Glenwood School tested No. 8 Fort Dale Academy in the first round of the AISA Class AAA playoffs.

The Eagles will get an even bigger test on Friday when they travel to Tuscaloosa to face second-ranked and undefeated Tuscaloosa Academy.

“Tuscaloosa is probably the best team in the state,” Fort Dale head coach James “Speed” Sampley said.

It wouldn’t be hard to prove Sampley right.

The Knights have won 20 of their last 22 games dating back to last season, and are a perfect 11-0 this season. They average 43.4 points per game on offense this season, scoring 40 or more points eight times. On defense, the Knights have yielded just 12.5 points per game and have held their opponents to 14 or fewer points in seven of their 11 contests this season.

Sampley said in order for the Eagles to knock of the Knights, they will have to get off to a better start than they did against Glenwood.

“We came out a little flat,” he said. “We can’t be flat against Tuscaloosa. We need to bring it from the start. We can’t wait until the last second to start playing.”

The Eagles needed a 15-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Chip Taylor to senior wide receiver Dow Gardner in overtime to top the Gators and keep their hopes alive of winning a second state championship in the last three years.

“We knew it could be our last game, but we kept fighting and found a way to win,” Taylor said following the Glenwood game. “I’m proud of everyone on our team and excited that we get to keep playing.”

According to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society, the last time the two teams met on the gridiron was 1987. The Eagles won that contest 33-0.

Fort Dale (8-3) and Tuscaloosa will face off Friday at 7 p.m. in a second-round showdown at Knights Stadium.