By Blake Deshazo
The Selma Times-Journal

Autauga Academy ended its regular season the same way it started it — with a win.

The Generals (10-0) scored seven touchdowns against Morgan Academy Friday night on their way to a 49-7 win and an undefeated season.

Autauga forced a fumble on the opening kickoff to set up its first of seven scoring drives on the night. A few plays later Tripp Carr found Tanner Payton streaking down the middle of the field on an 18-yard touchdown pass, making it 7-0. Autauga’s defense forced a Morgan punt, and their offense went right back to work. Carr connected with Payton again, this time from 36 yards out, making it 14-0.

“We knew Autauga was going to present a plethora of challenges for us,” said Morgan head coach Josh Thacker. “Autauga is a very, very good football team, a very well-coached football team and a very classy football team. The chips just didn’t roll our way tonight.”

Morgan entered Autauga territory for the first time of the night late in the first quarter, but turned the ball over on downs after going for it on fourth and four yards to go.

A few plays later, a 32-yard pass from Carr to Will Sparks put the Generals right where they wanted to be on the three-yard line. Derrick Dunigan punched it in from five yards out, giving Autauga a 21-0 lead with 3:20 still left in the first quarter.

Morgan ended the first quarter with a punt, and it was back to work again for the Autauga offense. Sparks scored his second touchdown on the night from 19 yards out, extending the Generals lead to 28-0.

After a three and out for the Morgan offense, the Senators defense stepped up. Caleb Pitts sacked Carr, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Morgan.

On a fourth down play from the five-yard line, Gunnar Henderson pitched the ball to Brayton Brown, who took it around left side and into the end zone for a five-yard score, making it 28-7.

That would be the last time Morgan scored all night.

Autauga added three more scores in the second half. Carr did his best Johnny Manziel impression with two touchdown scrambles, one for 13 yards and the other for 33 yards, giving the Generals a 42-7 lead. The Generals final touchdown on the night came on a fourth down play on the 15-yard line. River Barber threw to Jared Burnett in the back right corner of the end zone to make it 49-7.

Morgan finished the season 5-6, and Autauga will move on to the first round of the playoffs with a 10-0 regular season record where they will play Kingwood Christian at home.