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The Pike Liberal Arts Patriots (6-1, 3-1) earned a hard-fought 22-0 shutout win over the Zion Chapel Rebels (2-4, 0-4) in a Class 2A, Region 3 clash on Friday night.

On a muddy field, both teams also suffered from a slew of turnovers and penalties. In the game, Pike and Zion Chapel combined for 29 penalties and six turnovers. Still, Pike inched ever so closer to earning its first AHSAA playoff berth by notching another region win.

Pike Lib wasted no time in the first quarter getting in the end zone, marching on a 7-play scoring drive to open the game. Jackson Bowen capped off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to put the Patriots ahead 7-0 with 9:18 left in the opening period.

Zion Chapel’s offense simply couldn’t get going in the first half, amassing just 44 yards of total offense in the first two periods. The Rebel defense, though, kept the game close. On Pike Lib’s second drive, a spectacular play from the Patriot offense turned into an even more spectacular play for the Rebel defense.

Pike’s Dalton Jordan gashed ZCHS right up the middle for what looked to surely be a long touchdown run, but Rebel Joseph LeGear did his best George Teague impersonation by chasing Jordan down and stripping him of the football at the goal line.

Zion Chapel, with the ball at its own 1-yard line, proceeded to march on an 11-play drive – easily the best offensive drive of the half for the Rebels – before turning it over on downs at midfield.

Pike once again drove deep into Zion Chapel territory but this time John Foster Hamm snatched a Patriot pass out of the air with one hand for an interception at the goal line, snuffing out what looked like another scoring drive.

The Patriot defense made its own play, however, as Jacob Bowen sacked Hamm in the end zone for a safety just two plays later to extend the lead to 9-0 in the second quarter.

Pike once again drove into Zion Chapel territory and set up for a field goal attempt but a bad snap led to Hamm recovering a fumble for another turnover. After a Zion Chapel punt, Pike drove into Zion Chapel territory with the clock winding down in the half, only for Rebel Jeremiah Stinson to scoop up yet another Patriot fumble. Pike went into halftime maintaining the 9-0 lead.

Pike started out the second half much like the first, marching down the field on a 10-play scoring drive to open the third quarter. Jordan capped off the drive with a 7-yard scoring run. A two-point try failed but Pike still led 15-0 with 4:12 left in the third period.

As Zion Chapel drove deep into Pike Lib territory for the first time, late in the third quarter, Pike’s Pruitt Vaughan snuffed out the scoring opportunity with an interception, which he returned 70 yards for another Patriot touchdown. The PAT extended the lead to 22-0 with four seconds remaining in the third quarter. Neither team would find the end zone in the fourth quarter.

Pike totaled 300 yards of offense in the win with 224 yards on the ground, while the Patriot defense held the Rebels to just 143 total yards. Pike forced a pair of turnovers, while Zion Chapel’s defense forced four turnovers. Also, Pike was penalized 13 times for 123 yards, while Zion Chapel was penalized 16 times for 142 yards.

Jordan had another monster game on the ground for Pike, rushing for 154 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries, while Dawson Bradford completed 7-of-13 passes for 76 yards and an interception. Jackson Booth caught three passes for 39 yards.

For the Pike defense, Vaughan earned nine tackles and an interception return for a touchdown, while Rhodes Baker recorded five tackles and two tackles-for-loss. Jackson Mitchell also recorded an interception.

For Zion Chapel, Joeb Bradley rushed for 49 yards, while Zach English completed a pass for 31 yards. Kavan Brown also had 31 yards receiving. The Rebel defense was led by Jeremiah Stinson with six tackles, two tackles-for-loss and a fumble recovery.

Pike is on the road for a big region clash against Goshen next Friday, while Zion Chapel returns home to face Baker (Fla.).