[10/03/02]For both Porters Chapel Academy and Briarfield, Friday’s game will be a big turning point in the season.

If Briarfield (6-0, 3-0 Conference 5-A) wins, it will have wins over two of the three teams chasing it for the conference lead and all but assure the Rebels of a playoff berth. A loss would put them at 3-1 in the conference and open the race for the two automatic playoff spots to PCA, Humphreys and Tallulah Academy.

“We’ve still got three (conference games) left. It’s definitely one we’ve got to have to be district champs though,” Briarfield coach Jay Murphree said.

If PCA wins, the Eagles (4-2, 2-1) would be in the thick of the title race. A loss would be their second against one of the conference’s top teams and hurt their chances of an automatic playoff berth.

“This is the kind of game you look forward to, the kind of game you work hard for,” PCA coach Bubba Mims said. “They’re one of the top teams in single-A, one of the top teams in the state. It’s a chance for us to step it up a notch and become a contender.”

Mims added that a win would be big not only for this season, but beyond as well.

PCA beat some of the conference’s weaker teams to break a two-year losing streak against conference foes, but must still prove it can beat the top teams to truly be considered a contender.

“A win this week is big for this program,” Mims said. “We’ve made big, giant steps, that’s obvious, and we’ve still got a ways to go. It’s like climbing a staircase. You take a step at a time, and every now and then you get to a larger step. This gives us an opportunity to make that step.”

Both teams feature powerful running attacks, and Friday’s game should be decided on the ground.

PCA is led by do-everything back Wesley Purvis, who has run for 755 yards and nine touchdowns on 74 carries. He has also caught two touchdown passes and returned a punt for a score.

“The Purvis kid is a real good running back, probably the best one we’ve seen all year. We know they’re going to feed it to him,” Murphree said.

Mims said Murphree disclosed one way to avoid getting the ball in Purvis’ hands during a telephone conversation on Wednesday.

“He said there’s no way I’m kicking to him,'” Mims said with a laugh.

Briarfield will do its part to control the clock and the game with its own two-pronged rushing attack. Eric Spillers has run for more than 100 yards in each of the last three weeks, while Ryle Stone has accumulated 562 yards this season.

The running game, combined with a smothering defense that has notched four shutouts and allowed only 21 points this season, have been the biggest reasons for the Rebels’ success.

“Anytime anybody plays Briarfield, it’s going to be a problem because they come to play. That comes from their coaching staff,” Mims said. “I’ve seen almost every game they’ve played on tape, and they come at you every play.”

The game may also be decided by who can hang onto a wet football the best.

Hurricane Lili is expected to pass through the area tonight and Friday morning. It should be out of the area by Friday night, but a sloppy, muddy field is sure to be left in its wake.

“You definitely think about that. One thing we tell our kids is we’ve both got to play in it. You can’t use it as an excuse,” Murphree said.