This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

As Alta's scout-team quarterback, it was Eric Emery's job for the past two seasons to learn the other team's offense. He never had reason to worry about his team's playbook.

But on Oct. 8, as he stood on the sideline — his weekly gameday experience — and watched quarterback Tyson Blackner throw his second interception of the game.

Turnovers had plagued Blackner and the senior he replaced midseason, Boston Handley. Emery's thoughts were interrupted by Coach Les Hamilton screaming in his direction.

"Get in Emery," Hamilton said. "You're quarterback."

They were words the coach never had said to his senior backup. Emery had never appeared in a varsity game or practiced with the first-team offense.

Sitting next to his wife near the top of the north-end of Alta's bleachers, Chris Emery, Eric's father, felt someone tap his shoulder.

"Hey, Eric's going in," Chris was told.

Emery was efficient in his varsity debut. He completed three passes and didn't turn the ball over, as running back Taylor Eyring exploded for three touchdowns. The Hawks beat the Cavemen 27-6, after leading only 7-6 at halftime.

Through the next week, in anticipation of Alta's next game at Hillcrest, Emery was a team star. Kids at school asked if he would remain starter. "It put a smile on my face when they asked me," Emery said.

In his second game, he ran for a touchdown and threw for another in Alta's 49-0 rout of the Huskies. Emery was becoming firmly entrenched as the starter for the remainder of Alta's season.

But high school football is fleeting, especially for someone whose first chance came so late and was gone so soon.

Two weeks after he entered his first game, Emery lost his starting position. In a game against Pleasant Grove, he lasted only six plays, victimized not by mistakes, but by the rigors of the game.

"I remember throwing the ball and then, I don't remember anything else after that," Emery said.

He watched the video his mother, Jane, recorded from her usual perch and saw an inside linebacker roll blitz right as he rolled left. Emery saw the linebacker lower his helmet, but not before it collided with his. He crumpled to the ground.

A doctor said his concussion would keep him out at least a week. A morose Emery kicked around practice in the days leading up to Alta's playoff opener against Northridge. He passed the ball back and forth with team managers, watching the first-team offense from the sideline.

Emery hoped to start a second-round playoff game, but it won't happen. Alta lost last week to Northridge, 21-14, ending its season at 4-7.

Chris Emery said his son's three games under center remain the highlight of a brief, improbable career.

"If you're the starting quarterback at Alta, I guess that's a pretty prestigious thing," he said. "It's not something everybody gets the opportunity to be."

boram@sltrib.com Twitter: @oramb —

Eric Emery

Alta's third starting quarterback this season, Emery was responsible for preparing Alta's defense.

Before Oct. 8, he never played with the Hawks' starting offense.

Over three games, Emery rushed for a touchdown and threw another.