Morgan Academy's Holt Utsey named MVP at AISA All-Star football game Friday

Morgan Academy football star Holt Utsey was named MVP at the AISA All-Star game Friday night in Montgomery.

Utsey and five other Morgan players were on the West team that lost to the East 34-32, but Morgan Academy put its best foot forward at the game played at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery Friday night.

Cheerleader Grace Wilkinson and football player Josh Brown were awarded the AISA All-Star scholarship.

Morgan Academy All-Star football players chosen to play for the West in the game were Utsey, Chris Gardner, Kenny Nichols, Matthew Free, Scott Lalone, and Josh Brown. 

Morgan Academy head football coach and athletic director Danny Raines served as an assistant football coach for the game.

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In addition to Utsey taking the MVP award for the west, Brown played well at cornerback and caused a fumble and tackled well. Lalone made seven tackles, Gardner had two catches and Nichols and Free played well on the offensive line.

“All of our kids did a great job. Just like each time they hit the field - Holt, Scott, Josh, Kenny, Matthew and Chris laid it on the line,” said Raines following the All-Star event. “They competed with the best of the best - and all performed superbly. They had a great week. It’s been a blessing to work with these guys.”

Sponsored by Whitney Holladay, Morgan Academy All-Star cheerleaders chosen to participate in the game were Grace Wilkinson, Mary Alan Ousley, McKinley Fuller and Erin Odom.

Morgan Academy went 8-3 in 2020 under the direction of first year head football coach and athletic director Raines. The Senators outscored opponents 396-313, went 4-1 in AISA Class AAA Region 2 play, 6-0 in home games, earned a second seed in the AISA Class AAAA State Championship playoffs.