Class AA’s No. 2 ranked Morgan County begins region play this Thursday against Westside in Macon.
The Dogs (5-0) enjoyed a bye this past Friday, while the Seminoles (2-3) knocked off Lamar County 20-10, snapping a three-game losing streak. This contest is each team’s Region 4-AA opener.
Morgan County head coach Clint Jenkins said his team used the bye week to get healthy and rest.
“That was a big part of [the bye week]. Coming out of this week, we were a little banged up, so we wanted to get some guys healthy,” Jenkins said. “Counting the scrimmage, we’d played six straight [games]. We hadn’t had time to breathe. It was good to step back slowly and slow things down.”
The Dogs enter this game as a favorite, especially on the offensive side of the ball. They’re averaging 38 points through their first five games this season, one of Class AA’s top-scoring offenses.
Westside is at a disadvantage defensively. The Seminoles’ defense gives up 27.4 points per game. They’ve struggled to hold teams under that total, giving up 50 or more points several times this year.
Morgan’s offense has been hard to stop, led by several key playmakers for coordinator Brett Bell.
Junior quarterback Davis Strickland is having a fantastic season. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound signal-caller has completed 75.3 percent of his passes for 1,250 yards, 15 touchdowns, and two picks.
Strickland’s favorite target has been senior Jaylen Elder, one of the state’s top wide receivers. Elder has hauled in 30 targets for 676 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s averaging 22.5 yards a catch. Junior Ty Tillery has also made a difference, totaling 19 receptions for 300 yards and three scores.
Junior tailback Christian Monfort has been the team’s leading rusher. He’s totaled 566 yards on 71 attempts, an average of eight yards per carry, with five touchdowns. He’s averaging 141 yards a game. Senior Jasper Cason and sophomore Alex Corrias have also been solid in the backfield this year.
Jenkins acknowledged that it is not about Westside’s defense but how his offense executes.
“They’ve got some athletes who can run and have size in some spots,” Jenkins said. “For us, it comes down to how we execute. But they present some issues in some spots. They’re athletic, and we’ll have to go out and not have silly penalties or turn the ball over. That’s what it will come down to.”
Westside’s strength is its offense, which is a balanced attack. The Seminoles love to mix things up.
Junior quarterback James Neville is a dual-threat. He’s passed for 577 yards, six touchdowns, and two picks. Neville has also shown his ability to take off, totaling 159 yards and two scores this year.
Morgan’s defensive unit has done a good job stopping the run this season but will face a tough test against Westside senior tailback Kadiphius Iverson. He’s rushed for 682 yards and eight scores.
Jenkins noted how well Iverson played in Westside’s win over Lamar County last week.
“He pretty much [put the team] on his shoulders last week,” Jenkins said. “I don’t know how often he carried it, but he’s a major problem. We have to stop him. He’s one of those backs who steps out of many tackles, and he’ll spin and fall for four yards. He’s one of the best running backs we’ll see.”
The game is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Ed Defore Sports Complex in Macon.