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This Friday, Aug. 23, the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots will open up the regular season at home against Class 4A’s New Brockton Gamecocks.

It won’t be the first time Pike Lib has hit the field, however, as the Patriots faced GW Long in a preseason jamboree last week. Pike Lib and Long’s varsity teams played for the first half with junior varsity playing in the second half. Pike led 7-0 at halftime after quarterback Dawson Bradford heaved an 88-yard touchdown pass to Michael Vaughan. Long ended up winning the jamboree 14-7.

“I was really pleased with how we came out,” Pike Coach William Moguel said of the jamboree. “Our biggest thing this offseason was the weight room and I could see where that transferred to the field. The kids played hard but we still have a lot of things to fix. It was good, though, and I was pleased with the effort our guys played with.”

New Brockton is coming into its first year as a part of Class 4A. The Gamecocks went 3-7 in Class 3A last season.

“They’ll be well-coached and they’re bringing about 80 kids up here,” Moguel said. “They’re well-coached and getting better every year. We’ll have to grow up and play for four full quarters. They’re in a tough situation there, having to deal with a lot right now, and they’re going to play with a lot of emotion. We have to weather that storm and stay disciplined.”

The tough situation that Moguel referred to is the passing of 14-year-old Semaj Wilkins, who collapsed on the practice field last week before ultimately passing away at the hospital. That situation hits home for Moguel as he graduated from New Brockton. His brother, Josh Moguel, also formerly served as a basketball and football coach at the school.

Moguel said that Pike Lib would honor Wilkins – and New Brockton – by wearing a sticker of Wilkins’ jersey number, No. 27, on their helmets. The two teams will also gather around midfield during pregame where Pike assistant coach Will Austin will lead the teams in a prayer.

In regards to the game itself, Moguel said he wants to see complete effort from his team.

“I want to see our guys play for four quarters, full effort,” he said. “I just want to see how we react to a full game and not just a half. I want to see what kind of shape we’re in and I want to see effort from our guys.”

Pike Lib will host New Brockton at 7 p.m. at Dewight Ward Field in Troy.