After losing a nail biter to the Delta Rabbits the previous week by the score of 9-6, the Emery High football team found themselves down by that identical score midway through the final period last Friday night against the Manti Templars.
This time though the Emery Spartans were not going to be denied and with just 1:35 left on the game clock, Emery culminated a seven-play drive with a 38-yard run by senior Tel Gardner for the go-ahead touchdown. Emery won the game 13-9.
Emery started the game by taking the opening kickoff to their 26-yard line and then ran 10 plays which got them to the Manti 26-yard line when the next pass was picked off and Emery was denied a score.
Emery’s defense held Manti to a three and out and the Manti punter got off a really short punt. Emery could only gain 3 yards in their next drive and punted the ball right back.
Manti got the ball at their 20-yard line and after a holding call penalty on Manti they had the ball first and 20 at their 10-yard line. Manti then completed a pass that went for a touchdown and the Spartans were down 7-0.
Manti scored their final two points on a safety when an Emery snap went over the head of the punter and out the back of the end zone.
Emery scored once in the third quarter as the Spartans intercepted a Manti pass and started a drive at the Manti 9-yard line.
Dalton McKee scored on a 1-yard run and Emery trailed 9-6 after the point after kick was missed.
Emery’s defense was stout in the second half as they came away with three pass interceptions and two fumbles recovered.
Gardner recovered a fumble on Manti’s first second-half possession, Gus Garcia intercepted a pass on the second series, Kobe Faimalo recovered a fumble caused by Kaycee Jones on the Templars fifth series, Logan Cox intercepted a pass on the sixth series and Gardner intercepted a pass on the final series. Ten of 11 Manti possessions went for six plays or less.
Ty Mecham had a sack while Logan Labrum, Logan Cox and Kolton Butler all had tackles for a loss.
Cox led with 8 tackles followed by Chase Jewkes with 7, Mecham with 6 and Kolton with 5 tackles. Labrum, Koby Butler, Faimalo and Garcia all finished with 4 tackles.
Offensively Cox led the Spartans with 100 yards rushing on 23 carries.
Emery finished with 202 yards rushing and 48 yards passing.
Gardner gained 41 yards on the ground, McKee gained 34 yards and Faimalo gained 23 yards.
Last week against Delta, Emery scored in the second quarter while the Rabbits had a touchdown in the third quarter and a field goal in the final period.
Emery had two touchdowns called back, one on an inadvertent whistle and the other on a motion penalty. Emery had 255 yards of offense in the game.
Emery’s touchdown came on a 21-yard pass from Zach Jorgensen to Kolton Butler.
Emery will travel to Price this Friday and take on the Carbon Dinos as region action begins at 7 p.m.
Spartans lose to Delta: beat Manti Templars
"Kolton Butler with the reception and first down for Emery. "