Morgan destroys Kearns, 65-0 in Homecoming game
Oct 14, 2024 12:59PM ● By Brian Shaw
Senior Drew Korth scoots in for a 9-yard touchdown run during Morgan's 65-0 win over Kearns on Homecoming Friday Sept. 13. The all-purpose back accounted for 72 total yards and had two touchdowns. Photo courtesy of Jessica Jorgensen
There’s no place like home for these Morgan Trojans.
All told, Morgan [5-0] has only allowed 13 points in its first three home games. That wasn’t going to change, as the Trojans rolled to a 65-0 victory at home Friday Sept. 13.
“That was a good game to get a lot of kids some playing time,” said head coach Jared Barlow. “Kearns has been decimated with transfers and injuries, so they were very thin numbers-wise and very young.”
With 7:40 left in the first quarter, Drew Korth squirted through a gap for a 9-yard TD rush and the Trojans raced to a 15-0 lead. That score came minutes after Morgan had already forced a safety and watched Jack Despain return an 80-yard TD on the ensuing kick.
On Kearns’ next drive, Abe Anderton made a diving interception that Morgan’s offense immediately turned into positive yardage. Senior quarterback Beck Sheffield hummed a bullet into Boston Zack for a 30-yard pass completion, moving the Trojans from their own 36 to the Kearns 34.
Two plays later, Sheffield stepped into the pocket and called his own number, sprinting into daylight for a 15-yard TD run for a 22-0 advantage with 2:10 to play in the first.
A hard count from Sheffield gained the Trojans a first down on 4th and 4 from the Kearns 43 with 11:58 left in the second quarter – then the senior QB hurtled a bomb into senior Lincoln Gilson for a 38-yard TD and 29-0 lead after the PAT.
On Kearns’ next drive, the Trojans were visiting the Cougars’ backfield. Tagg Rich collected a sack for a 9-yard loss and Gabe Toone stopped cold a Cougars running back who thought there was green grass ahead. After a 22-yard punt return from Gilson, Coach Jared Barlow handed the reins of the Trojan offense over to junior QB Cade Randall.
Korth gained gains of 21 and 10 yards on the ground, and then the senior caught a pass out in the flat with 8:43 left in the first half. Juking one defender, the all-purpose back jogged in a 17-yard TD, his second of the game, handing Morgan a 35-0 lead.
The Trojans defense also capitalized on mistakes by Kearns all night long, causing four turnovers. A fumble with 8:03 left in the second led to a 9-yard TD run from Kanyon Leonelli and 42-0 Morgan lead just 30 seconds later.
The Trojans would score again soon after that, as senior Ryler Jorgensen snared an interception at the Kearns 44. With 3:25 to go before halftime, Jack Hurd scored on a 4-yard end-around TD, giving Morgan a 49-0 lead.
Abe Anderton would then grab his second interception, handing the Trojans the ball inside the Kearns 20. A few plays later, sophomore Cael Edgington blasted in for his first varsity TD as a Trojan, making it 56-0 with 53 seconds to play in the first half. In the fourth quarter, George Thurston got his first varsity rushing TD to up the lead to 63-0. To cap a successful night, the Trojans would get another safety.
“Week in and week out, I have been impressed with our team’s ability and willingness to play hard, no matter who they are playing against. I have seen great chemistry and unity,” said Barlow. “The trajectory is still positive and hopefully as we enter into Region play we will keep that same focus and intensity.”
In girls soccer this past week, the Trojans won 3-0 at Union and defeated South Summit at home 11-0 to move to 5-5, 2-1 in Region 13 play. Lacie Poll had four goals, Macie Burton three, Macie Miller two, and five players had one apiece. Maddie Fisher earned two shutouts for Morgan, one she shared with Skye Bernardo and Krystel Kinsey. λ