Horrible road trip played role in 29-0 loss in second week.

Road trips are supposed to be fun. Porters Chapel’s last trip to Central Private was anything but.

After enduring a three-hour ride in a bus with broken air conditioning in early September heat, the Eagles played their worst game of the season. They committed three turnovers in the red zone, allowed Central Private tailback Justin Couvillion to run for four touchdowns and were shut out for the first time since 2003.

Two months later, the Eagles get a do-over. They return to Baton Rouge for a first-round Academy-AA playoff game against a streaking Central Private, with four straight victories in which they’ve scored at least 40 points.

Coming home with a win won’t be easy, but the Eagles (8-3) guaranteed tonight’s rematch wouldn’t be a replay of the nightmare that unfolded on Sept. 1.

&#8220It’s definitely in the back of our minds. We haven’t forgotten it at all. It’d be nice to get a little payback,” said PCA receiver Michael Busby, who is tied for the team lead with 31 catches for 616 yards and seven touchdowns.

Central Private coach Mike Longmire hasn’t forgotten it either, and didn’t expect round two to be easy – not that round one was. PCA’s three red-zone turnovers turned what could have been a close game into a 29-0 rout.

Since then, PCA’s offense has clicked in a big way. Quarterback Hayden Hales, who threw three interceptions in his first four games this season, has been picked off just three times since then. He’s also emerged as the team’s leading rusher and has nearly 2,500 yards combined through the air and on the ground.

Hales also has thrown 20 touchdown passes, with 18 going to Busby and Cole Smith. The two wideouts have allowed PCA to stretch the field and score from anywhere at any time.

&#8220We looked at that film. It might have looked easy, but they had three opportunities to score,” Longmire said of the first meeting between the Rebels and the Eagles. &#8220They’ve improved tremendously. They’re throwing the ball well. It’s not going to be easy.”

While PCA uses a strong passing game to light up the scoreboard, Central Private relies on an old-fashioned approach.

Couvillion has been the Rebels’ workhorse, rushing for 1,896 yards and 33 touchdowns this season. He’s also caught two TD passes and returned a punt for a score. The numbers are eerily similar to Trinity tailback Stevan Ridley, who shredded PCA’s defense for 390 yards last week.

PCA was able to outlast Ridley and come away with a 42-41 win. It might also have come away with a valuable learning tool. Playing a great back like Ridley helped prepare them to face Couvillion when it counts this Friday, Busby said.

&#8220It’s a big help. It’s not like we’re totally blind going into facing a good running back,” said Busby, who also plays defensive back and leads the team with six interceptions.

Hinds AHS hosts Union.

Coming off one of the biggest wins in school history, the War Dawgs eye Union tonight with a chance to advance to the third round of the Class 2A state playoffs.

Hinds (7-4) will take on Union (9-2) in Utica at 7 p.m.

Hinds defeated top-seeded Taylorsville on the road last week, 16-12. It’s the second time in the last five years that the War Dawgs have advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Running back Joshua King ran for 216 yards in the win over Taylorsville.

Clinton hosts Tupelo.

Despite getting blasted by Provine last week, Clinton (8-3) will be at home tonight for a Class 5A playoff game at Roy Burkett Field in a rematch of the season opener against Tupelo (6-4).

The Arrows beat Tupelo 17-10 at Clinton.

&#8220It was a hard-fought game and what helped us out was a hitting a ‘Hail Mary’ pass for a touchdown right before the half,” Clinton coach Scott Brown said.

The Arrows are led by running back Amonte Harper (1,403 yards, 17 TDs rushing) and quarterback Wesley Mounger (1,973 yards combined offense, 20 TDs).

SIA at Benton Academy.

The Confederates (6-4) met Benton (8-3) way back in mid-August in a preseason scrimmage. Tonight, they meet again in a first round, MPSA, Class A playoff game.

SIA made the playoffs after reeling off six straight wins following an 0-3 start. The streak ended with a loss last week at Central Holmes.

&#8220Not turning the ball over has been the big key for us. When we don’t, we’ve got a chance to be good. We had none against Deer Creek and that’s why we made the playoffs,” SIA coach Cori Britt said.

Briarfield hosts UCS.

The Rebels (8-2) will be at home tonight in Lake Providence for a first round MPSA, Class A playoff game against University Christian School (8-3) of Brandon.

Briarfield won the District 7-A title by winning all six of its league games. The Rebels are led by quarterback Jamie Fortenberry with 886 yards passing and 11 touchdowns and 567 rushing with 11 more scores.

Central Hinds at Delta.

Coach Todd Montgomery’s Cougars head to Marks to battle a Delta Academy (8-3) squad that has had no problem in moving up from MPSA Class A to AA.

The Cougars finished 7-4 in the regular season after beating Prairie View last week in Bastrop, La.

&#8220We just need to play defense like we’ve normally do and our offense has gotten better,” Montgomery said.