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Morgan Academy wasted no time with its AISA first-round state playoff game against Hooper Academy.

Running back Holt Utsey had over 220 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns as the eighth-ranked Senators cruised to a 55-16 rout on Friday night at Morgan Stadium.

The Senators (8-2) advance to a semifinal showdown at No. 1 Glenwood Academy (11-0) next Friday night. The winner advances to the state finals.

Seniors Cobb Beers, Matthew Free, Brody Roberts, Clayton O’Shields,  Chris Gardner, Scott Lalone, Holt Utsey and Kenny Nichols played their last game at Morgan Stadium.

“The seniors knew that it might be  our last game at home,” Utsey said. “We came out and played like it was our last game before our families and fans.”

The Senators jumped out to a 35-0 first quarter lead.  Utsey scored on runs of 79 and 9 yards. Andrew Thomas and John Allen Ingram each scored from a yard out. Josh Brown added a 4-yard TD run.

Morgan Academy’s only second quarter touchdown came on Thomas’ 45-yard TD pass to Utsey. Thomas threw to John Allen Ingram on the 2-point conversion for a 43-0 lead.

The Colts avoided a shutout in the second quarter with two touchdowns and pair of two-point conversions, trailing 43-16 at halftime.

In the second half, Morgan Academy got a 2-yard scoring run from Thomas and a 51-yard TD from Brown to end the game’s scoring.

The Senators forced four turnovers, including two fumble recoveries from Brody Roberts and Brown’s 60-yard interception return.

“I’m really excited for our kids,” Senators coach and Athletic Director Danny Raines said. “They work so hard in practice and in games.”