The Pike Liberal Patriots struggled stopping the run on Friday in a 43-36 loss to Autauga Academy.

“We played hard,” said Patriots head coach Gene Allen. “It definitely wasn’t our best game defensively. Autauga had a lot to do with that. They are a good football team they are big and fast.

The Patriots finished with 379 offensive yards.

“I thought we moved the ball well offensively,” Allen said. “We did some things that hurt us, but other than that I was really pleased with their effort.”

JT Ball led the Patriots offensively with three touchdowns and 318 all-purpose yards.

“JT is a competitor,” Allen said. “He comes every Friday night ready to play, and he does a good job for us.”

Reed Jinright finished the night completing six of his 16 attempts for 108 yards. Tyler Hussey led the Patriots in tackling with 10, while Camden Koenning finished with nine.

The Generals scored on the opening drive with a 77-yard, 10-play drive that culminated in 14-yard touchdown run by Javon Rodgers.

The Patriots took the following drive 68 yards and scored on a one-yard run by quarterback Reed Jinright. The Patriots rushed the ball on all eight plays, including a 23-yard run by Ball.

The Generals scored on their second possession with a five-yard run. A successful two-point conversion put the score at 14-6.

PLAS answered with an eight-play, 58-yard drive that included an 18-yard reception by Wood Jinright and a 31-yard touchdown reception by Ball.

The successful two-point conversion tied the score at 14-14.

After advancing to the red zone, the Generals turned the ball over on downs

The Patriots capitalized. It took three plays for the Patriots to travel 78 yards and take the lead. Ball had a 66-yard carry and Reed Johnson scored on a five-yard run.

The Generals retook the lead on the next possession after a 58-yard drie, leading 22-20 with 3:32 remaining in the half.

The Patriots received the opening kickoff in the second half, but had to punt. The Generals drove 80 yards, scoring on a 16-yard touchdown run with 5:54 remaining.

Autauga Academy recovered the on-side kick at the Patriot 42 yard line. They scored again on an eight-play drive, for a 37-20 lead.

The Patriots took the ensuing drive 72 yards for a touchdown on a three-yard run by Reed Jinright. A two-point conversion left the score at 37-28.

The Generals answered on the next drive with another touchdown for a 43-28 lead.

With under a minute remaining, Ball scored on a six-yard run. The Patriots could not recover the onside kick, though.

“We have some great kids,” Allen said. “They work hard and they are going to continue to work hard. We are trying to get that mindset to where we are always in the game.”

With the loss the Patriots fall to 3-2 and the Generals improve to 5-0.

The Patriots host Glenwood for homecoming on Friday. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

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