Coming off a bye-week, the Emery Spartans looked to return to their winning ways as they traveled to Monroe, Utah for a showdown with the South Sevier Rams. In a high-scoring affair in which the two teams combined for 89 points, the Spartans would hold on to win the nail-biter 48-41.
Throwing his first pass in two weeks, including practices, senior quarterback Trevin Gilbert would waste no time re-acclimating on the field as he guided the Spartans to midfield before connecting with fellow senior Hayden Abrams on a jet screen. Abrams would juke two South Sevier defenders before jetting 58 yards to the end zone. A successful point after gave Emery the early 7-0 lead.
After the Spartan’s defense forced a punt, General Gilbert would lead his troops downfield on a drive that included a diving catch from senior receiver Porter Hurdsman that set Emery up on the Ram’s five-yard line. A few plays later the Spartans would score when Gilbert took a quarterback sneak up the middle and across the goal line. Again Emery would convert on the extra point and increase their advantage to 14-0.
Not wanting to fall behind, South Sevier would march down to Emery’s nine-yard line. Rolling out to his right on a bootleg, senior quarterback Kanyon Okerlund would opt to tuck the ball and run, spinning into the end zone on the scramble. Senior kicker Peyton Gibson would push the ball through the uprights and tighten the gap between the two teams 14-7.
Emery would again strike, this time on the ground when stellar blocking from the Spartan’s offensive line would open up a hole big enough to drive a Mack Truck through; something which senior back Jaxon Johnson would take advantage of as he rumbled 30 yards to the house. Junior kicker Jadin Atwood would again convert the extra point and give Emery the 21-7 advantage.
Like Mike Tyson to Evander Holyfield, the Rams would answer back with a blow of their own. The retaliatory score came when Okerlund would hand the ball off to junior running back Hudson Flinders who took the edge and darted 11 yards to the end zone. A bad snap on the extra point attempt would stop South Sevier in their tracks, cutting into the Emery lead 21-13.
It would take only 17 seconds for the Spartans to respond. Following the kickoff, Gilbert would find Hurdsman open in the flat. Bobbing and weaving, Hurdsman would navigate the Ram’s defense before breaking away for a 65-yard sprint across the goal line. Atwood’s kick would again be true as the Spartans increased their advantage 28-13.
Emery would score once more before the end of the half. This time the points came courtesy of Johnson, who overpowered South Sevier at the line of scrimmage, bulldozing his way into the end zone and putting six more on the board for the Spartans. The Ram’s special team unity would come up big and block Emery’s kick, making it a 34-13 ballgame heading into the half.
The third quarter would be defined by defense, with both teams combining for only two touchdowns in the frame. The first came courtesy of the Spartans, as Gilbert would drop back in the pocket before delivering a ball right down the seam to Johnson for a seven-yard touchdown. Emery’s special teams unit would get the job done and earn the point after, raising the score to 41-13.
South Sevier would strike back, but the points would come from the Ram’s defense when sophomore linebacker Masen Healey would pick off Gilbert and strut five yards into the end zone. On the extra point attempt, the big arms of senior Gavin Bernard would get a hold of the kick and rip the ball down, denying the Rams special teams unit yet again and holding the score at 41-19.
Opening the fourth quarter, the Spartans would enter the redzone following a 45-yard pass from Gilbert to Abrams that set Emery up at the five-yard line. On the ensuing play, Gilbert would find Hurdsman in the corner of the end zone for another Emery touchdown. Again, the kick would be successful for the Spartans as they took a hefty 48-19 lead.
Down but not out, the Rams would mount a comeback attempt. Things would get started when Okerlund would command South Sevier downfield, capping an impressive drive off when he connected with senior back Boston Palmer for a five-yard passing touchdown. The duo would also be instrumental in securing the two-point conversion for the Rams when they connected again on a short curl to make it 48-27.
The comeback attempt would continue with just 3:40 left in the game. After forcing a fumble from the Spartans, South Sevier would march 99 yards downfield, with the long drive being capped off by a one-yard dive across the goal line by senior Chase Spackman. The PAT would be successful and the Rams edged ever closer to Emery 48-34.
Spartan fans both in person and those streaming the game would have a heart attack when the Rams recovered an onside kick and set themselves up at midfield. South Sevier would take this opportunity and again put points on the board. This go-round it was Palmer who sneaked into the end zone for the Rams. The leg of Gibson would help lift the score to a nail-biting 48-41.
But the Spartans were able to make key plays on the ensuing drive before assuming the victory formation and escaping with the slim 48-41 victory.
For the Spartans, Gilbert would finish with 317 passing yards and four touchdowns through the air. His favorite target was Porter Hurdsman, who ended with 155 receiving yards and two touchdowns of his own. Not far behind was Abrams, who had 115 receiving yards and a touchdown. Getting the job done on the ground was Johnson, who totaled 64 rushing yards, 20 receiving yards and three total touchdowns.
Emery (5-2, 1-1 2a South) returns home next week on Friday, Oct. 11 against the Grand Red Devils (1-7, 0-2 2a South). The game will also mark senior night for the Spartans, as they celebrate the players who have given so much for the team during their time at Emery. Play-by-play for that game will be on KOAL 107.3FM or 750AM. You can also stream that game live on YouTube. Again, pregame will be at 6:30 p.m. and kickoff will be at 7 p.m.