Rigby’s Amani Morel was a force as the Trojans celebrated another state title

RIGBY – A year ago, Rigby running back Amani Morel was part of the Trojans’ two-headed monster in the backfield.

Morel and Jerzey Duenes led a powerful ground game as Rigby rolled to a 6A state championship.

Duenes eventually signed with Montana Tech, but if opposing defenses thought stopping the Trojans’ rushing attack would be be easier this season, they were sadly mistaken.

And defenders probably have the bruises to prove it.

Morel powered his way to 1,106 yards in nine games and rushed for 23 touchdowns this past season.

The East Idaho Sports Football Player of the Year was a force in the postseason, and combined with the play of quarterback Jacob Flowers, Rigby averaged 41 points in its three playoff games.

Morel earned first-team All-State honors for the third-straight season, the last two at Rigby.

He was a sophomore at Skyline in 2023 when he ran for 1,452 yards and 20 touchdowns prior to transferring to Rigby.

“We didn’t know a lot about him, personally,” Rigby coach Armando Gonzalez said, adding they’d seen Morel on the field when the Trojans faced Skyline. “The biggest concern was how does he fit in with this team … He made it clear that was not an issue.”

Morel finished with 1,043 rushing yards last season and averaged 9.3 yards per carry.

Last season he and Duenes shared the workload, but this year Morel was the workhorse, despite not always being 100% healthy.

Morel’s biggest game may have been against a good Rocky Mountain defense in the state semifinals, where he ran for 165 yards on 27 carries and scored five touchdowns.

“A lot of us have been in situations like this before,” Morel said of playing in the postseason. “I think when we work together it all comes together … The biggest thing is we don’t give up. This was our best four-quarter game that we played.”