Morgan Academy suffers first loss at Southern Academy

The AISA Class AAA Region 2 Morgan Academy Senators saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with a region loss at Southern Academy Friday night.

In a shootout, the Morgan Academy Senators fell to the Southern Academy Cougars 42-36 to drop to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in region play.

On the night for the Senators, Alex Johnson rushed for 135 yards on 23 carries.

The Cougars opened the game with a touchdown early in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead.

However, after Kemyron Pritchett recovered a Cougar fumble at the Morgan Academy 43-yard line, Alex Johnson later scored on a 12-yard touchdown run and 2-point run to take the lead 8-6 late in the quarter.

After a 40-yard Alex Johnson run put the Senators at the Cougars’ 1-yard line, the Senators later scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Alex Johnson to Sean Pope. Alex Johnson then connected with Rhett Thomas for a 2-point pass to take a 16-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Senators increased their lead to 22-6 in the second quarter on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Alex Johnson to Pope.

The Cougars would answer with 5:32 left in the half to make it a 22-14 contest still in favor of the Senators.

But after a roughing the kicker penalty against the Senators, the Cougars scored on a 50-yard touchdown pass to make it a 22-22 game with a 2-point play at the half.

In the third quarter, Caine McLaughlin returned a Cougar fumble to the 1-yard line. But later, Alex Johnson connected with Speedie Pernell for a 16-yard touchdown pass to make it a 28-22 contest with 6:25 in the quarter.

However, with 2:38 left in the third quarter, the Cougars scored on a 10-yard run to tie the score at 28-28.

The Cougars next took the lead with 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter to make it a 34-28 ball game.

The Senators would tie the game on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Alex Johnson to James Jones and take the lead at 36-34 on a 2-point pass to Taylon Sigler with 3:39 left in the game.

The Cougars would take the final lead with 2:13 left the game at 42-36.

The Senators will travel to play undefeated non-regional opponent the Abbeville Christian Generals for the first time in school history on Friday, Sept. 19.