The Pike Liberal Arts Patriots came into Friday’s game with Escambia needing wins in their next three games to make the playoffs, but a lackluster offense left the Patriots wit a 36-7 loss to the Cougars.

“We did some really good things tonight,” said Patriots head coach Gene Allen. “We also made a few mistakes and they capitalized on it. We had chances in the first half and had chances to make some big plays we just didn’t make them.”

Both teams held each other scoreless during the opening quarter of the football game. Early in the second quarter, Cougar running back Kris Brown took the pitch and found Fred Flavors in the end zone for the game’s first touchdown. After the miss extra point the Cougars had a quick 6-0 lead.

The Patriots took the ball on their ensuing drive and went three-and out. On the punt attempt the snap flew over the punters head and was recovered in the end zone for a safety to increase the Panthers’ lead to 8-0.

The Cougars kept their momentum moving, after the free quick set the Cougars on the Patriots 30-yard line, Flavors caught another pass from 30-yards out to push the the Cougars’ lead out to 15-0.

Midway through the second quarter Reed Johnson hauled in an interception for the Patriots to set them up on their own 12-yard line. The Patriot offense failed to pick up a first down.

PLAS knew going in the guy they were going to have to stop if they were to be successful was Brown. The Patriots held him in check for the most part in the first half until late in the second quarter. Brown went around the left side and broke multiple tackles and dragged a couple of Patriots on his back as he crossed the goal line for his first touchdown of the night to extend the Cougar lead to 22-0.

In the opening half Brown rushed for 117 yards on 18 carries, averaging six and a half yards per carry.

“I thought we did a pretty good job against him,” Allen said.

“He had the long run in the first half. He Is a really good back. You have to give them credit they have a heck of a football team.”

The Patriots made a strong effort to score in the final minutes of the first half and drove down to the Cougar 17 yard-line.

After a couple of dropped passes the Patriots turned the ball over on downs to end the first half.

The Patriots forced a turnover on downs with their back to their own end zone on the opening drive of the third quarter.

Once again the Patriot offense failed to get anything going. Reed Jinright’s pass was deflected out of the hands of his receiver and into the awaiting arms of a Cougar defender for an interception.

Brown scored again in the third quarter, stretching the Cougar lead to 29-0.

The Cougars closed out their scoring midway through the fourth quarter when Patrick McGhee ran the ball in from 49 yards out.

The Patriots finally got on the scoreboard with 4:50 remaining in the ball game when Jinright connected on a 75-yard pass play to Marquese Christian.

At the end of the game Allen addressed an emotional group of seniors who had just wrapped up their final game.

“They know I love them to death,” Allen said. “They are a great group of kids. I have been with them since they were ninth-graders. There have been some good times and bad times but they are going to continue to work hard and give everything they got.”

The Patriots will be back in action next Friday night when the travel to Greenville to play rival Fort Dale. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

 

 

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