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Show Tuesday, November 5, 1991 6A Emery County Progress SPORTS Feeling the pressure of the prepares to launch a West defensive line, Emery quarterback Dean Stil-so- n pass. Panthers slip past Spartans 1 7-1- 2 Emery crashes hard in loss to West cially an emotional end to the season for the teams seniors, many of Svhom remained on jj the fafeld .in shock. The two teams matched up well, especially defensively By LARRY W. DAVIS Progress editor . CASTLE' v t ID v. DALE' WtHe first time since entering 3A competition three years ago, the Emery Spartan football team was eliminated in the where neither team could get first round of the state football much going early in the game on offense. Emerys first two playoffs. The season came possessions ended in turnovcrashing down on the Spartans when West High pulled ers, the first coming on a out a 2 win over the Spar- fumble and the second on a tans last Friday afternoon at botched punt which turned out to be an intercepted pass. Emery. The Panthers did manage In one of the best defensive , to penetrate into Emery territgames ofthe season, two ofthe ! ory on their first possession states finest football teams before being stopped on downs battled for the chance to ' at the Spartan 25. advance to this weeks quarterfinals in the 3A tourna- : The first break of the game ment. Although Emery, tinder icame after Emery forced a head coach Jim Jones, has (West punt early in the second managed to make it at least period and took possession at that far in the previous two th Spartan 31. A screen pass seasons, the teams season to 'the right to fullback Jon came to an end with the loss to Skipps resulted in a West. g gain and a first down at the 4 1 . It was a game that wasnt Quarterback Dean Stilson over until it was over. Two then connected with wide costly turnovers in Emerys receiver Chris Justice for a final two possessions of the gain to the West 47. A run by game sealed the fat& of the Skipps then gave Emery Spartans who watched the another first at the West 40. Panthers run the final secAfter two incomplete pasonds off the clock. It was espe ses, the sophomore quarter 17-1- 3 10-ya- rd -- ' back found Justice open along the right sideline and hit him in stride atthi injustice outran the defender into the end zone for the games first score at the 3:48 mark of the period. The PAT kick by Christian Aas was wide, however, as the score stood at 0 for Emery. Neither team could mount much of an offense during the rest ofthe half as the Spartan lead held up into the third period. Emery received to begin the second half, and the Spartans showed signs of putting together a scoring drive. An run by Skipps, a penalty on West and a pass completion to Justice for 20 yards gave Emery a first down at the West 34. Two plays later, however, a Stilson pass was intercepted by Wests Matt Wata-nu6-- 11-ya- rd ki at the 15. West, which had kept mostly to the ground, went to the air on its next possession and found success in moving the ball to the Emery 37 on five plays. Then on second and eight, West went to its bag of tricks as quarterback Ben Byrd passed right to wide receiver Justin Spencer who West moved to the Emery the kick, and Justice picked up the loose ball and ran j some 30 yards for. rtheuj score with 11:45 left in the game. The Spartans went for a conversion, but the West line broke through the protection and dropped StilWests defense stopped son before the play could deveEmery on four plays on the lop. That left the score at 2 next series and got possession for West. Panththe a at following punt Although West was held on er 42. This time West stayed its next series, the Panthers mainly on the ground and managed to eat up some valumoved the ball to the Emery able time and put Emery in 31. After a pair of penalties poor field position at its own moved the Panthers back to 14. But Emery struck quickly the Emery 40, West picked up with pass completions to Jusbig yardage on a pitchout to tice for gains to the 26 and 50. Asi Mohi who ran up the sideTwo plays later, Stilson hit line to the Spartan 12. Two Ryan Burke for a gain to the more runs moved West to the West 26 as Emery appeared Emery one, and on first and determined to come from goal from that point, the behind. passed down field to wide receiver Jason Jones. The ball wa s caught4n the end zone for the score, and the PAT kick by Jeff Holtry was good to give the visitors a 6 lead at the 5:54 mark of the third period. blocked i six on six plays, booted a field goal to 2 with 28-ya- rd put the score at just 2:47 to play. 17-1- Emery was still in a position to win the game with a touchdown, but after taking possession at the Spartan 40 after a fine kickoff return by Joe Mireles, the local team turned the ball over on the first play on an interception by Watanuki at the Emery 44. Emery used its last time out with 1:18 to play, and West was able to run the clock down to end the game. West, the fourth place team from Region 6, advanced into the quarterfinals to face the winner of the Granite Bear River game. The Spartans ended the season undefeated in Region 7. The region champions had a 0 record. In the preseason, Emery lost to Dixie and Springville while getting wins over Spanish Fork and Pine View. With the loss to West, Emery ended the season with a 3 mark. 14-1- broke through the line, b?ck ,t0 the 11, and(Emejyrdug in. After failing to score, the Panthers called on Holtry who 7-- Panthers scored on a quarterback sneak by Byrd. The PAT kick was good to give West a 14-- 6 lead with 1:20 left in the third quarter. Emerys next possession ended in another punt, but the Spartan defense rose to the task to force a panther punt as the fourth period got underway. On this punt, Skipps but a penalty JPanth?r d, ! But things began to fall apart at that point. An illegal block moved Emery to the West 45, and a holding call then put the Spartans at their own 45. West added to Emerys problems when it sacked Stilson for a loss to the 41, 5-- and finally Emery lost possession on a fumble at the Spartan 39 with 6:25 to play. 7-- jA Ms a&u jsi K I yi ' ' , Emery defenders first period after are helpless as they watch a West defensive back pickoff this pass a botched punt attempt. y in the Running back Jon Skipps scurries after a loose ball after a fumbled pitchout. Emery was 1 . V- - , i ' : K ... 1 ; .V.- & ; ' .. 'If plagued by turnovers throughout the game Photos by Larry Davis i - |