The Emery Spartans passed the first road test of the season as the team earned a comfortable 34-19 win over the Union Cougars Friday night in Roosevelt.

Scoring the first four touchdowns of the game, the Spartans jumped out to a 27-0 first half lead and never looked back. The win marks the first 2-0 start to the football season since 2012.

“I thought we played well throughout the first and second quarters on both sides of the ball,” said head coach Jon Faimalo following the win. “We missed a couple of drives that we probably should have scored on, but I thought our kids played hard. I give credit to Union because those kids didn’t throw in the towel and continued to battle.”

Senior Wade Stilson continued to lead the high-powered Emery offense as he completed 21-of-34 passes for 261 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

It took the Emery offense just three plays to capture the lead for good. Following a forced three-and-out from the defense, the Spartans marched down the field with urgency. Stilson connected with Mason Stilson on a 36-yard touchdown pass with 9:26 remaining in the first quarter.

The Spartans continued to roll as they found the end zone on its first three possessions of the game. The second touchdown came on a fourth-and-goal conversion as Stilson found Creek Sharp in the corner of the end zone. Up 14-0 heading into the second quarter, Stilson again found Sharp, this time on a 41-yard touchdown strike.

After forcing a turnover Emery took complete control of the game by scoring less than two minutes later. Dane Sitterud crossed the goal line on a two-yard touchdown run, extending the Emery lead 27-0 with 7:45 left in the first half.

Union finally erased the zero on the scoreboard with a long 53-yard touchdown on a screen pass from Ganon Labrum to Will Gamble. Despite giving up the big play, the Spartans still carried a 27-7 advantage into the break.

Emery would add just seven more points in the second half before pulling the starters in the fourth quarter. Sitterud again crossed the goal line on a short yardage play, scoring from four yards out.

The first unit defense allowed just two touchdowns and forced four takeaways in the win. Mason Stilson recorded two interceptions, one coming in the end zone preventing a touchdown. Sharp and Matt Olsen both corralled one interception.

“Our kids continue to have that ballhawk mentality and play good position defense,” said Faimalo. “If we can jump on teams the way we have offensively it’ll create some opportunities for us on defense. So far this season the kids have taken advantage of that.”

Sharp accumulated 134 yards on seven catches, reaching the end zone twice. Mason Stilson chipped in with four grabs for 74 yards and a score, while Matt Olsen caught six balls for 46 yards.

Sitterud was once again a consistent threat on the ground as he ran for 90 yards on 19 carries, crossing the goal line twice. As a unit the Emery offense accounted for 351 total yards.

Emery will now shift its focus to a lengthy road trip Friday night to meet the 2-0 Enterprise Wolves. Placed in the 1A classification, the Wolves have dominated two opponents in high classifications, outscoring Judge Memorial and South Sevier 74-7 in two games. Friday will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2011, when Emery eliminated the Wolves in the opening round of the state tournament 20-18.

Live coverage of Friday’s road tilt will air live on KOAL 107.3 FM and 750 AM beginning at 6:30 PM. Kick-off will follow shortly after at 7:00.