The Grand County Red Devils football team kept the American Leadership Academy Eagles at bay for most of the night, but three rushing touchdowns in the second half undid a 12-0 Grand halftime advantage as the Eagles went on to win 21-18.
Grand scored touchdowns on a 1-yard run by Josh Jones and a 7-yard run by Dylan Valerio in the first half, but extra-point attempts were unsuccessful after both scores, leaving Grand with a 12-0 lead before ALA’s Dallen Short scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, the first from 25 yards out and the second from 1 yard out. The point-after was good after the first touchdown, cutting Grand’s lead to 12-7, and Short converted for two points after his second touchdown, putting the Eagles up by a field goal at 15-12.
Grand reclaimed the lead at 18-15 on an 8-yard run by Dakota Johnson in the fourth quarter, but late in the game, ALA’s Owen Huff broke free for a 19-yard scoring run, giving the Eagles a 21-18 victory.
Jones, playing in his first game of the season, rushed 21 times for 123 yards, while Johnson ran 12 times for 73 yards. Short had 162 yards for the Eagles.
Neither team did much passing as Grand’s Taylor Horton was 3-for-7 for 11 yards and ALA’s Jackson Shockley was 3-for-5 for 33. Shockley was intercepted once by Grand’s Bruin Meador.
With the loss, Grand is 2-1 in non-region play as the Red Devils prepare to host Gunnison on Friday, Sept. 9, in their final non-region game. Grand defeated Gunnison 49-35 in Gunnison during the regular season in 2015, then beat the Bulldogs again 53-27 in Moab in the first round of the playoffs. The Bulldogs are 1-2 with a victory over Wayne and losses to North Sevier and Kanab. Kickoff for the contest is set for 7 p.m.
Eagles surpass Red Devils on late touchdown
When: Friday, Sept. 9, 7 p.m.
Where: Grand County High School, 608 S. 400 East
