Morgan shuts out Grantsville 26-0
Oct 19, 2023 01:32PM ● By Liisa London Mecham
Jett Salmon carries the ball. Salmon scored the Trojans’ fourth touchdown and ran for 45 yards.
Morgan traveled to Grantsville Friday night and came home with another Region 13 victory, 26-0 over the Cowboys. With this win, the Trojans stand at 3-0 in region and 5-3 overall. Next up for Morgan is an away game at Ogden. Their final game of the regular season will be at Union Oct. 13.
Head coach Jared Barlow shared his thoughts on the game and the long-running Morgan-Grantsville rivalry. “I love being part of the Morgan / Grantsville rivalry. Two communities who care deeply about their teams and support them like none other.”
“Grantsville has a young team this year and battled,” Barlow continued. “Our team played well and executed. Defensively we were locked in on what Grantsville was trying to do. Offensively we missed on a few things, but were pretty balanced in what we did. Our run game and passing game were effective.”
“I was proud of the effort and physicality we played with. Based on the youth Grantsville had and how they battled, this rivalry will continue to live and be exciting each year.”
Morgan opened with a quick touchdown early in the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead on a 16-yard pass from Beck Sheffield to Lincoln Gilson. On their second drive, the Trojans were effectively moving the ball down the field before a forced fumble at the 20-yard line.
After holding Grantsville to a quick four-and-out, Morgan ran a series of quick rushes and passes orchestrated by Sheffield and capped by a five-yard run into the endzone by Zak Sargent. Unfortunately, the PAT was blocked by Grantsville, and the lead remained at 12-0 to end the first quarter.
The second quarter opened with several penalties ranging from holding to offsides and false starts on both sides of the ball. As the quarter progressed, both teams played strong defense stopping each other from scoring.
In the third period, Morgan came back and scored late in the period on a four-yard run from Sheffield after a long reception by Tate Nelson had moved the ball down the field. With the PAT from Beau Johnson, the Trojans increased their lead to 19-0.
As the fourth period opened, Sheffield connected with Gilson on a long pass followed by two carries by Zak Sargent that moved the ball down the field. On 3rd and 3, Jett Salmon ran the ball in from five yards out to complete the scoring for the evening after Johnson’s PAT. The Trojan defense kept the Cowboys out of the endzone the remainder of the game to earn the shutout victory.
Sheffield passed for 200 yards completing 21-26 passes for one touchdown. He also ran for 10 yards and one touchdown. Favorite receivers on the evening were Gilson, Nelson, Christian Nunez, and Beau Spens.
Morgan gained a number of yards on the ground with Sargent rushing for 121 yards and one touchdown and Gilson 96. Salmon tallied 45 yards with a touchdown, and Drew Korth added 34. Jake Halls also ran the ball for 11 yards.
Defensively, Nelson led the team once again in tackles with eight. Salmon added two sacks and seven tackles. Gilson registered seven tackles as well. Halls earned a sack and two tackles with Tytun Willis, Cooper McGiven, Sargent, Jack Hurd, and Krew Galbraith all recording tackles as well. λ
