Emery football tough home loss against Manti

By Gary Arrington
Sports Writer

Last Friday night the Emery High Spartans concluded their preseason football schedule with a tough loss at home against the Manti Templars. The final score last week was Manti 28 Emery 0.
With the loss the Spartans finished the preseason with a 0-4 record as they played four teams with a cumulative record of 12-4 so far this season. Emery’s schedule was not filled with slouches. For the second week in a row the Spartans were in the game at halftime. This week Emery trailed Manti 7-0 at the half and last week Emery trailed Payson at the half 14-7 after leading the entire first half up to the final 30 seconds.
Emery lost to Payson by the score of 31-7.
With just five seniors on this Emery team, the Spartans are forced to play many underclassmen and that age disparity catches up with Emery in the second half of these games. Payson averaged over 50 pounds more per guy than what Emery had on the field and this takes a toll as the games progress.
Emery will now start region action and the Spartans will be on the road for three straight games before they come home to close out the region season with two straight games. This Friday Emery will travel to Salt Lake City and face the Judge Memorial Catholic High School in the first region game for both teams. Game time is 7 p.m. The following Friday night Emery will travel to Price to face-off with the Carbon Dinos.
Against Manti Rance Jensen led the Spartan ground game with 67 yards gained on 16 carries.
Kyson Stilson is the Spartan starting quarterback and he completed 13 of 23 passes for 132 yards. Slot backs Szion Gibson and Jaymes Bowman led the way for Emery with four receptions each.
On defense, Jensen had 9 tackles and Daeden Behling had 8 tackles as these two linebackers led the way. Lineman Ashton Rowley, Emery’s lone lineman that weighs more than 200 pounds, finished the game with 7 tackles.
Last week against Payson, Jensen was the leading rusher with 31 yards and Stilson finished the night by completing 11 of 23 for 117 yards.
Seth Justice played the final series at quarterback and completed 2 of 4 passes for 37 yards. Stilson had a leg injury. Behling led the way defensively with 9 tackles and Jensen had 7. Teagan Christman had 5 tackles to round out the top three for the game. Quinton Sorenson had an interception in this game.