Morgan seniors lead the way to 3A North football title

At the end of any football season, it’s time to pay homage to the guys that got you there. 

For Morgan head coach Jared Barlow, 19 seniors helped the Trojans earn a 3A North title and carried them to a berth in the 3A semifinals. 

“I would say just thank you to our seniors,” said Coach Barlow. “It is always difficult to have a season end without a state championship, but this group still put in a lot of work and continued to carry the tradition of Morgan football.” 

They were athletes like Tate Nelson [87 tackles/five TD receptions] and Zak Sargent [810 rushing yards/91 tackles and 13 total TD], two guys who helped guide Morgan to an unblemished 5-0 record in the 3A North and an 8-4 record overall. 

But they were also guys like Christian “Crispy” Nunez, so named by his teammates [and the Morgan Sports Network] for his taste in clothing. And Beau Johnson, who rocketed up the state’s record books with each extra point the kicker booted through the uprights. 

Brogan Garrett was a 3A track champion in the 400-meter sprint and was a two-year starter for Morgan at wide receiver, hauling in 322 yards and five touchdowns. For Garrett, whose family was involved in an auto accident, it was a miracle he was even on the field. 

Derrick Tilby had a father who played at Morgan High. Like many Trojans, Tilby played both ways rushing for 335 yards and four touchdowns while contributing one sack. 

But Morgan [8-4] was also about guys you may not have read about in the paper.  Guys like Beau Spens and Camren Menlove, and Talmadge Sommers and Tytan Willis. Others made their marks in the secondary like Ryder Waldron and Tryker Jones. 

“They were a group with a lot of personalities, and we had a lot of fun memories throughout the years,” said Coach Barlow in part.  

Then there were the guys in the trenches. Cooper McGiven was a 3A Honorable Mention last year. At 6-foot-6, Luke Olson was still enough of an athlete to make a reception—as a sophomore. And there were guys like William Fisher and Conner Laughlin, as well as Lane Henderson and Treyson Rich. 

To name one is to name them all in the eyes of Coach Barlow. 

“We will miss them and want to thank them for all of their hard work and dedication to our program, knowing that they will go on to become great men and great leaders.” λ