Morgan Academy closes out regular season with win over Fort Dale

The AISA Class AAA Region 2 playoff-bound Morgan Academy Senators improved to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in region play with a 45-14 rout of regional opponent and rival the Fort Dale Eagles on Friday, Oct. 23.

The Senators’ last regular season contest was not actually as close as the score. Morgan Academy head football coach and athletic director Danny Raines began getting substitutes into the game as early as the second quarter. And Morgan Academy led 35-7 at the half.

Among Morgan Academy highlights, Holt Utsey carried the ball seven times for 129 yards and three touchdowns. And Morgan Academy kicker Wade Mason made six point after touchdown kicks and booted a 41-yard field goal.

The Senators amassed 253 yards of total offense, including 199 yards rushing and 54 yards passing.

Also, for the Senators, quarterback Andrew Thomas completed two of five passes for 56 yards; Scott Lalone had 11 tackles (seven solos and four assists); and Davis Vardaman had 10 tackles (six solos and four assists).

“Our kids did a great job this week preparing - as they do each week,” Raines said. “They really performed well.”

As to getting substitutes into the contest, Raines said, “It was good to see guys get to carry the ball that are usually opening up holes for us.” He also said, “It’s always good when everyone gets to play.”

The Senators set the tone for Friday’s contest when on the first play after the kickoff, Utsey broke loose for a 57-yard touchdown run, and Mason added the point after kick.

Later, a bobbled snap on a Fort Dale punt led to the Senators taking over on the Eagles 7 yard line. Utsey scored on an 11-yard touchdown run. Mason added the point after, and at the 6:24 mark of the first quarter, the Senators led 14-0.

A 1-yard touchdown run by Matthew Free and Mason point after kick gave the Senators a 21-0 lead with about two minutes left in the first quarter.

And, early in the second quarter, a 5-yard Kenny Nichols touchdown run and Mason kick upped the Senators’ lead to 28-0.

Fort Dale managed to score on a 25-yard run and point after touchdown with about 2:45 left in the half. But the respite was short lived as Utsey would score on an 8-yard touchdown run and Mason would add the point after for a 35-7 lead at the half.

The Senators would push their lead to 38-7 with a Mason 41-yard field goal with seconds left in the third quarter. 

A Perrin-Utsey 1-yard touchdown run and Mason kick would make it a 45-7 contest in favor of the Senators with 11:12 left in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles would get a second touchdown and point after kick following a fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter to make it a 45-14 final.

The Morgan Academy Senators will host an AISA Class AAA first-round playoff game on Nov. 6. Raines said, “I’m so glad for us to be a two seed and to have a home playoff game. These kids deserve it. We are going to do our best as we prepare for that playoff game in two weeks.”

As 2020 was a season impacted by COVID-19 at many levels, Raines said, “We’ve had to change how we do some things - but it has gone well. These kids have done a great job adapting to the new procedures that we have implemented.”