Staff Report

MONTGOMERY – For the second consecutive year, two points decided the season-opening tilt between Morgan Academy and Macon-East.

There were two main differences, however: The amount of total points on the board and the winning team.

The Knights, 10-8 losers on the road last year, avoided the same fate by taking a 23-21 win at home Thursday night.

Just like last year, kicking and special teams were the differences in the game.

Ryan Till gave Macon-East (1-0) a 23-15 lead in the third quarter on a 25-yard field goal.

Morgan quarterback Daniel Lee’s 33-yard touchdown run made it a 23-21 score. The Senators’ try for two points failed, leaving them in a hole with 6:42 left to play in the game.

Despite 144 rushing yards from Heath Harrelson, the Senators’ offense wasn’t enough to overcome the Knights.

Austin Smitherman put Morgan (0-1) on the board first, scoring an 11-yard touchdown run with 11:55 left in the second quarter. A failed 2-point try left Morgan with a 6-0 lead.

Macon-East scored the next 13 points unanswered en route to a 13-9 lead at halftime.

Logan Cowart ended the half with a 27-yard field goal.

A 5-yard Paul Mielke touchdown late in the third quarter stretched the Knights’ lead to 20-9.

Cowart led the Senators’ defense with eight tackles, and Jim Boozer recovered a pair of fumbles.