An encouraging start rapidly dissipated from view as the Tigers struggled to contain quarterback Owen Gilson and the Trojans in a 48-7 region road setback. A losing streak dating back to 1967 will carry on, and Ogden looks ahead to its regular-season finale against Ben Lomond.

Ogden (5-4, 2-2 3A North) opened the night with a big first-down throw from Emmett Rector to senior Jack Thompson, the son of former Tigers head coach Erik Thompson, but the exciting start blew a flat on the first of two interceptions by Morgan’s Bridger Schiffman.

Gilson, throwing for three touchdowns (his longest worth 80 yards to Rhett Larsen) and adding another one with legs, led the Trojans (8-1, 4-0) on a 27-0 run before halftime.

Thompson involved himself in Ogden’s only answer, a 23-yard touchdown pass from Rector, with a running clock in the third quarter.

Terry Larsen — who coached alongside the elder Thompson and took over after the veteran coach stepped away from coaching in 2024 amid his ongoing bout with ALS — left Thursday’s result disappointed in his team’s lack of answers. Ogden, despite going down 20-0 in the first quarter, picked up back-to-back stops entering the second quarter, but couldn’t tally on the scoreboard in the first half.

“I felt like we just didn’t come to play tonight,” Terry Larsen said. “(Morgan) was more physical than us. … We’ve struggled all season finishing drives. … We’ve got to figure out ways to get the end zone when we need it.”

With the ball to begin the third quarter, Morgan launched out of the break with a George Thurston 9-yard touchdown catch to go up an unanswered 34 points.

Waiting in the wings, Morgan junior Bridger Neuenschwander replaced Gilson near the end of the third quarter and added a touchdown pass of his own — a deep ball to Cooper Allen in the fourth quarter — in bringing home the win for the Trojans, making it eight in a row for Jared Barlow’s team.

Barlow and Morgan are now 6-0 against Ogden since reigniting the series in 2021.

“You can’t overlook a team like Ogden. You’ve got to execute really well, so that was the focus this week,” Barlow said.

Moreover, Morgan got the chance to rest its starting QB a bit before a road trip to Logan to close the regular season. Gilson hit George Thurston with two of his three touchdown passes on Thursday.

“I think Owen’s done a great job,” Barlow said. “Earlier in the year, maybe some poor choices and things like that as far as balls that he threw, but he’s cleaned it up, understanding what his strengths are and he’s playing more to his strengths and not forcing things that don’t need to be forced.”

As Morgan travels to Logan in search of a perfect region finish, Ogden looks to finish the regular season with a winning record for a third consecutive season, and for a second straight year under Terry Larsen.

Ty Smith and Ben Lomond (1-8) await the Tigers next week at Ogden High.

Connect with Standard-Examiner sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net, X @ctbecker and Instagram @standardexaminersports.