An ugly win is still a win, but as Central Hinds coasted past Porters Chapel Academy, 43-13, the ugly sure shined through.

Players from both teams were ejected, and the Cougars and Eagles combined for 415 yards in penalties.

Porters Chapel (1-2) racked up a dozen penalties for 210 yards, and Central Hinds (3-0) was penalized 11 times for 205 yards.

“I don’t know how many penalties were thrown. It seemed like every play there was a flag thrown. We cant get anything done like that. I don’t know what was going on. We would get 4 or 5 yards and then get penalized 10,” PCA coach Wayne Lynch said.

Penalties caused two Central Hinds touchdowns to be called back. During one series in the second quarter, the Cougars were penalized eight times leading up to the ejection of Ben-Moss Lauderdale for stomping on a PCA player after a 6-yard touchdown run.

“I think the game was a little sloppy. We had a job to do and that was to compete against a very athletic team. I wish we could have done it a little more cleanly without all the penalties,” Central Hinds coach Lance Teasley said. “Every time we took a step forward, we were taking two steps backwards.”

PCA’s most costly penalty was a bobbled snap on a punt with seven minutes left in the first quarter. Punter Shelton Miller tried to get off a pass from the end zone but was called for intentional grounding, giving Central Hinds a safety.

The cloud of penalties hanging over the game came with silver linings for both teams.

Central Hinds quarterback Tanner Leggett threw for one touchdown and ran for another. He finished the night with 79 passing yards, including a 36-yard touchdown to Will Neely midway though the second quarter. Leggett also rushed for 66 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown.

“He’s a special athlete. He plays every sport at Central Hinds and he’s the kind of young man who’s going to be a leader because the guys are drawn to him. We’re very thankful he’s on our side,” Teasley said.

CHA senior Donnie Haley led both teams in rushing with 89 yards. Most of those came on a 70-yard touchdown on the Cougars’ first possession.

On special teams, the Cougars hit a high point when Dallas Martin scored on a 50-yard punt return for a touchdown with a minute and a half to go in the first quarter.

Central Hinds’ final touchdown came on a 63-yard run by sophomore running back Dylan Case with 9:51 left in the game.

For PCA, the biggest achievement was keeping focused through the second half despite being down 37-0 going into the third quarter, Lynch said.

“We kept fighting at the end. We never quit. We never gave up. I’m proud of them for that,” Lynch said.

PCA’s two scores came in the fourth quarter. The first was a 30-yard pass from Garrett Hutchins to Isaiah Minor with 11:17 left. The second came on the next series as Josh Hunt scooped up a fumble and scored on a 50-yard return.

Patrick Minor led the Eagles with 25 yards rushing and 42 receiving, despite being ejected in the first half after throwing a punch at a Central Hinds defensive back.

Tallulah Academy 62, Unity Christian 18

Ryan Hodge ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns on only nine carries, and Tallulah Academy (2-0) routed Unity Christian.

Mason Todd threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to David Dixon on Tallulah’s first series, and the Trojans went on to lead 56-6 at halftime.

SIA 44, Central Academy 20

Austin Herraney ran for two touchdowns in the second quarter, and the Confederates went on to beat Central Academy a week after suffering their first loss in more than two seasons.

Herraney finished with 120 rushing yards and the two touchdowns, Chander Ross had 77 yards and two touchdowns, and Cole Delaney had 104 yards and one score. As a team, Sharkey-Issaquena ran for 328 yards.