LUVERNE – Sam Sellars was supposed to only get a few carries Thursday night in Pike Lib's season opener at Crenshaw Christian.

He only carried the ball eight times, but he still gained 190 yards, scored three times and caught a 28-yard touchdown pass as Pike Liberal Arts School opened the 2003 season with a 57-8 win over the Cougars.

"I was coming off an injury, and I came back strong," Sellars said. "They came into our place last year and beat us. We wanted to beat them in their place."

"I'm so proud of our guys," PLAS head coach Mack Williams said.

Chris Griggs also had a good night running the ball. He carried the ball 12 times for 128 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Chance Kelly rushed for 70 yards and two scores.

The PLAS defense was also strong. The Patriots forced four Cougar turnovers, three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Brannon Heape intercepted two passes, on e that set up a score.

The Patriots did not waste time getting on the board. On their second possession, Griggs took an option pitch for a 31-yard touchdown to give the Patriots a 6-0 lead.

PLAS held that lead until the end of the quarter, and in the second quarter, the game got out of hand.

Pike Lib scored 33 points in the second quarter to extend the lead to 39-8.

Kelly lead the quarter off with a 7-yard touchdown on the first play of the quarter. He added his second score on a 32-yard run up the middle three minutes later to make the score 20-0.

PLAS extended the lead to 26-0 on Andrew Folmar's 28-yard toss on a play fake to Sellars. Heape's first interception set up Griggs' second score, a 25-yard rush.

Down 32-0, Crenshaw mounted an eight play, 74-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown.

Pike Lib tried to run out the clock, but Sellars broke free for a 64-yard scamper to put the Patriots ahead 39-8.

Sellars added a 6-yard score and a 75-yard run in the third quarter, and Brint Poole tallied a 1-yard run in the fourth to end the scoring.

Williams cleared the bench almost down to the cheerleaders by the time the game was over.