The Morris Eagles notched their first win of the 2021 high school football campaign this past Friday with a 20-18 decision over Okmulgee County foe, the Okmulgee Bulldogs.

The narrow victory took place at Eagle Stadium in Morris - the final home game for the Eagles in 2021.

The win also gives Morris its first district win this year and puts the Eagles in a tie with arch rival Henryetta for fifth in the 2A-7 standings at 1-5. The narrow outcome keeps Okmulgee winless in district play and the sixth-straight loss for the Bulldogs in 2021.

Both county squads will close out their regular-season schedules this Friday night. Morris will travel to Kiefer for its final game of 2021, while Okmulgee end the season at home against an other county foe - the Henryetta Golden Knights.

Both district contests will get started at 7 p.m.

In last Friday’s county battle in Morris, the Bulldogs broke the scoreless tie with 2:49 left in the opening frame with a 59-yard TD run by Kelton Patterson. The run attempt on the conversion try was unsuccessful, giving Okmulgee the early 6-0 advantage.

On the second play of the second quarter, the Eagles found their way onto the scoreboard. Following an Okmulgee punt to begin the second stanza, Morris QB Trey Daniels connected with wideout Kyle Richardson for a 43-yard touchdown pass. The duo then hooked up on the conversion attempt to put the Eagles in front, 8-6, with 16 seconds removed from the game clock in the second period.

The remainder of the quarter saw neither team reach the end zone, sending the county contest to the halftime break with Morris in front by an 8-6 margin.

The score remained at 8-6, in favor of the host Eagles, until the 2:07 mark of the third quarter when Joseph Robertson found D’Mari Harp for an 11-yard touchdown pass to put the Bulldogs back in front, 12-8.

Twelve seconds later, Richardson put the host Eagles back in front, 14-12, by returning the ensuing kickoff 82 yards for the go-ahead score.

The Morris defense extended the lead at 20-12 with 9:10 left in regulation, as Daniels returned an Okmulgee fumble 19 yards to paydirt.

On the next offensive series, the visiting Bulldogs marched down the field, ending the drive with a 15-yard TD run by Robertson on a QB Draw play. Robertson crossed the goal line at the 5:20 mark of the final frame to cut the Morris lead to two, 20-18.

The try for two was unsuccessful, keeping the host Eagles in front by a narrow 2-point margin.

The Morris offense attempted to run out the remaining time off the game clock, but a fumble recovery by Okmulgee at the Okmulgee 49 with 3:50 left gave the visitors another chance at taking over the lead late in the contest.

The Bulldogs were unable to move the ball down the field after the takeaway, giving the ball back to the Morris offense on a turnover on downs at the Okmulgee 25-yard line with 2:21 left in regulation.

The Eagles put game away at the 1:17 mark on a 13-yard completed pass from Daniels to Richardson on 3rd-and-7 situation from the Okmulgee 22 to the Okmulgee 9. The Morris offense ran out the final time off the game clock to preserve their first win of 2021.

Morris 20, Okmulgee 18

Okmulgee: 6 - 0 - 6 - 6 (18)

Morris: 0 - 8 - 6 - 6 (20)

First Quarter

Okmulgee - Kelton Patterson, 59-yard run (Run Failed); 2:49

Second Quarter

Morris - Kyle Richardson, 43-yard pass from Trey Daniels (Richardson pass from Daniels); 11:44

Third Quarter

Okmulgee - D’Mari Harp, 11-yard pass from Joseph Robertson (Pass Failed); 2:07

Morris - Richardson, 82-yard kickoff return (Pass Failed); 1:55

Fourth Quarter

Morris - Daniels, 19-yard fumble return (Pass Failed); 9:10

Okmulgee - Robertson, 15-yard run (Run Failed); 5:20

Team Stats

First Downs: Okmulgee 17; Morris 6 Rushing: Okmulgee 57-287; Morris 21- 15

Passing: Okmulgee 6-17-0 44; Morris 7-12-1 104

Morris 7-12-1 104

Total Offense: Okmulgee 74-331;

Morris 33-119

Fumbles: Okmulgee 2-1; Morris 4-3

Penalties: Okmulgee 15-104; Morris 8-50

Okmulgee Individual Stats

Rushing: Kelton Patterson 15-125, TD;

Joseph Robertson 19-101, TD; Malachi

Simmons 14-44; Ronan Martin 8-21;

Jeremiah Harley 1-(-4).

Passing: Joseph Robertson 6-17-0 44, TD.

Receiving: D’Mari Harp 4-30, TD; Davion Cummings 2-14.

Morris Individual Stats

Rushing: Mateo Terriquez 5-27; Dakota Chaney 1-(-1); Trey Daniels 11-(-2);

Cruze Lawson 4-(-9).

Passing: Trey Daniels 7-12-1 104, TD.

Receiving: Kyle Richardson 3-62, TD;

Dakota Chaney 4-42.