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While the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots aren’t heading to the playoffs like they originally thought, head coach William Moguel is excited for where his program is headed nonetheless.

Last week, the Patriots ended the season on a frustrating note in a 40-17 loss on the road at Loachapoka, just days after being forced to forfeit all of their wins due to a player being ruled ineligible.

“We started off slow with everything that went on last week, it was a tough week,” PLAS Coach William Moguel said of the season finale. “I don’t want to blame it on anything but I could kind of feel it coming out. We came out in the second half and played a lot better, though. I take nothing away from Loachapoka, they have some really good young athletes and are a well-coached team. They’re a good football team.”

Pike Lib’s seniors stuck with Moguel, and the program, over the last three seasons despite a number of star players transferring out and knowing that they would not be eligible to qualify for the playoffs until 2024.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these kids, especially this group of seniors,” Moguel emphasized. “Everything they’ve battled through these last two years to finish 6-4 on the field – even though it doesn’t say it on paper – means so much. We were able to qualify for the playoffs and you just can’t say enough about this group of guys’ leadership. The way they persevered helped build our program.”

The 2024 senior Patriots included the likes of Rhodes Baker, Michael Vaughn, Kade Brookins, Dalton Jordan, Sawyer Keck, Jackson Booth, Dawson Bradford, Jacob Bowen, Pruitt Vaughan and Coy Bell.

That foundation that the seniors helped lay at Pike will propel the program forward, said Moguel.

“With these young guys we have coming back, we just have to continue to push them and continue to get better and keep doing the same things we’ve been doing,” he said. “The kids have great attitudes and a great work ethic, it’s so much better than it was two years ago. They come in every day ready to work, and we just have to keep building off that. We have a great group of kids coming back and I’m looking forward to getting back at it.”