Heritage quarterback Seth Hickman (12) and Ringgold's Dakota Baer wrestle for possession of the ball at the Heritage goal line in this 2012 file photo.

RINGGOLD, Ga. - Ringgold opened its stadium to a standing-room-only crowd last weekend but lost to Dalton.

Another sellout crowd in the rebuilt Don Patterson Stadium left all of the home fans cheering after a 41-17 drubbing of crosstown rival Heritage on Friday night.

Ringgold quarterback Slade Dale ran for two touchdowns, threw for another and made an interception while playing cornerback.

"He's an incredible athlete and steps up every time he's on the field," Ringgold coach Robert Akins said. "We kind of go as he goes."

Ringgold (1-1) pounded Heritage's defense -- especially up the middle -- to amass 384 rushing yards on 40 carries. Dale had 125 yards on 10 carries. Kile Sholl had 116 yards on six carries, including two touchdowns. Bobby Campbell added 96 yards on 10 carries.

"Our O-line just penetrated and kept working," Dale said. "As for me, I like having the ball and doing what I can with it."

The Generals (0-1) were led by fullback Caleb Dietz, who rushed for 99 yards on 16 carries. But Heritage gained 118 rushing yards on 42 carries.

"Their front five were whipping our front five in the first half," said Akins, whose team led 21-10 at halftime after getting a 2-yard touchdown run from Jacob Chisenall with 40 seconds to go. "We added one to the box and played man-to-man outside in the second half, and that made a difference."

So did Dale -- especially in the second half. He found a hole in the middle of Heritage's line and rushed through it for a 32-yard touchdown and a 34-10 lead late in the third quarter.

Dale ended the Generals' next possession with an interception in front of the Heritage sideline and could have made the fourth quarter a running clock if he returned it all the way.

Stopped short on his return, Dale opened the quarter with a 14-yard touchdown run up the middle.

"He's a playmaker," Heritage coach Tim James said. "Not to take anything from all the other kids, but he beat us. They took us to the woodshed."