[10/25/04]FLORA The look of exhaustion on Gerald Mims’ face was obvious.

His eyelids drooped and his shoulders slumped as he hugged family and friends following Porters Chapel’s 21-19 win over Tri-County on Friday. Mims’ jersey, white at the start of the game, was covered with so much sweat and dirt that it turned to mud and nearly matched the color of his black pants.

He had put everything he had into helping PCA to its first district championship in 22 years. But now, with the adrenaline wearing off and the enormity of the accomplishment sinking in, he could barely stand.

“I can’t breathe,” Mims said as he doubled over to catch his breath. “I wanted this game more than any game I’ve ever played in my life. I’ve got a lot of emotions in this season. I know everybody else on this team does, and we play just like family out here.”

Mims’ emotions are the result of tragedy as much as dedication. His father, Bubba, was PCA’s coach for 3 1/2 seasons until he passed away in May. Bubba Mims’ vision of PCA’s football future was of a dynasty. There was a group coming along, he often told people, that was good enough to bring two or three state titles to the school. He had coached them in baseball and football since they were old enough to start playing. Bubba Mims knew their potential, what they could and couldn’t do, and how to best use them on the field while providing a guiding hand off it.

This season was to be the start of their run.

“It was real emotional,” Gerald Mims said of Friday’s game. “I had to keep it off of my mind all week, because it makes me so anxious to come out here. But we put it together and got the win, and that’s all I want to say about it.”

Several members of Bubba Mims’ “Critters” team had a hand in Friday’s win. Michael Busby threw a touchdown pass and punted PCA out of trouble on several occasions. Cole Smith had a huge, game-changing 101-yard interception return for a touchdown his fifth return for a score this season. Others were part of the defense that came up big time and again when Tri-County pushed the ball inside the 20-yard line.

But none of them played as big a role as Gerald Mims. Not quite a Critter he’s a junior this season, while most are sophomores he nevertheless carried the Eagles to glory on Friday with big play after big play on offense and defense.

Mims rushed for 120 yards most coming in the second half after starter Chris Mixon left the game ailing. He also scored the go-ahead touchdown.

“He was absolutely putting us on his shoulders tonight. He wanted the football, he was grinding out those yards,” PCA coach Randy Wright said. “I don’t know how many carries he had, but I must have called 34-double power 25 times tonight. He ran it, and ran it hard, and picked up those yards when we needed it and helped us control the ball in the second half.”

When he wasn’t toting the ball and piling up yards, Mims also made a pair of smaller plays that turned into big ones for the Eagles.

He threw a key block during Smith’s punt return, then late in the fourth quarter alertly went into motion from the wishbone backfield to avoid an illegal motion penalty.

He then scored the go-ahead touchdown soon after, then sealed the win with a late interception.

PCA ran out the clock and had its first district championship since 1982.

“We were ready for this football game,” Mims said. “The coaches did a great job preparing us for every aspect of the game. We struggled on defense at first, but we stuck it in there and we came away with it.”