Upper Moreland fell to top-seeded Academy Park 26-14 in Friday’s District One AAA final at Plymouth Whitemarsh. Check back to view game action photos.
Upper Moreland fades in second half in district final loss to Academy Park
By Jarrad Saffren
Up 14-6 at halftime, Upper Moreland smelled an upset. And if you look at the postgame statistics, perhaps the Golden Bears should have pulled one off in Friday night’s District One Class AAA football championship at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Upper Moreland out-gained undefeated top-seed Academy Park 329-279 and picked up 10 more first downs, 19-9. But Academy Park quarterback Jawan Collins ran for 182 yards and three touchdowns, all three in the second half, including two that were 50 yards or longer and on third down.
The Golden Bears got on the scoreboard first when quarterback Casey Decker took it in from eight yards out to go on top 7-0 midway through the first quarter. Academy Park had an immediate answer, capitalizing on a long kickoff return to score a TD and make it a 7-6 game.
Early in the second quarter, senior running back Rodney Morgan took it in from four yards out, and the Golden Bears led 14-6. They took that eight-point lead into halftime.
The Knights scored on their first three possessions of the second half, 19 unanswered points, and won 26-14, advancing to the state tournament. Upper Moreland lost in the district final for the third time since 2006.
“We just got a little tired to be honest with you,” said Upper Moreland coach Adam Beach. “We started getting a half step slow and their athletes can make some plays.”
Beach’s quarterback and running back agreed with him.
“We were just tired,” said Decker. “We had players going both ways the whole time. We couldn’t get a break.”
“We just fell off,” added running back Rodney Morgan.
Morgan should be even more tired than the rest. He carried the ball 87 times in three district playoff games, amassing 755 yards and six touchdowns. Morgan gained 179 yards and scored one touchdown Friday, but it wasn’t enough. So he was hard on himself.
“I feel like I should have done more, I could have done more,” Morgan said after the game. Then he was extra hard on himself. “In the offseason I should have worked harder.”
Decker played well in the first half, rushing for 35 yards, passing for 88, and running for an eight-yard touchdown. But he threw two interceptions in the second half, one in the end zone, the other in the red zone.
“I just made the wrong reads,” Decker said as eye black streamed down his face.
Upper Moreland finished 10-3 in 2015 and went 18-6 the last two years. Beach and Decker said the two-year run was successful, but the program still has a hump to get over.
“I guess we just couldn’t finish,” said Decker.
“We just can’t get past this game,” added Beach.
Upper Moreland also lost in the district final in 2006 and 2008.
Decker, a junior, and Beach will be back next season to try and push the Golden Bears into the state tournament. Morgan, a senior, will not be.
Upper Moreland 7-7-0-0 14
Academy Park 6-0-14-6 26
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