Spartans march over ALA Eagles 45-7

Vallyn Bernard

Last week had to be one of the roughest weeks in the young history of the American Leadership Academy’s football team. It started with the tragic deaths in an automobile of one of their assistant coaches and his wife. This was emotional enough, but things only got worse for the ALA football team when the Spartans came into town on Friday night with seven Eagle starters gone for the coach’s funeral.

In an extremely lopsided game the Eagles lost 45 to 7 while the Spartans rushed and passed for 559 yards in total offense. Jordan Gee accounted for almost 200 yards in offense, rushing for 125 yards and one touchdown, and being on the receiving end of a 51-yard touchdown strike to open the Spartans’ scoring with only 15 seconds off the clock in the first quarter.

Ryne Jones totaled 82 yards on the ground while scoring on touchdown runs of 43 and 12 yards. He also took a 25-yard pass from Dempsey Jeffs into the end zone. Mike Jones rushed for 81 yards with a 4-yard touchdown run. The Spartans marched for a staggering 336 yards against the Eagles.

Again the Spartan defense stood solid with the only Eagle score coming from a kickoff return near the end of the second quarter. Cameron Hansen had three sacks early into the second half before some of the younger players took the field for the Spartans.

About the only thing the coaching staff may have a concern over is the number of penalties in the first half against the Spartans. It seemed the referees were trying to set a record for number of penalties in a half. Without a doubt the Spartans had more flags thrown against them in the first half against the Eagles than in this entire season to date. Certainly something the Spartans will be working on before region play begins.

This win brings the Spartans record to 3 and 1 with a non-region game this week at Uintah. Many of us can’t travel to our Spartans away games, but mark your calendars for the game Sept. 20 at Carbon. Don’t forget your battle flags.

Youth boxers battle it out in the ring at Elks Club

Vallyn Bernard

The Price Elk’s Amateur Boxing Club had seven boxers in the ring for the Price Elk’s Boxing Invitational on Sept. 8. Started in 1982, the boxing club is currently in the hands of head coach Mark Montoya with Mitchell Hadden and Chris Collard assisting. Fifteen young boxers ranging in age from 8 to 18 presently form the club’s roster. Amazingly, these young men travel twice a month all over the country to box with some pretty fantastic results. For example, Chad Collard in the 60 lbs division recently won the National Golden Gloves belt while his brother Cezly in the 80 lbs class came in second.

By the time my curfew came every Price Elks boxer had won his bout with Chad Collard defending his Golden Gloves at 60 lbs, Jacob Damron at 75 lbs, Jordan Richardson at 85 lbs, and Cezly Collard in the 80 lbs class.

Boxing is a lot more than a couple of people putting on some gloves and pounding on each other until the bell rings or the lights go out. A great deal of time, conditioning, and training go into making these young men tough enough to be called boxers. Emery and Carbon counties have a history of putting out some mighty tough people, and the Price Elks Amateur Boxing Club is continuing that tradition.

Local jockey rides into winners’ circle

Vallyn Bernard

Dal Guymon, son of Darce and Peggy Guymon from Cleveland, has been riding hard the past couple years, and has earned a lot of respect from horse owners, trainers, and fellow jockeys.

Dal started riding professionally in the summer of 2005 with Boe and Curtis Taylor of Lawrence teaching him the ropes of being a jockey.

Most of his races have been on bush tracks, but he has raced on official tracks in Wyoming and Nevada. At 5 foot 7 inches and 124 pounds, Dal is a little big for a jockey, but he’s all cowboy, which makes up for any differences. Catching Dal without a cowboy hat is rare, and out of cowboy boots just doesn’t happen.

Earlier this year at Parowan, Dal had six mounts and rode four of them to the victory circle. At Peach Days he was on two more winning horses to close out his professional riding for a little while. Dal graduated this spring from Emery High where he was a member of the National Honor Society, the Future Farmers of America, and an Eagle Scout. Currently going to CEU, Dal plans on serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints starting in December.

Though sometimes in rough areas, Dal has always set a great example for all he’s associated with, and will be missed on the racing circuit. Can a missionary wear cowboy boots?