Excitement was in the air on Friday, Aug. 15, as the Emery Spartans traveled to Ephraim, Utah, to kick off the 2025 football season at Snow College. A formidable opponent awaited Emery in the Kanab Cowboys, setting up a showdown between the 2A and 1A state runners-up.
Defense proved the difference maker between the two teams, as Kanab capitalized on three pick-6s en route to a 45-20 victory over the Spartans.
Emery would strike first in the contest, with the Spartans’ defense able to force a punt from the Cowboys, setting themselves up near midfield. Capitalizing on this field position, Emery was able to push the ball across the goal line courtesy of an 11-yard run from senior Beau Stilson. Senior kicker Jadin Atwood would continue his kicking excellence and give the Spartans an early 7-0 lead.
Kanab would answer back just two minutes later, marching down the field and punching the ball in for a touchdown on a one-yard run by senior back Hayden Gubler. A successful PAT knotted the game at seven.
Fifteen seconds later, Kanab would strike again, picking off the Spartans and returning the ball 27 yards in the promised land. Sophomore kicker Ray Capson would boot the ball through the uprights to elevate the Cowboys to a 14-7 lead.
Kanab would score once more in the first quarter, capitalizing on a muffed catch on the kickoff and recovering the ball on their 20-yard line. The Cowboys would score three plays later on a bootleg pass from senior quarterback Brogun Virostko to fellow senior Ozzy Williams.
Things would slow down scoring-wise in the second, with both teams scoring once apiece. For Kanab, it was a Gubler scamper to the end zone with a failed two-point conversion following. Emery would score with 14 seconds left in the half, with junior quarterback Ajay Thomas scrambling across the goal line for a Spartans score. A missed extra point sent the teams into the halftime break with the Cowboys holding a 26-13 advantage.
The third quarter was all Kanab, with the Cowboys finding the promised land three times. The first came when Virostko would again connect with Williams, this time on a 23-yard pass. A failed two-point conversion held the score at 32-13.
Next, Kanab would take advantage of another Emery interception, with junior defensive back Deegan Swapp returning a pick 65 yards to the house. Capson would connect on the kick and elevate the lead to 39-13.
The next possession, the Cowboys would come up with another pick-6. This time it was junior Lattimer Glover doing the damage, taking the interception 52 yards for another Kanab score. A failed point after gave the Cowboys a daunting 45-13 win.
Emery would score once more in the contest, with senior Mikel Ilijec punching in a three-yard run for a touchdown. Attwood would close the contest with another successful PAT as the Spartans fell to Kanab 45-20.
With the loss, Emery moves to 0-1 on the season. The Spartans will have a bye week next week before making the trip to Beaver for a non-region showdown on Friday, Aug. 29. Live coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. with Landon’s Diesel Service pregame show, with kickoff to follow at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on KOAL 107.3 FM and 750 AM as well as on YouTube at Castle Country Radio- Emery.