Morgan falls to Cottage Hill
Published 12:00 am Sunday, September 10, 2006
The Selma Times-Journal
No. 1 no more?
That could be the case for Morgan Academy after a shocking, last-second loss in Mobile against Cottage Hill Friday night.
Warriors kicker Bradley Hughes beat the Senators on a 25-yard field goal with five seconds on the clock, lifting them to a 23-21 win.
The win improved Cottage Hill to 3-0 and made the team 1-0 in region play this season.
The Warriors lost a 14-7 lead when Morgan’s Kyle Hulsey scored on a 10-yard run with 5:34 left in the third quarter, tying the game at 14.
With less than eight minutes to play in the fourth, Hulsey put the Senators in the lead for the first time since the midway point of the first quarter with his score from eight yards out.
Cottage Hill quarterback Bragan Jackson hit receiver Ben Negus with a 25-yard strike with 5:55 left to play in the game. Hughes missed the extra point, leaving the Warriors’ deficit at one.
But he redeemed himself minutes later, kicking the field goal that knocked off the Senators, the AISA’s top-ranked team and defending AAA state champions.
The loss gave Morgan its first loss in two region games and dropped the team to 2-1 overall.
The Senators took their first lead of the night on a 34-yard run by Hulsey with 6:15 in the first.
Cottage Hill tied the game about three minutes later when Scott New punched in a 4-yard touchdown.
Jackson’s 36-yard pass to Tray Bonner with a minute left in the first half put Cottage Hill ahead 14-7. Jackson finished the game 12-for-19 passing with 225 yards.
Morgan prevented Cottage Hill from taking a two-touchdown lead to end the half by stopping the Warriors on four straight plays backed up against their own goal line.
Hulsey ran for 103 yards on 21 carries. Pitt Hughes carried the ball eight times for 127 yards.
Morgan quarterback Brad Averitt was 5-for-8 passing with 92 yards.