second half, the same as the first half, scored once, punted once and threw interceptions twice as the Spartans ended the game with four turnovers.
Allred ran the ball 24 times and picked up 180 yards on those carries. Dugmore ran the ball 17 times and gained 95 yards and Emery fullback Ashton Dieli ran the ball 12 times and gained 69 yards. Jorgensen completed four passes in ten attempts, completing two passes to Butler and on each to Dieli and Dugmore.
Allred led the Spartan defense with 13 tackles and Kolton Butler had his best game of the season as he finished with 8 tackles. Dugmore had 5 tackles and Ty Mecham, Tristan Tuttle and Isaac Hardee had 4 tackles each.
Emery will travel to Grantsville this Friday night and will face the Cowboys in a must win game. Very likely the winner will make the playoffs and the loser will not. Game time is set for 7 pm.
Travel to Grantsville and support your team.
Emery Football drops game at Union High
"In JV action against Union, Keaton McDermott catches a batted Union pass and heads toward the goal line."