Murray broke open a close game with three touchdowns in the final four minutes of the third quarter and went to on beat Todd County Central 50-14 in the first round of the Class 2A football playoffs in Murray Friday.
Hunter Utley threw for five touchdowns and ran for a sixth as the Tigers won their 11th straight first round game. The Murray quarterback ran and threw for a score to give the Tigers a 14-0 first quarter lead.
Ja’Twan Graham got Todd County Central on the board with a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The conversion kick was blocked, and the Tigers led 14-6.
The Rebels caught Murray off-guard by recovering an onsides kick, but could not convert just before the end of the first half.
Todd had chances to tie the game on their first two drives of the second half. The Rebels drove inside the Murray 10-yard line but lost a fumble near the goal line. They did get two points later when Murray was called for a hold from their own end zone. The safety drew Todd to within 14-8. Another fumble gave Murray back the football, and the Tigers made the Rebels pay.
Utley hit Rogers on touchdown throws of 33 and 11 yards and found Jorden Duffy for his third TD pass in a four minute stretch that extended the Murray lead to 35-8 after three quarters.
Todd County responded with a 31-yard touchdown run by Bryce Nolan, but it proved to be their final score of the game. Utley added his fifth touchdown pass of the game with 7:12 left.
Todd County Central sees their season end at 5-6 for a second straight season.
Murray (7-4) will travel to Owensboro Catholic next week and play the Aces in the playoffs for a ninth straight year. Murray is 4-4 in the previous eight games with OCath.