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By STEPHEN DAWKINS | Special to the Selma Times-Journal

SELMA – Lowndes Academy clinched the top spot in AISA AAA Region 2 with a dominant 51-16 win at Morgan Academy on Friday night, Oct. 10.

The Rebels used a 30-point first half and an impressive defensive effort throughout the night to create the separation and ultimately pull away for the win.

The win also means the Lowndes Academy seniors finish their careers without a single loss in region play, something head coach coach James Sampley was proud of after.

“It was a big game for us,” Sampley said. “A good win. Our starting quarterback, Braden Stokes, got hurt in the first quarter, but our backup, Kimmons Morgan, played really well.”

Sampley said he was unsure of Stokes’ status following the game.

Stokes helped the Rebels (7-1 overall, 4-0 region) race out to a 20-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Stokes threw a touchdown pass to Cooper Carver before he exited the game.

Morgan tossed two touchdowns in relief, and Jeremy Hardy aded multiple scores on the ground.

Houston Hampton caught two touchdown passes and added another touchdown when he returned one of his two interceptions for a score.

Sampley said he was also proud of the Lowndes Academy defense, which held a potent Morgan Academy attack to its lowest scoring output since the opening game of the season.

Early in the second quarter, the Senators (4-4, 1-2) got on the board on a 37-yard pass from Alexander Johnson.

Johnson added the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 20-8.

That was as close as the hosts were able to get, however.

Lowndes scored 10 more points to end the first half and take a 30-8 advantage into the halftime break and carry all of the momentum into the second half.

Coming out of the break, the Rebels added another touchdown for a 37-8 lead and ultimately continued a strong night with Morgan Academy only able to score on an 18-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to create the final score of 51-16.

Morgan Academy visits Chambers Academy on Friday, Oct. 17, for a non-region game, while Lowndes Academy will visit Wilcox Academy.