The Emery High Spartan football team opened their region season last Friday night with a game in Price against their rival, the Carbon Dinos, and came home with a hard-fought win with strong second-half performance.
The final score was 34-12 for Emery. With the win the Spartans retain the Coal Bucket, a traveling trophy between the two Castle Valley teams.
In the first quarter of play neither team was able to put points on the scoreboard although the Spartans twice got into the Red Zone. Emery returned the opening kick-off to their 39-yard line and got to the Dino 12-yard line before a pair of penalties pushed the Spartans away from the goal line and Emery ended the drive with a punt.
Emery’s second drive ended at the Dino 22-yard line as the Spartans were unable to convert on a fourth down play. Emery progressed to the Dino 16-yard line before a penalty moved them back.
On Emery’s third drive of the first half the Spartans went 78 yards after a Carbon punt and scored on a 48-yard run by senior running back Logan Cox. Ethan Winter added the extra point and Emery led 7-0. Emery scored with 3:40 left in the first half. Carbon responded with a touchdown drive of their own on their next possession and after a missed PAT, Emery led 7-6 at the half.
The second half started with a Spartan kickoff and the ball was returned by Carbon to the 45-yard line. Carbon then quickly scored and the Dinos
led for the first time in the game and you could feel the excitement in the crowd from the home fans.
Emery took the ball at the 35-yard line after the Carbon kickoff went out of bounds and on the third play of the drive quarterback Zach Jorgensen connected with receiver Kolton Butler in the middle of the field and Butler managed to avoid being tackled as he completed a 65-yard scoring play. Winter again added the extra point and Emery regained the lead at 14-12.
On Carbon’s next four, and final four also, punted, punted, had a drive end on downs and then threw an interception to Emery’s Kyson Stilson as they had a tough time getting into the end zone for a third time.
Emery, on the other hand, scored on their next three drives to break open what had been a tight game up to this point. On Emery’s second second-half drive, Logan Cox scored on a 5-yard run and Winter again added the extra point and Emery led 21-12. Emery then got the ball back at midfield after a Dino punt and Emery scored three plays into the fourth quarter on another Jorgenson to Butler pass. This extra point was missed as the ball hit the upright. Emery now led 27-12.
Emery’s next drive started at the Emery 46-yard line and Emery marched into the end zone in eight plays as Kacey Jones scored from three yards out. Winter added the PAT.
Logan Cox ran the ball 16 times and gained 165 yards and scored two touchdowns. Jorgensen completed four passes in the game, all to Kolton
Butler, for two touchdowns and for 97 yards. Jorgensen also gained 20 yards on the ground in three rush attempts. Tel Gardner gained 32 yards on 10 carries, Colton Wilson 29 yards on 2 carries and Jones 21 yards on 4 carries. Emery had 365 yards of offense in the game.
Emery’s defense was led by Chase Jewkes with 10 tackles followed by Gus Garcia with 6 tackles, Cox and Kobe Faimalo with 5 tackles and Logan Labrum, Jones, Kolton Butler and Koby Butler with 4 tackles each. Garcia and Jewkes had tackles for a loss.
Emery will travel to Morgan this Friday night to continue region action. Morgan defeated Juan Diego last Friday.
Emery football downs Carbon
"The Emery football team holds the coal bucket in the air. The trophy is theirs to keep another year as Emery dominated the matchup this year. Each time they win the year is painted on the bucket."