Morgan storms past Coal Grove to move onto the next round
By: Eva Green
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COAL GROVE, Ohio (WOUB) – The first round of the playoffs was an intense battle with the Morgan Raiders traveling to take on the Coal Grove Hornets. It was intense up until the second half, where the Raiders ran away with the game, 43-22.
The first quarter saw the tone of the first half being immediately set, as Hornets’ RB Kaden Murphy took the opening kickoff to the house. Unfortunately, it was called back due to a holding penalty; however, Murphy wouldn’t let that deter him, and ran through the Raiders’ defense for a touchdown while also scoring a 2-point conversion.
Morgan struck back with a beautiful reverse rushing touchdown by WR Casen Foley. Once again, the Hornets struck back as RB Rylan Smith ran it to the house. At the end of the first quarter, it was 14-7, Hornets.
The second quarter saw the same intensity carry over, as Tanner Bankes ran over Coal Grove players for the touchdown, tying the game. Coal Grove once again struck back with a beautiful running play for Murphy to run into the end zone for the score. The Hornets will also score a 2-point conversion to make the score 22-14.
With the clock dwindling, Morgan decides to tie things up, once again. An amazing completion from QB Haiden Pauley to WR Arlis Ponchak sets them up in the red zone. Bankes tops things off for the Raiders with a hard-hitting touchdown. The Raiders decided to go for 2, and it worked with a beautiful completion for the conversion. The end of the first half was 22-22.
The second half, however, told a different story. The Raiders came out at the half with something to prove. As Morgan’s defense completely shut down Coal Grove’s offense and thanks to that, Morgan’s offense boomed. With 21 unanswered points, Morgan safely secured its first playoff win in program history.
Morgan will advance to the next round of playoffs where they will face Wheelersburg in a tough high stakes battle.