The football game last Friday night at Emery High School did not start well for the host team and visitor. Judge Memorial Catholic High School had a big first half but the Spartans never quit and despite being down 16 points at the half, the Spartans had an opportunity to win the game with a field goal as time expired. Emery lost to Judge in a region contest, the first of the season for both teams, by the score of 35-33.
Emery received the opening kick-off, which sailed into the end zone, and the Spartans started their first drive of the game at their 20-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage quarterback Kyson Stilson attempted to hand the ball off to running back Rance Jensen but the connection was never made and a Judge defender picked up the ball and ran in for the score and just like that the Spartans were down.
Emery then received another kick-off, returned that kick to the 40-yard line and then marched down the field 60 yards in just six plays to close the gap to 8-6. Judge made their first two-point attempt and the Spartans did not. Colton Willson scored on a 1-yard run while Jensen picked up the bulk of the yardage on a 52-yard run.
Both teams scored on their next possessions as well with Jensen scoring for Emery. The Spartans then took the lead as Willson intercepted a Bulldog pass and returned it around 40 yards for the touchdown.
In the second half Emery’s Easton Gordon scored twice, first on a 19-yard run and then on a 27-yard pass from Stilson.
Emery scored a two-point conversion on the first touchdown on a throw from Stilson to Jared Snow while the two-point attempt on the second TD went incomplete on another pass between those two players.
With time running out in the fourth quarter and Judge with the lead, the Bulldogs put together an 11-play drive as they attempted to both score and run out the clock and with Judge holding a two-point lead.
On a run around the Bulldogs left side by their quarterback, Emery’s Braxton Young attempted to make the tackle but instead ended up stripping the ball and causing a fumble and then he came up with that fumble and the Spartans had life.
With less than two minutes left in the game and out of time-outs and starting the drive at their 25-yard line, Emery connected on a 28-yard pass from Stilson to Snow, then they connected on a 17-yard pass from Stilson to Gordon.
Stilson then completed passes to Gordon and Snow to get to the 15-yard line and with time expiring the Spartans attempted a 35-yard field goal that just missed on the right side from going through the uprights and the Spartans were left with their first region loss of the season.
Jensen led the way with 170 yards rushing on 25 carries and two passes caught for 52 yards.
Gordon scored twice, rushed for 20 yards and caught passes for another 56 yards.
Willson also scored twice, ran the ball for 8 yards and caught passes for 27 yards. Stilson completed 10 of 15 passes for 163 yards.
In addition to the interception by Willson and the fumble recovery by Young, Stilson also came down with an interception. Gordon also led the team defensively with 9 tackles while Drake Hoffman added 7 tackles.
The Spartans will host the Carbon Dinos this Friday night in the Spartan homecoming game.
Emery Spartans lose close one to Judge Memorial
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