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The Fort Dale Eagles triumphed over the Autauga Academy Generals Friday, ending the night with a 34-20 victory. The Eagles, ranked No. 3 in the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) division, hosted the fourth-ranked team, making this the General’s first loss. 

The Eagle’s head coach Eric Folmar said he is proud of the team’s comeback after last week’s loss.  

“I’m very proud of the response our guys had after the let down from the Glenwood game,” Folmar said. “Character is revealed by how we respond to adversity and I thought we had a great response. We wanted to make a commitment to running the football in this game and our big guys up front led the way. They opened up huge running lanes and credit to our backs for running hard all night.”

The Eagle’s running back No. 24 Joseph Ealum made a three yard touchdown run in both the first and third quarters of the game. Quarterback, No. 6 Ethan Alford, made a four yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and an impressive 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. 

Folmar said Autauga is a good team, but the Eagle’s were prepared strategically.

“Autauga has a few really good players on offense so running the ball and keeping it out of their hands played a big part in the win,” Folmar said. “Defensively our guys also did a great job holding them to their lowest point total on the season. They’re a good football team so I’m just really proud of how our guys showed up and competed.”

In the third quarter No. 72 Asher Young blocked Autauga’s extra point kick. The last touchdown of the night was made by No. 1 Alan Alvarez in an exceptional 61 yard run in the last quarter. 

Glenn Brannum, former Fort Dale Academy football player and current statistics recorder, explained the Eagle’s achieved a new personal ranking during the game. 

“The team rushed 410 yards of total offense, which places the game as seventh in the Eagle’s all time ranking of yards rushed in a single game,” Brannum said. “The school team record for most rushing yards in a game is 482 against Monroe in 1997.”

Fort Dale will travel to Selma to face Morgan Academy on Sept. 15. Assistant coach Marshall Watts said the players are not concerned with individual recognition and are starting to play for each other. 

“The guys week in and week out are buying into the game plan and continue to be coachable,” Watts said. “They are starting to play for each other, and don’t care about individual awards.”