Party like it’s 1999; the 2024 football season marks the end of a 24-year drought of state championship appearances for the Spartans after earning a 31-20 win over the Summit Academy Bears Saturday night at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Emery never trailed as they again played complimentary football, registering a take-away and the game’s first touchdown in the first 51 seconds of regulation. Summit Academy continued to push, but the Spartans never wavered in the two-score win.
“We’ve been waiting for this day for a very long time,” said head coach Jon Faimalo following the win. “To be able to see it come to fruition, I’m just happy for our team and our coaches. We’ve gone through a lot of lean years and now its fun to see us come out on top this time.”
A rematch of last year’s 2A state quarterfinals tilt started off with a bang for the Spartans as the defense forced a takeaway just two plays into the game. Summit Academy quarterback Preston Mackowiak was picked off near midfield as Emery senior Ty Yost made a diving catch to set the Spartans up in plus territory. Treven Gilbert connected with Porter Hurdsman for a 42-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing play, giving Emery a 7-0 lead with 11:09 to play in the first quarter.
The Bears responded in a big way, marching down the field and capping off a near six-minute drive with a three-yard touchdown run from Kyle Lively. It took Emery less than 90 seconds of game time to recapture the lead as Gilbert found Yost for a 13-yard touchdown pass, giving the Spartans a 14-7 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.
Summit Academy once again moved the ball effectively down the field and finished another six-minute drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The 14-14 tie would be as close as the Bears would get to taking the lead the rest of the game.
Gilbert completed a near flawless first half with two more touchdown strikes, finding Deacon Mangum on a 45-yard score and Hursman on an 18-yard toss. Emery scored on its first four drives of the game, finally punting for the first time in three games in the final seconds of the opening half.
“Treven had a phenomenal first half,” said Faimalo. “He was not feeling well and a little weak, but to see him perform at that level was great, it was exactly what we needed.”
After an explosive first half the two teams combined to score just nine points over the final 24 minutes. The lone touchdown came from Summit Academy as Mackowiak delivered a 60-yard strike to Lively with 3:49 to play in the third quarter. Emery limited the damage by blocking the extra point, maintaining a 28-20 lead entering the final stanza.
Despite moving the ball effectively, the Spartans ensuing drive stalled out at the 13-yard line. Junior kicker Jadin Atwood extended the Emery advantage to two scores with a huge 30-yard field goal, putting the game on ice and solidifying a spot in the state championship game.
“I was confident in Jadin. He has proven himself in practice hitting about 90-percent in practice,” Faimalo said. “You don’t see kickers come through at this level in 2A often, but for us to have that is huge.”
Gilbert finished the game completing 13-of-24 passes for 269 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Porter Hurdsman had another dynamic performance, gathering six catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Both Mangum and Yost continued their stellar senior seasons by finding the end zone once.
Emery is now one win away from winning the school’s second state championship and first since 1987. Standing in the way is the juggernaut and three-time defending state champion San Juan Broncos.
The two teams met back on Sept. 20 in the 2A South region opener. Tied 14-14 at the end of the first quarter, the Broncos exploded for 34 unanswered points in the second enroute to a 61-20 win.
Saturday’s 2A State Championship game will take place at Eccles Coliseum, home of the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in Cedar City, at 4:00 pm. The live radio play by play call will air on KOAL 107.3 FM and 750 AM beginning at 3:30.