The No. 3 Emery Spartans played host to No. 2 South Summit in a massive 2A region showdown Friday night in Castle Dale.
The Wildcats held control early and managed to hold off a late Emery run by extending a nine-point lead with two touchdowns in the final eight minutes to secure a 38-14 win. The loss for the Spartans snaps a two-game winning streak, while South Summit improved to 6-0 on the season.
South Summit jumped out to an early advantage, scoring the first 23 points of the game. As time trickled down in the first half Emery quarterback Wade Stilson found Matt Olsen in the back of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Emery’s Treg Miller crossed the goal line on a jet sweep for the two-point conversion, chopping the deficit to 23-8 entering half time.
The Spartans took the opening second half drive down the field, and nearly cut the South Summit advantage to one score. A 33-yard touchdown pass from Stilson to Creek Sharp was taken off the board with a holding call. Emery failed to finish the drive and the score remained a 15-point lead for South Summit entering the final quarter.
Emery junior Dane Sitterud found the end zone on a five-yard run in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter. Trailing 23-14, South Summit blocked the ensuing extra point, maintaining a two-score lead. With the momentum clearly shifting to the Wildcats sideline, the offense found its rhythm and scored on its next two drives to put the game away.
Stilson completed 20-34 passes for a total of 180 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions to lead the Spartans in the setback. Creek Sharp added to his brilliant early season as he hauled in seven catches for 82 yards.
Emery struggled to run the ball effectively early on but found success in the second half. Sitterud finished with 57 yards and a score on 14 carries, while Ridic Potter ended with four carries and eight yards.
Defensively Sebastian Hennes delivered a strong night as he secured an interception, a fumble recovery and four tackles. Sitterud led the team with 10 tackles, one for a loss, and a sack.
South Summit quarterback Bracken Lassche completed 17-29 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Senior standout Caleby Thompson once again dazzled as he caught seven passes for 76 yards to go along with three carries for 78 yards and two total touchdowns.
Despite the outcome of Friday’s game, the RPI rankings remain the same inside the top three. San Juan holds a slight lead over South Summit for the No. 1 ranking, while Emery is just ahead of Summit Academy for the No. 3 spot.
Emery, now 2-3 overall, will look to get back on the winning side of the scoreboard Friday night with a trip to Salt Lake City to meet No. 7 Judge Memorial.
