It was a frigid day in Roosevelt, Utah, with temperatures flirting with the forties as the Emery Spartans took the field to face the Union Cougars on Friday, Sept. 12. Utilizing an option offense, the Cougars looked unstoppable as they secured a 40-7 victory.

Offense was rolling early for Union, tacking on 10 in the first frame. Things kicked off when senior back JD Mojado bullied his way into the end zone for a 2-yard score. A second drive for the Cougars would stall out in the red zone, but Cody Duncan’s leg converted a 15-yard field goal, increasing the Union lead to 10-0 at the end of one.

Defense powered the Cougars to open the second, sacking the Spartans in the end zone for a safety. Both teams would remain silent until the final minute and a half, with Union quarterback Gannon Labrum keeping the ball for himself on a 16-yard scamper to the goal line. Three plays later, the Cougars picked off Emery, marching downfield and again scoring, with Mojado again plowing into the end zone to increase the Union advantage to 26-0 as the team entered the halftime break.

Things slowed down in the third, with the lone offensive action coming on a 34-yard run by Cruz Labrum to raise the score to 33-0 entering the final frame.

Each team would score once more in the fourth. For Union, it was Tyce Miller doing the dirty work, sprinting nine yards to the goal for the Cougars’ fifth rushing touchdown of the game.

Emery would break the goose egg in the final moments of the contest with quarterback Trygg Jensen slinging the ball 22 yards downfield to an open Garrett Conover to get the Spartans on the board. Kicker Jadin Atwood would drill the point after through the uprights, creating a final score of 40-7.

Jensen again led the team in both passing and rushing, totaling 98 yards and a touchdown through the air while adding 83 yards on the ground. Jensen’s favorite target in the contest was Beau Stilson, who closed with 72 receiving yards. Conover found success in the rushing game, contributing 65 yards.

With the loss, Emery falls to 1-3 at the midway mark of the season. The Spartans close out their non-region slate on Friday, Sept. 19, at home as they welcome the Canyon View Falcons (3-2, 1-1 region) to Spartan Stadium.

Pregame coverage for the contest begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Landon’s Diesel Service Pregame show, followed by kickoff at 7 p.m. Live coverage of the game is hosted on KOAL 107.3 FM and 750 AM, with a video stream available on YouTube at Castle Country Radio – Emery.