After sleepwalking through the first half that saw them trailing 26-0, Kingwood came out inspired in the second half but fell short in their comeback against Morgan Academy 33-12.

Kingwood took the opening kickoff and was able to get a first down after drawing Morgan Acadmey offsides on second and short. From there on out through the first half, it was all Morgan Academy.

Morgan Academy used a power running game to build up a 20-0 lead to end the first quarter. Kingwood was able to step up the pressure on defense in the second quarter, holding Morgan Academy to a touchdown and went into the half trailing 26-0.

Kingwood got some big momentum to start the second half when they recovered an onside kick for the second week in a row. Three plays later on third-and-18, Daniel Reeves hooked up with David Fillingim for a 46-yard strike to get Kingwood on the board.

Kingwood head coach Vince Elliot was pleased with the adjustments that Kingwood made to start the second half.

“We were intimidated in the first half by the numbers and sizes we were facing,” Elliot said. “The onside kick really helped us. It gave us some confidence and we were a whole different team.

On Kingwood’s next possession, Daniel Reeves hooked up with Dakota Guillot for a 32-yard touchdown pass to give Kingwood that confidence they need on offense.

“We came out in the second half and knew what we had to do,” Reeves said. “I think we got it done on defense in the second half only giving up one touchdown.

The Kingwood defense stepped up the intensity on defense and brought pressure to shut down the Morgan offense. Tyrone Pope and Austin Boothe led the Kingwood defense with eight and six tackles, respectively.

Austin Boothe credited the defense with playing as a team to shut down Morgan in the fourth quarter.

“It was a team effort and we went out there and had fun in the second half,“ Boothe said.

Kingwood was led on offense by Daniel Reeves who completed six passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. David Fillingim led all receivers with two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. Tyrone Pope had 11 rushes for 32 yards and helped keep the Morgan offense backed up with his punts, two of which traveled 48 and 45 yards.

Kingwood falls to 0-3 on the season and will take off next week before traveling to Marengo Academy in Linden, Alabama, the following week.