Porters Chapel Academy’s six seniors sprinted to the big puddle at the east end of Eagles Field and doused themselves with a victory splash. The Eagles’ 27-6 win over Newton County Academy punched PCA’s ticket to the MAIS Class A playoffs.

PCA (4-7, 2-1 District 4-A) will head to Sylva-Bay Academy (8-2) in Bay Springs next week in a first-round playoff game. Newton County Academy ends its season at 3-7 and 1-2 in district play.

Facing a muddy field saturated by a game-long steady rain, the Eagles ran out of the I-formation and racked up 236 yards in offense — all on the ground. They attempted just one pass, which was intercepted.

Offensive tackle Caze Brewer said the Eagles had a lot of motivation.

“We wanted to win this for our seniors,” Brewer said.

Eagles tailback Jay Wiley was one of those six seniors and he had a big game when PCA needed it the most. Wiley ran for 112 yards and scored three touchdowns on runs of 17, 14 and 42 yards. Wiley made great use of the blocks provided by the line, especially Ghost Jones and Brewer.

“It was perfect blocking. They took it upon themselves and just pushed it. Everybody played their hearts out and we’re now where we want to be,” Wiley said.

And that is the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

First-year Eagles coach Bill Fleming was elated with the complete game. The only errors, besides two lost fumbles and the pick, was an 89-yard kickoff return by Newton’s Dylan Williams to open the second half.

“We had a breakdown on special teams, but I was really proud that we were able to hang on to the ball as well as we did. We lost just two fumbles in a steady rain,” Fleming said. “We basically just lined up and ran out of the I-formation behind our big linemen.”

A 52-yard run by Kreuz Federick on the  first play of its second possession got PCA moving. Wiley then scored on a 17-yard run after a great trap block by Jones. Colby Rushing added the kick to make it 7-0 with 6:54 left in the first quarter.

Newton fell victim to the conditions on its next drive as Williams whiffed on a punt and the Eagles recovered at the Generals 24. PCA covered the distance in seven plays, with Montana McDaniel scoring on a 3-yard run to make it 13-0. A try for two failed because Rushing could not kick because he left to get his ankle retaped.

Williams’ kickoff return brought Newton back into the game but the Eagles answered. A Rushing punt that stopped at the PCA 1 put the Generals in a deep hole. The Eagles defense then forced a punt, getting the ball back at the Generals’ 35.

A 22-yard run by McDaniel gave PCA a first down at the 14. Wiley then ripped through another hole off the trap to score from the 14 to make it 19-6 with 5:56 left in the third quarter. The try for two failed.

Twelve minutes later, PCA made it 21-6 when Reed Gordon dropped Williams after a bad snap for a safety. Following the free kick, the Eagles iced it with Wiley’s 42-yard TD run with 3:17 left.

McDaniel finished with 70 yards on 22 carries and Federick had 64.

The Eagles defense held Newton to just 47 yards in total offense, all rushing.

Williams had 140 all-purpose yards to lead the Generals.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com