The Pike Liberal Arts Patriots improved to 3-0 on Friday night when they defeated Abbeville Christian in overtime 36-34.

“They have an excellent football team,” said head coach Gene Allen. “They have some really good athletes. We made the play at the end when we had to.”

Both teams combined to score 32 points in the third quarter after scoring just 14 in the entire first half.

T.K. Thomas and the Patriots scored the only points of the first quarter when Thomas scored from 31 yards out to give the Patriots a 6-0 lead.

Abbeville turned the tables on the Patriots by scoring the only points of the second quarter and entered halftime leading 8-6.

The Patriots and Generals traded touchdowns in the third quarter. The Patriots regained the lead when Reed Johnson ran it in from three yards out. Thomas converted the two-point conversion and the Patriots took a 14-8 lead.

After a four-yard touchdown run gave the lead back to the Generals, Johnson scored his second touchdown of the game, this time from 15 yards out. Reed Jinright tacked on the two-point conversion and the Patriots regained the lead.

The Generals barreled in for another rushing touchdown, this time by Drew Newman. Thomas scored his second touchdown of the game when he ran it in from one-yard out to give the Patriots a 30-22 lead.

The Generals were able to tie the game up late to send it into overtime.

The Generals scored the first touchdown in overtime, but failed to make the two-point conversion– opening the door for the Patriots.

Jinright ran a quarterback keeper into the end zone from four yards out. Needing just an extra point to win, the Patriots elected to go for two and Jinright finished what he started with another keeper to seal the victory.

“At that point, both teams were exhausted,” Allen said. “We gave up a touchdown and stopped the two-point conversion, which gave us a chance. We could have kicked the extra point, but our kicker was on the sideline cramping. Reed was able to get it in again. It was a great win for us.”

Jinright finished the game 4-9 passing for 48 yards. Thomas finished the game with 163 yards rushing and two touchdowns while Johnson rushed for 129 yards. As a team, the Patriots rushed for 342 yards.

“We ran the ball really well,” Allen said. “They didn’t stop us and we felt comfortable doing it.”

The Patriots will be back at home next week when they take on Fort Dale Academy beginning at 7 p.m.