B1 The Emery County Review, Tuesday, September 23, 2008 SPORTS Homecoming 2008 Spartans fall to Utes in heartbreaker Josie Luke Luck was not on the Emery Spartan football team’s side in their homecoming game against the Uintah Utes on Sept. 9. After fighting back after a slow first half to knot up the game in the second half on a 93-yard kickoff return by JT Noyes, the Spartans lost the game by a mere extra point, 20-21. Assistant Coach Gary Arrington summed up the game saying, “The team really played hard, and the fans got their money’s worth, but you really want the win.” The Spartans indeed had their chances in the game, but couldn’t seem to win the battle of field position, especially in the first half where, on average, they were forced to start out offensive drives on their own 18 yard line. This, added to the fact that their offensive timing was off in the game, made for a scrappy game. The Utes, on the other hand, had good field position, but were consistently held back by the Emery Defense. The Utes scored the first touchdown of the game on a 2-yard run, after blocking an Emery punt, which left them with only 19 yards to go to score. The first half would have been much more lopsided were it not for the Spartan defense which afterward held the Utes scoreless until half time, particularly Free Safety Dusty Jensen, who had three outstanding interceptions in the second quarter. The Spartans came out of halftime with renewed energy. Jensen took the Uintah kickoff and ran it back 30 yards before being tackled at the 32, then JT Noyes had a huge run to get the ball to the Utes’ 8 yard line. After Chance Ariotti took it to the 1 yard line, Quarterback Gatlan Huntington took the ball in on the option for the touchdown. The Spartans missed the extra point, so the score Spartan fans settle in for the game. was 6-7. The beginning of the fourth quarter looked promising for the Spartans, who had pinned the Utes back on their own 1 yard line with an awesome kick, but Uintah put together a gritty 99-yard drive to take the lead 14-6. After such a drive, Emery might have folded and given up, but the team was determined to give their fans the win. Noyes grabbed the Uintah kickoff and, behind great blocking, weaved and spun his way 93 yards for the touchdown. Still down two, Emery was forced to go for the two point conversion. Huntington kept the ball, rolling out to the right, and stretched to get the ball past the pylon and into the corner of the end zone to tie the game. Though both teams each had two more chances to score, the drives followed the script of the game. Emery held the Utes from scoring, by twice stopping them on fourth down, and the Spartans offense couldn’t get anything going. In overtime, Emery had the first opportunity to attempt to score. Unlike during regulation, the Spartans looked primarily to their passing game for the score. Tight End Cameron Hansen brought the ball to the 8 yard line on a 17-yard reception, and then brought the brought the excitement of the crowd to a peak with a reception in the end zone for the touchdown. But, after missing the extra point, the pressure on the Emery defense was extreme. They had to hold the Utes offense from scoring Photos by Josie Luke JT Noyes runs for the end zone. for the 10th time, which was made even more difficult by the fact that in overtime, Uintah had only 25 yards to go to score. The Spartans again forced the Utes to go for the score on 4th down, but the Utes running back, who had 150 yards rushing in the game, pounded the ball into the end zone from the 4 yard line for the touchdown. When the Uintah extra point attempt sailed through the uprights, the heartbreak was palpable. The loss was Emery’s third of the sea- son, bringing the Spartans’ record to 2-3. Head Coach Jimmy Jones said he thought the team played well defensively. Along with the three interceptions by Jensen, Derrick Allred led the team in tackles with 16. The offense on the other hand, he said had a difficult game. The team had only 38 yards passing and 105 yards rushing. “We’re struggling offensively,” he revealed. “Our execution, our timing, our blocking, we’re a little bit out of sync. Hav- ing said that, there were so many different plays where if any of them would have gone our way, it would have ended differently.” The Spartans hope their next game will go differently. The game brings Emery’s biggest rival Carbon to town. The game will start Friday at 7 p.m. The Dinos are coming off a 49-0 loss to Ogden and have an overall record of 0-5, but the Emery coaches warn, “Anything can happen in a rivalry game.” Photos by Glen Jensen Frankie Komar sets the ball. Emery Takes Out Salem Hills The Spartan Volleyball team traveled to Salem Hills last week where both the junior varsity and varsity teams showed their determination as they took the game to Salem Hills and came away with victories in three games. In the JV matches the Spartans won 25-10, 25-16 and 15-12 and in varsity action the Spartans battled a couple of close games but held on to win all three matches. Jodi Robertson dives for the ball. Brooke Jensen and Abbie Kay block the ball.