3A football preview: Uintah at Emery

Uintah (1-8, 0-4) at Emery (6-4, 2-2)

3A State Tournament first-round game

Friday, 4 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: Emery by 12

All-time series: Emery leads 9-4.

Last meeting: 2007 regular season, Emery won 29-7

Emery High has been one of the biggest feel-good stories of the 2007 prep season. With its community reeling from the Crandall

Mine disaster, Emery's football team has served as a rallying point throughout the fall.

Now the Spartans will look to add to their second-place Region 8 finish by beating Uintah in the opening round of the 3A playoffs Friday.

Balance pretty much describes what Emery has done offensively. Mike Jones and Ryan Jones have rushed for seven touchdowns apiece, and QB Dempsey Jeffs has thrown for 12 TDs through the air.

Those three weapons should be licking their chops at the prospect of facing Uintah's porous defense, which has allowed the most points of anyone in 3A (46.44 ppg).

Don't count out Uintah completely, however. Though the Utes were clubbed by Region 10 heavyweights Wasatch, Union, Judge and Park City, they can take consolation from the fact that Park City thrashed Emery 49-6 just last week.

Emery did notch a 29-7 win over Uintah when the first-round opponents met earlier this year.

Uintah Utes statistical breakdown

Scoring offense: 17.22 ppg

Scoring defense: 46.44 ppg

Passing leader: Dallas Smuin (10 TDs)

Rushing leader: Cylor Morgan (4 TDs)

Receiving leader: Derek Bunderson (7 TDs)

Tackles leader: Not provided

Sacks leader: Not provided

Interceptions leader: Not provided

Emery Spartans statistical breakdown

Scoring offense: 28.3 ppg

Scoring defense: 19 ppg

Passing leader: Dempsey Jeffs (12 TDs)

Rushing leaders: Mike Jones (7 TDs), Ryan Jones (7 TDs)

Receiving leader: Jordan Gee (8 TDs)