It might be time to start calling the Morgan Academy Senators the comeback kids.

Facing a double digit deficit for the second consecutive week, Morgan rallied to score 22 answered points in the fourth quarter Friday night against Autauga Academy in a 42-34 victory.

Quarterback Harrison Adams connected with Sawyer Hopkins on a 67-yard, game deciding touchdown, with 5:01 left to play that put the Senators up for good.

“We just had the mindset that we are supposed to win the game and are finding the way to win the game instead of looking for a way to lose it,” said Morgan Academy head coach Jake Wingo. “Our guys expect to win for the first time in a long time.”

Morgan trailed previously undefeated Tuscaloosa Academy by 15 in the second half last week, but rallied for a stunning upset of the top-5 Knights.

Friday’s win may have been even more unlikely.

Morgan compiled 489 yards of total offense, but trailed 34-20 after the Generals’ Joseph Burke threw a 29-yard touchdown on a halfback pass with 3:19 left in the third quarter.

It was all Senators from there.

Morgan had to punt facing a 14-point deficit, but a bad snap sailed over the head of quarterback Autauga Academy Stone Edwards and the Senators recovered. Seven plays later, JR Wood ran in a 1-yard touchdown to bring Morgan within 34-26 early in the fourth quarter.

At that point, the pressure turned to the Senators’ defense, which had been unable to stop Autauga from scoring since early in the first quarter.

With the game on the line, the Morgan defense had its best quarter of the night.

The Senators forced a three-and-out from Autauga and then blocked a Generals’ punt to give Morgan great field position.

On the first play of the next drive, Jackson Henderson ran 30 yards on an option play to pull the Senators within 34-32 with 9:00 left to play. The ensuing two-point conversion failed when Adams’ was intercepted.

On the third play of the next Autauga drive, it looked as if Generals’ running back Tevin Sharpe had run for a game-deciding touchdown, but the play was brought back by a holding call. Instead, Morgan forced a second consecutive three-and-out from the Generals and a punt.

“I honestly believe our guys wanted it more,” Wingo said. “Their guys were sucking wind and our guys were still playing at a high level.”

Adams and Hopkins connected for the game-winning touchdown on the next drive, putting the Senators ahead for only the second time all game. Hopkins was well behind the Generals’ defense but had to fight an Autauga defender for the ball.

Autauga got the ball back with plenty of time to play, but the Generals were again stymied by the Senators’ defense. Edwards had a snap go over his head and although he recovered it at his own 4-yard line, he was shaken up on the play.

With Edwards out of the game, Autauga was stuffed in the end zone on the next for a safety that put Morgan up 42-34 with 3:39 left to play.

The Senators milked the clock on their ensuing drive before giving the ball back to

The Senators had to make one more stop, but then the celebration was on.

“We knew on film watching them that they had gotten better,” said Autauga head coach Mike Sims. “They beat an undefeated [Tuscaloosa] team last week, and they beat us this week. It’s much deserving for them and disappointing for us because we had a chance to lock up the two seed at home.”

Morgan trailed 12-0 Friday but bounced back with Adams 50-yard touchdown pass to Adams to pull within 12-6 at the 6:37 mark of the second quarter. The Senators marched back to the Autauga 1-yard line but a snap went over Adams’ head and Mason Friday picked it up and ran 99 yards for a Generals’ touchdown.

The Senators rallied for back-to-back touchdowns. Adams connected with Woodham Kemmer for a 31-yard touchdown and Wood ran for a 26-yard score to put the Senators up 20-18 in the third quarter.

Autauga answered with a 38-yard run by Sharpe and Burke’s touchdown pass to take a 34-20 lead.

Morgan did the rest, scoring the game’s next three touchdowns and added the safety for good measure. The win puts the Senators at 3-3 for the first time since the 2013 season, but that team finished 3-7 after a 3-0 start.

This one looks destined for a much better season after moving to 2-1 in region play.

“We can’t be satisfied,” Wingo said. “We have to come to work every day and get better.”

The Senators play at Escambia Academy next week.