Natchitoches, LA —The First Baptist Christian School Eagles powered past the Freedom Life Academy Patriots 40–22 last Friday night, riding a relentless rushing attack and timely defensive play to notch a statement victory on the road.
Eagles’ Ground Game in Full Flight
The Eagles’ offensive line dictated the tempo all night, paving the way for more than 250 rushing yards. Running backs Benji Moore, Gavin Francis, and reserve Carter Macklemore combined for five touchdowns, keeping the Patriots’ defense on its heels.
The scoring opened in electrifying fashion when Gavin Francis broke free on a 73-yard touchdown sprint, setting the tone for the night. Moore added a bruising presence in the backfield before being sidelined by injury, which allowed Macklemore to step into the spotlight in the fourth quarter.
The sophomore reserve answered the call, rushing 12 times for 65 yards, including a key touchdown and two-point conversion that sealed the win.
“So proud of Carter for coming in to replace injured running back Benji Moore,” said head coach Grayson Standiford. “I love the fight in our team tonight. Our offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and Judah (Pritchard) did a great job keeping the offense on track.”
Defensive Spark
On the other side of the ball, Luke Page turned in a highlight-reel performance. The defensive back recorded five tackles, one tackle for loss, an interception, and a forced fumble, swinging momentum in key moments to stymie Freedom Life’s comeback hopes.
The Eagles led 16–8 at halftime and never let the Patriots seize control, pulling away late behind Macklemore’s steady runs and Page’s defensive presence.
Looking Ahead: Northshore Vultures Await
The Eagles (now 2–3) will take their momentum on the road this Saturday to Covington, Louisiana, where they’ll square off against the Northshore Vultures (1–4). Northshore has struggled to find consistency this season, but the Vultures remain a threat at home and will look to ground the Eagles’ surging rushing attack.
Coach Standiford expressed optimism about his team’s trajectory, especially with hopes of key players returning from injury:
“If we can get some of the injured guys back, we’re going to be hard to beat down the stretch.”
Kickoff
The matchup against the Vultures kicks off Saturday, September 13, in Covington, LA. Both teams will be hungry — the Eagles seeking to climb back toward .500 and build momentum, and the Vultures fighting to defend their home turf.
J. Christian Lewis/AI assisted