Pike Liberal Arts head coach Wayne Grant said on Thursday that what he would be looking for the most in Friday’s scrimmage with Crenshaw Christian Academy would be execution.

He found out Friday the team has a little more work left to do before next week’s season opener against Morgan Academy as the Patriots fell 41-28.

“We didn’t look too good in some areas, but we didn’t look too bad in some areas either,” Grant said. “If we learn how to get more physical and cover our assignments better then we’ll be a lot better as a team.”

Russ Thomas got the Patriots on the board in the first quarter on a 20-yard run to cut Pike’s deficit to 13-6.

Crenshaw would add a pair of scores before Taytom Barnes would cross the goal line on a 16-yard scamper.

The Cougars would complete a 35-yard pass  and return an interception for scores to pull away in the third quarter.

“Our kicking game didn’t look too bad and Taytom ran the ball hard, he just didn’t have anywhere to run it sometimes,” Grant said. “You just keep working on the things you need to work on and see if you can’t get more physical.”

Pike Liberal Arts, playing with just 17 men on the roster, will look to correct their mistakes before next week’s regular season opener versus region foe Morgan Academy.

Grant said the 2012 Patriots remind him of his 2004 pike County team.

“We lost a bunch of seniors the year before and came out in the preseason game and got blistered. Same thing happened in the first game of the season,” he said. “We came back and won nine ballgames. There is a chance to get better.”

Grant again said it all comes down to knowing and following through on assignments.

“If we know what we are supposed to do and execute, then we’ll start winning,” he said.

Pike will play Morgan at DeWight Ward Field at 7 p.m. on Friday.