Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Morgan Academy Senators have locked up a spot in the playoffs. 

On another emotional night at Morgan Field, the Senators defeated Clark Prep 18-13 in a game that was in doubt until the very end.

Prior to kickoff, Morgan retired Jersey number 17, for Caden Tellier, who sustained a brain injury in the season opener and passed away the following day. The tragic event sent shock waves through the school, the team, the AISA and across the state of Alabama. 

Numerous other schools paid tribute to tole with 17s painted on their fields and press boxes, and red-and-yellow 17 stickers on their helmets. The Morgan football team has battled their emotions all season and managed to play winning football.

The victory Friday night improved the Senator’s overall record to 4-3, and their region mark to 2-2, which qualifies Morgan for the postseason in the final region game of the season. 

Morgan clawed past the Clark Prep Gators with a great second half shutout by the defense. On a night where the Morgan fans and student body wore red to honor the Tellier family, Jack Johnson opened the scoring on an 11-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. 

In the second quarter, the senior tailback went 80 yards to pay dirt to put Morgan up 12-0. The Gators battled back with two touchdowns in the second quarter and made one of two extra points to take a 13-12 lead.

But with 21 seconds to go before halftime, Morgan quarterback Patrick Johnson, connected with Speedie Pernell for a 64-yard touchdown to put the Senators up. 18-13.

The Morgan Academy defense did the job in the second half, turning the Gators away time and time again. Walter Gilmore had a key interception at the goal line. 

The loss drops Clark Prep to 0-8 on the season and 0-4 in the AISA Class 3A, Region 2.

Jack Johnson had 19 carries for 163 yards, and Patrick Johnson completed six of 10 passes for 118 yards.

Morgan Academy returns to the playoffs under Jacob Webb and his first season as head coach of the Senators after a one-year absence from the postseason. Morgan has two regular season games remaining, and both are against Undefeated Class 2A teams. 

The Senators go Toxey to face South Choctaw Academy on Thursday night. Then Morgan closes the 2024 schedule with a home game on Nov. 1 against the Lowndes Academy Rebels who won the 1A state championship three years in a row before moving up to two A this season. 

Bullet Hand with WALX-FM contributed to this story. All of Morgan Academy’s football games are broadcast live on 100.9 Alex-FM and live streamed on the Internet.