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The Pike Liberal Arts Patriots (4-1) – (2-0) look to remain undefeated in region play when they take on a struggling Valiant Cross Academy (1-6) – (0-2) team at home in Troy on Friday.

This is the first year that Valiant has fielded a football team. Valiant has been outscored 50-96 by their opponents the last three weeks, and lost last week’s region game against Lee-Scott Academy by a score of 31-30. 

PLAS head coach Mario White says their practice sessions in the two weeks since their last game have been very demanding.

“Last week was a modified week, and it was a very physical week,” said White. “We have gotten back to lifting, watching film, and practicing hard this week.” 

The Patriots went into their bye week coming off a 34-7 win over Tuscaloosa Academy. The win came two weeks after the Patriots lost their only game of the season against Chambers Academy. The Patriots won by forfeit following the chambers game.

The Patriots have shutout three of their opponents this season and held two more opponents to under 20 points. The Patriot offense this season is averaging 41 points per game so far this season.

Coach White’s expectations for the game are fairly straightforward: play cleanly.

“I expect for us to take care of the ball and play mistake free,” said White. “ If we do our jobs and our assignments, we’ll be okay.”

White credits God for guiding his team and players, many of whom have come from all over the state, to their current success.

“We believe that God has put us here for a reason,” White said. “We all came here together, it’s a lot of guys from different programs here, and God’s will…has allowed everything to work out.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.