By Randy Capps
American Leadership Academy spent the 2024 season very much in limbo. It was a member of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association last fall, but because it joined at the end of a realignment cycle, it wasn’t in a conference.
So, while the games and stats counted in a 7-3 campaign for the Patriots, there was no path to the postseason for an overachieving squad under head coach Nate Blackburn.
The kicker? As a NCHSAA independent, ALA played nine of its 10 games on the road.
That all changes this month, as ALA joins the Quad County 2A/3A/4A as the lone 2A school. The Patriots will share the league with 3A schools Louisburg and Wake Prep and 4A schools Bunn, Nash Central and Roanoke Rapids.
Five home games on the schedule is a welcome sight, too.
“(Our) goals are to compete within our conference and make the state playoffs in our first year (being) eligible,” Blackburn said.
The Patriots fielded a young team last fall, and as a result, 19 starters are back this season. That includes all 11 from an offense that averaged 36.1 points per night.
Junior quarterback Ian Wands completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 1,486 yards and 19 touchdowns in what Blackburn describes as a “run-first offense.”
“(He’s got) great football IQ and field vision, high velocity on throws and can extend plays with his feet/athleticism,” Blackburn said.
Junior Symir Ray tallied 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns on just 89 carries (11.6 yards per carry) and junior Cash Tolley led the team in receiving yards (397) and touchdowns (six). Both are back for the Patriots, as is two-way lineman, senior Josh Crenshaw.
“(He’s) a four-year starter who is a leader on the field and plays with tremendous energy and power,” Blackburn said. “One of top interior lineman in North Carolina.”
Junior linebacker Elijah Fulton picked up 71 tackles last fall, and Blackburn describes him as a “great tackler/run stopper who plays sideline to sideline and has a knack for creating turnovers.”
American Leadership Academy begins its quest to reach the postseason with a home date against Lejeune on Aug. 22.
