Pike Liberal Arts School seeks to repeat

Last year, Pike Liberal Arts School made history.

Today, the Patriots are trying to repeat it.

One year after the Patriots won their first Alabama Independent School Association football title, they will try again today. The AAA title game opens the tripleheader at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium in Troy at 1 p.m.

“The excitement’s the same (as last year),” said PLAS head coach Stephen Kilcrease. “We’re excited about it, about the opportunity. I was telling the players the other day, the school went 20 or 30 years without one, now we can go back-to-back.

“It might be 30 years before we get another chance. We need to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Today’s opponent is Bessemer Academy, a team the Patriots defeated 23-14 earlier in the season. The game was close throughout, Kilcrease said, with the Patriots scoring late to win by a two-score margin.

“Bessemer’s got five or six guys on offense that can take it all the way,” Kilcrease said. “We know that it’s going to be tough.

“We see it on film, see how fortunate we were to beat them.”

Kilcrease noted that Bessemer has some players available today who were not available during the first meeting. Even shorthanded, he said Bessemer managed three big plays, including two for touchdowns.

“We can’t give up those (today),” he said.

Even though the Patriots are going for a repeat, the team is very different from last year’s championship squad. Two main cogs, running back Jerel Foster and special teams and wide receiver star Douglas Hawkins, graduated after last season.

But the returning players and some quality newcomers put in the work and dedication to come out and have a strong 2009 season.

“Had several young guys step up, fill those voids,” Kilcrease said. “We’re a little bit of a different team. We have a lot of depth.

“The kids got stronger, faster. We had a lot of kids transfer in during the spring. Those guys have helped.”

Among the leaders this year are running back Nick McLaughlin, quarterback Trey Walters and tight end Sam Carroll.

McLaughlin, a sophomore, has led the team in rushing this season. However, he hurt his ankle in last week’s 6-3 overtime win over Morgan Academy and is still battling the injury heading into today’s game.

“There’s not a lot of rehab he can do,” Kilcrease said. “Just keep ice on it. But if anybody can do it and get back, he can.”

Walters is a three-year starter at quarterback, and he has become a true leader on the field.

“He does a great job with checkoffs,” Kilcrease said. “Doesn’t check off much, but he has an 80 percent touchdown rate on checkoffs.”

Walters’ favorite target is tight end Sam Carroll. At 6-4, 220, he is a big target and hard to miss.

“People know we’re going to throw it to him, and we still get it to him,” Kilcrease said. “His size helps.”

Carroll also plays outside linebacker on defense.