Sports Editor

Just when everyone thought the Pike Liberal Arts School Patriots wouldn’t face a ranked team this week, tonight’s opponent Macon-East snuck in at the No. 10 spot of the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s AISA poll when the polls were released on Wednesday.

"It just keeps getting tougher," said PLAS head coach DeWight Ward.

The Patriots enter the game tonight with a 1-6 record. The Knights, after losing their first game of the season this year to Lee-Scott, have clicked off six straight wins.

And they’ve done it in dominating fashion. After being blanked by Lee-Scott 17-0, the Knights’ offense has come alive in the past six weeks and are averaging 38.0 points a game.

Macon-East running back John Martin scored two touchdowns and rushed for 164 yards on nine carries last week in the Knights’ 44-25 beating of Chambers Academy. Kyle Dyer had 142 yards on just 11 carries.

"They’re going to be tough to stop," said Ward. "We’re going to have to take a few gambles on defense and hopefully we can force some turnovers."

Last week in the Patriots’ 41-12 loss to Glenwood, Ward’s team was hurt by five turnovers.

"We’ve got to stop turning the ball over," said Ward. "You can’t help a good football team out and expect to win."

Again, PLAS will be without the services of Scott Kirby, who suffered a concussion in the Patriots’ game against Monroe Academy. Kirby, just a junior, has suffered three concussions in his football career, which includes two last season. Right now, Kirby is questionable for the rest of the season.

Through the first six games, Kirby was averaging over 100 yards a game before the injury.

"When we lose one player to an injury, we’re actually losing two or three, because we have so many kids that play both ways," said Ward.

The Patriots will be at Hooper Academy next week and finish off the year in Louisville against rival Dixie Academy on Oct. 27.