It didn’t take long for Kye Morgan to make an impact on the Franklin (Somerset, N.J.) varsity football squad. Just over four years ago, Morgan, then a freshman, rushed 14 times for 92 yards in the Warriors’ 19-13 win over Old Bridge in the 2008 season opener.

“My first game I started,” Morgan recalled. “I started on defense in the first half. The second half I started at running back. I actually won the game [with a 19-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes left]. It made me feel pretty good and confident. I was kind of nervous. I didn’t think I could handle it, but after I got in and played the butterflies went away.”

Morgan had 1,321 yards of offense (1,033 rushing and 288 receiving) last season as a junior, helping Franklin to a 6-4 overall record. He entered this season at less than 100-percent physically, as he suffered a shoulder stinger earlier this summer and aggravated the injury in last week’s 39-28 loss to Elizabeth. He expects to be fine for tonight’s game against Hillsborough.

“I’m good. I had a stinger before, and then somebody fell on [the shoulder]. I’m good now, though,” said Morgan, who had 12 carries for 80 yards and three catches for 24 yards in last week’s loss. “I’m back to normal now.”

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