By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

Morgan Academy is beginning to look like a different team in all the right ways.

Morgan dominated on offense and defense when it hosted Wilcox Academy Monday for its second football scrimmage in four days. The Senators don’t play their first regular season game for another 10 days, but they already look to be in mid-season form.

Head coach Jake Wingo said the biggest difference from the first scrimmage on Friday against Crenshaw Academy to Monday’s scrimmage was that his players were much more emotionally invested in the game.

“In football, when it all comes down to it, it’s really a simple game. It’s who wants it more, beating the guy in front of you,” Wingo said. “That’s what I like the most out of the night is they were playing with emotion.”

Morgan and Wilcox each received four drives of 12 plays starting from the 20-yard line to try to put together a scoring drive. On the first two drives for Wilcox, Morgan’s defense forced them to stall right around midfield.

Wingo said he thought senior linebacker J.R. Wood and junior linebacker Caleb Pitts had strong games on defense.

“Our linebackers played downhill a lot better,” Wingo said. “Friday we were a little bit flat-footed and hesitant. Today we were getting downhill and tackling.”

The offense was clicking just as well, if not better.

On the Senators’ first offensive play, sophomore Sam Brackin took the ball 80 yards for a touchdown. The offense wouldn’t slow down as the night wore on, as nearly every offensive possession resulted in a touchdown.

Morgan showed off its red zone efficiency on Monday night as well. The Senators took snaps from the 10-yard line and scored on the first five plays.

Sophomore Joseph Lolley caught the first red zone touchdown. Senior Woodham Kemmer rushed for the next two red zone touchdowns and Brackin caught passes in the end zone on the next two snaps.

The Senators succeeded in limiting Wilcox’s touchdowns even when Wilcox was running plays in the red zone. First, sophomore Peyton Egbert intercepted a pass in the red zone and ran it back 60 yards.

When Wilcox was running plays from Morgan’s 10-yard line, the quarterback threw an interception in the end zone to Morgan’s quarterback and defensive back senior Harrison Adams. Wilcox’s next pass was picked off by Brackin and taken all the way to the other end zone.

Even with all the success Morgan enjoyed on Monday, Wingo said there are plenty of things to work on before the Senators’ first game on Friday, Aug. 28 against Monroe.

“We’ll break down the film. We’ll sit in the media room and break it down and coach it up,” Wingo said. “It’s a whole different thing when you see yourself make mistakes and how to correct them. “

Wingo reminded his players in the postgame huddle that they are now able to focus all their attention on Monroe. That triggered plenty of excitement from a team who believes this season can be a complete turnaround from last season’s 1-9 record.

“I’m excited,” Wingo said. “We can’t wait until the first game.”