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Show A6 The Emery County Review, Tuesday, October 14, 2008 SPORTS Spartans outmatched, outplayed by Rabbits Josie Luke The Spartan Football Team was simply outmatched in their region game against the Delta Rabbits on Oct. 9. Though Emery spoiled Delta’s streak of shutouts against in-state opponents, it was an afterthought in a game in which the Rabbits racked up 40 points, 33 by halftime. The Rabbits were nearly unstoppable, scoring on five of their first six drives. The only fruitless drive in the first half for Delta was on a missed field goal. The Rabbits’ scoring was capped by an arguably unsportsmanlike 16-yard touchdown pass with less than 30 seconds left in the half. Whether of not the play fired up the Spartans is debatable, but Emery came out in the second half and held Delta scoreless in the third quarter; allowing only one more touchdown at the beginning of the fourth. Emery’s only scoring drive came in the fourth quarter. The drive began at the Delta 25-yard line and comprised 75 of the Spartans’ 130 yards of total offense in the game. Even after a 15-yard facemask penalty against the Rabbits and two great receptions by Cameron Hansen, Emery still found themselves with fourth down and 17 yards to go on their own 42-yard line. Yet somehow, Quarterback Gatlan Huntington hooked up with Colby Snow for the touchdown pass, bringing the score to 40-7 and destroying Delta’s shutout streak. Coach Jimmy Jones was disappointed with how his team played in the game saying, “They pretty much manhandled us.” He explained that along with difficulties on offense, the Spartans’ defense had a poor game, especially in tackling. “We kind of resorted to what we were doing at the beginning of the season, arm-tackling and tackling people high.” The tough play in the game also proved to further rough up an already injured Spartan squad. The team entered the game without injured receiver Tanner Procarione and running back JT Noyes, and during the game Dusty Jensen was also hurt. Emery hopes to have Noyes back for their next game against North Sanpete, but because of the short week, Procarione and Jensen are doubtful. The Spartans face the Hawks on Wednesday at North Sanpete. After two difficult games against Juan Diego and Delta, the Spartans can still finish the season with a .500 record if they win their next two games. Doing so would also put the Spartans in a better position in the state tournament, facing a second-ranked team rather than a region champion. Rivals Go Head to Head Spartan Volleyball Above, Abbie Kay hits the ball; right, ShiAnne Allred; below, Lady Spartan fans cheer on their team. Photos by Glen Jensen The Lady Spartans rebounded after a tough week to beat Salem Hills at home in five on Oct. 7, but on Oct. 9 the Lady Spartans lost the momentum they hoped to build on as they fell to Deta in four games. Emery faces Carbon at Carbon on Oct. 14 and then will be off until Oct. 21 when they face North Sanpete. Canyon View Falls to San Rafael The Canyon View and San Rafael football teams faced off for the second time this season, with a similar result. The Bulldogs jumped on the Cougars in the first half, 26-0, before Canyon View mounted a comeback. But again, it was too little too late, as the Bulldogs held on 26-16. Cross Country team prepares for region Josie Luke In a Region 8 Cross Country preview held at Juan Diego on Oct. 8, both the Spartan teams were given an advantageous opportunity to run the course they will run this week at region for a chance to make it to state. Coaches Kristy Guymon and Darrell Gardner reported the race gave them valuable experience for the region meet scheduled on the same course Oct. 15. “It gave the girls a chance to see what the race is like so they can make game plans for region,” Guymon said. For the boys’ team, it also served strategic importance. “We went up and did what we set out to accomplish. It was very useful,” Gardner stated. “It was more getting a feeling of the course, than getting a feel of the competition.” Gardner even held some runners back, but that in itself was a bit of strategy. “I held the boys back and they all ran as a pack with our number five runner. I hope that they can do now what we want in the race.” Gardner had revealed earlier that if Emery’s number five runner could come in at the same time as Carbon’s number five runner, they could qualify for state. The strategy drew the attention of other coaches. “We even got accused of having a brain by one of the other coaches,” joked Gardner. “They were impressed. They didn’t believe we had enough brains.” The girls will field a full team of runners in the region race but are still looking for more athletes to bolster the team’s chances. According to both coaches it is common practice for cross country teams to recruit athletes from other sports teams for region races. One team member, Lacey Montgomery, who continues to do very well, is virtually a lock for the state race, but it will take a larger team, and that team doing well, for the rest of the girls to get a chance to go. To get both teams geared up for Wednesday’s race, the coaches will carry on their annual pre-race party tonight, where the teams will be treated to homemade waffles and ice cream. According to Guymon, it will help with carbohydrate loading. So that, too, is all part of the strategy. Photos by Josie Luke Bulldogs Take Out Cougars The rivalry between the San Rafael and Canyon View volleyball teams was fought again, as the Cougars traveled to the Bulldogs’ house on Oct. 7. San Rafael won the first two games, 20-16 and 20-10, before dropping a tight one to Canyon View, 22-21. Though the Cougars at times looked strong, they were finally outmatched in the fourth game 21-11 in the best of five match-up. Tennis team competes at state Rebecca Lofley The state tennis tournament was held on Oct. 10-11. Five Emery girls traveled to BYU to compete: Whitney Saupan, competing in first singles, Adriane Weighing and Melanie Frisbee, competing in first doubles, and Courtney Sitterud and Kaitlin Potter, competing in second doubles. These top varsity players had fared well in region play and at the region tournament and hoped to do as well on a state level. It was a single elimination tournament. Whitney as well as Melanie and Adriane were eliminated in the first round, while Kaitlin and Courtney won their first match only to be eliminated by a loss in their second, placing fifth in state in second doubles. In recounting their experience at state tennis Kaitlin said speaking of her teamwork with Courtney, “At state tennis we told each other that we could do it. We built each other up over the season and became greater than we ever expected. Although we didn’t take first, we did the best we thought possible.” |