After securing their fourth straight winning season a week before, the Emery Spartans were playing for playoff positioning as they traveled to Delta on Friday, Oct. 18, to take on the Rabbits. Aided by an explosive offense and stifling defense, the Spartans stomped the Rabbits en route to a 55-21 win.

The scoring would get started early for Emery, as on the first drive of the game the Spartans would march down the field led by senior quarterback Treven Gilbert. Gilbert would methodically dissect the Delta defense before connecting with fellow senior Porter Hurdsman on a go route. Hurdsman would drop two defenders before walking into the end zone for a touchdown. A successful point after gave Emery the early 7-0 advantage.

Forcing a turnover on downs, Emery would take over at midfield. Working the ground game the Spartans would beat down the Rabbits. Once Delta was on their backheel senior running back Ty Yost would pounce, breaking off a 25-yard run to the promised land. Another converted kick would raise the lead to 14-0.

Again a dominant defensive stand would force a punt from the Rabbits. Not wasting any time, the Spartans would set themselves up in the red zone courtesy of a flea flicker pass from Gilbert to senior receiver Deacon Mangum. Taking advantage of the great field positioning, senior back Jaxon Johnson would bully his way five yards across the goal line. Emery’s special teams unit would again hold strong and raise the lead to 21-0.

Delta would finally put points on the board midway through the second quarter. Moving efficiently downfield, the Rabbits would grit and grind their way down to the five-yard line. It was here where senior quarterback Hunter Robinson would fake a handoff before diving into the end zone for a touchdown. A successful PAT would cut into the Emery lead and make it 21-7.

Not satisfied with the two-score lead, Yost would jump into action on the ensuing kickoff. Dialing up a reverse on the return, Yost would receive a handoff which he would then take 75 yards to the house. The Spartan’s extra point excellence continued and cushioned the lead 28-7.

Another strong defensive effort would return possession to the Spartans on their 35-yard line. General Gilbert would lead his troops through a daunting aerial attack, which was capped off when he connected with Yost on a screen pass. Yost would weave and wind through the Delta Defense 53 yards for a score. Another successful point after raised the lead to 35-7.

Trying to find an answer before the halftime break, Delta would turn to the pass to try and move the ball. This proved a mistake when junior safety Beau Stilson would rip the ball from the air and force a Rabbit turnover. Emery would take advantage of this opportunity, working downfield before Gilbert would connect on a 12-yard pass to Mangum in the corner of the end zone. The leg of junior kicker Jadin Atwood would elevate the ball through the uprights on the extra point and bring the lead to 42-7.

Robinson would continue to see ghosts among the Emery Defense, as he threw his second interception in as many plays. Forcing the turnover for the Spartans was Johnson. Johnson would then get the job done offensively as well, hauling in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Gilbert. Another kick led to more points on the board as Emery took a daunting 49-7 advantage into the half.

With the mercy rule in effect throughout the second half, time would fly by. However, this didn’t mean the scoring would stop for either team. Striking first coming out of the break was the Rabbits. Working the ball 80 yards downfield on their opening drive, Delta would find the back of the end zone when senior back Ty Stefanoff would plow two yards across the plan for a Rabbit touchdown. Opting to go for two, Delta would convert and cut into the lead 49-15.

Emery would score once more, and again it would be Yost taking control. Receiving the handoff, Yost would dice up the Rabbits to the tune of 18 yards for another Spartan Score. The extra point attempt would veer wide right, holding the score at 55-15.

With 90 seconds left in the game, Delta would score one last time. In a short-yardage situation, Stefanoff would dive across the goal line for a touchdown. However, it would be too little, too late as the Rabbits fell 55-21.

Gilbert would end the game going 24-28 on pass attempts for 341 yards and four touchdowns. His favorite target was Hurdsman, who had seven receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown. Yost ended his regular season with a bang, finishing with 53 receiving yards, 66 rush yards, and four touchdowns.

With the win, the Spartans end the regular season 7-2 overall and 3-1 in 2A South play. Next up for Emery is the state playoffs. Their opponent will be unknown, but it is expected that the Spartans will receive a first-round bye in the 10-team bracket. Emery will learn their fate on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. when the UHSAA releases their final RPI rankings.

Although the opponent is unknown, one certainty is that the game will be covered on KOAL 107.3 FM and 750 AM as well as on our YouTube channel Castle Country Sports-Emery.