A slow-starting Fort Dale Academy team roared to life on the road in Eufaula as the Eagles defeated their final regular season opponent, the Lakeside Chiefs, 42-20.

The Eagles struck first, however, on a touchdown run from running back Clay Mansmann with 7:27 remaining in the first quarter.  The extra point gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead.

But the early momentum belonged to Lakeside, with the first of two unanswered scores coming courtesy of a Lakeside touchdown with 2:30 left in the first quarter, and a second with 8:42 remaining in the second. 

FDA quarterback Luke Taylor found the end zone to even the odds on a keeper with 5:22 left in the first half.

FDA running back Andrew Salter made the most of the Eagles’ remaining time by storming into the end zone with a mere 7 ticks left in the half to give the Eagles a 21-14 lead heading into the locker room.

Salter would have an encore performance in the third on another touchdown carry to extend the Eagles’ lead to 27-14, followed by running back Sawyer Hennis with 2:07 left in the third to give FDA a healthy 21-point cushion.

The relenting Fort Dale offense continued to pour it on as a fourth different Eagle found the end zone—this time Tanner Cartwright—to give the Eagles a 42-14 lead, their biggest of the night.

Salter said that his team managed to compensate for the slow start.

“We had a good game,” Salter said. “We started off a little slow but got stronger as the game went on.  We came out in the second half and pounded with the run.”

Taylor was 14 for 16 passing for 116 yards, and added 131 yards on the ground with 11 carries.

Salter had 9 carries for 77 yards.  William Sherling led receivers with 3 catches for 35 yards.

Zach Kendrick led the FDA defense with 8 tackles.  Tripp Richardson and Lance Powell each had an interception.

FDA will travel to Glenwood for the first round of playoff play Friday.