photo by Keith Sessions

Patriots win first ever state title

Staff

Published Monday, November 24, 2008

Photo by Thomas Graning

The Pike Liberal Arts School Patriots celebrate after winning the first AISA Class AAA state championship in school history Friday. The Patriots took down Fort Dale 20-17 for the title.

The Pike Liberal Arts School Patriots are the best team in AISA Class AAA for the first time ever. The Patriots wrapped a dream season with a 20-17 victory over Fort Dale Academy in Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium Friday afternoon.

The Patriots drove 90 yards on one of the toughest defenses in the state for the go-ahead score and their own hard-nosed defense sunk its teeth in to defend the lead.

“To be able to go 90 yards on the best defense in the state was amazing,” PLAS head coach Steven Kilcrease said. “I know I keep saying amazing, but it is just sweet. I am so proud of our guys.”

Pike headmaster Ceil Sikes said Friday night was a dream come true.

“This is one of the greatest experiences of my life and I am so proud of these young men and coach Kilcrease for what he has done,” Sikes said. “The turnout tonight was phenomenal and we couldn’t have asked for more. We could not have asked for more. And maybe this is a new tradition we have started.”

The motivation for the new tradition may have started earlier this year.

“I think it all started in the summer,” PLAS cheer coach Amber Michael said. “I think when they realized we brought home state and looked at him and said ‘Now it is your turn’ he was ready to bring it home. This has just been an unbelievable experience. It is an amazing time to be a Pike Patriot.”

Michael and the cheerleading squad brought home the 2008 UCA AISA Varsity Large Squad Camp championship back in July and Michael and the rest of the cheerleaders told the football team it was their turn. The football team listened.

This is more than just a football victory for the Pike Liberal community.

“It has certainly been a long time coming and any time you achieve something like this the first credit should go to the team, but it was a total school effort,” Buddy Starling said. “I can’t say enough great things about coach Kilcrease and I just wish all boys playing football everywhere could have a coach like Steven Kilcrease.”

“Going 12-1 and having only one loss, it has been great cheering for this team,” Pike cheerleader Eady Pinckard said.

Patrolling the sidelines and running in fresh pigskins every so often can get tiring, but the PLAS water girls and ball girls are just proud of their team.

“It feels great to have that first ever state title,” water girl Mallory May said. “We are just so excited for the team.”

Jody Long is just happy to have helped out all year.

“We do a lot to pamper the boys, so it feels good to get that championship,” Long said.

Everyone who has been to a Pike game has seen Madison Sanders at one time or another. She is the girl running, and she does run, the ball into the official when needed. Sanders is proud to help out in any way possible.

“These guys really deserved it and they worked very hard,” Sanders said.

Tom Farrar is in the same boat as Kilcrease and assistant coach Bert Rice. He graduated from Fort Dale and now is associated with Pike.

“I graduated from Fort Dale and we moved here and my children go to Pike so this was really exciting for me,” Farrar said. “Some of my former teammates’ children were on that team out there today. I have a little bit of both sides, but I am a Patriot.”

The Patriots have made their mark on history and now the team gets to enjoy an entire year as the No. 1 team in Class AAA. There was a state championship celebration Friday night and fans were hinting at next year, but Kilcrease and the Patriots just wanted to live in the moment and enjoy this season’s accomplishment.

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