The Emery Spartans rallied in the fourth quarter, but the comeback effort fell short as the team slipped to 2-2 on the season with a 38-27 loss to the Manti Templars Friday in Castle Dale.

Trailing 24-7 in the four the quarter, the Spartans put together two impressive touchdown drives to cut the Manti advantage down to three. The Templars responded on the ensuing drive with a 43-yard touchdown pass, extending their advantage back to scores and earning the eventual win.

Senior quarterback Wade Stilson completed 21-of-48 passes for 268 yards and one touchdown. Turnovers plagued the Spartans for the second straight week as Stilson threw three interceptions.

Dane Sitterud provided Emery with balance offensively as he rushed for 124 yards on 24 carries, finding the end zone one time. Stilson scored twice on the ground, both times were quarterback sneaks from the one-yard line.

Matt Olsen continued to dominate as he once again accumulated over 200 all purpose yards. Hauling in 11 grabs for 114 yards, Olsen caught a touchdown on a botch snap for a field goal. He also carried the ball one time for 31 yards and returned an interception all the way to the eight-yard line, leading to Emery’s first score of the game in the second quarter.

The first two quarters of Friday’s game turned out to be a defensive battle. With the score locked 0-0 at the end of the first, Manti took a 3-0 lead off an Austin Thomas 33-yard field goal with 9:27 to play in the half.

The Templars added to their lead with a breakout 76-yard touchdown pass from Maison Starkweather to Reggie Frischknect with 1:51 left in the second. Matt Olsen’s lengthy interception return in the closing seconds of the first half allowed the Spartans to close the gap, as Manti took a 10-7 lead into the break.

Manti outscored Emery 14-0 in the third quarter and had control of the game entering the fourth. The Spartans refused to quit and forced the Templars to make a few big plays offensively late in the game.

Friday’s loss marks the second straight for Emery as the team now sits 2-2 with only one non-region game remaining on the schedule. The Templars continue to elevate their play each week and now hold a record of 3-1.

Emery will now begin a two-game road tilt starting Friday as they travel to meet the Carbon Dinos. The following week will be a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s semifinal game with the San Juan Broncos, in Blanding.