Editor’s Note: This story appears in “Playmakers,” The Vicksburg Post’s annual football preview magazine. The 48-page special edition is included with the Aug. 24-25 weekend print and E-editions of The Post and includes previews, features and more for all of Warren County’s high school teams.

Whenever he breaks off a big run, Porter’s Chapel Academy running back Jase Jung says he hears a strange noise coming from his linemen.

“Every time I run past them I hear them grunting,” he said with a laugh. “That’s a sight to see. It’s so fun to watch them play.”

It’s unclear if PCA’s power trio of Hunter Simms, Jackson Blackmon and Conley Johnston have a group nickname or not, but “The Grunts” seems about as good as any. They do the dirty work in the trenches that keeps the team moving and winning.

PCA finished 12-1 last season, reached the MAIS Class 2A semifinals, and set a school record by scoring 614 points. With all three linemen back to pave the way, they’re expecting to do it all again in 2024.

In eight-man football, teams only have three offensive linemen instead of the five used in the 11-man game.

“It’s a huge asset. You win the line of scrimmage, you’ve got a chance to win the game. Having those guys back with all that experience under their belt is definitely a plus for us,” PCA coach Blake Purvis said.

Johnston said the unit’s success is rooted in each having a style that complements the others. Blackmon, at 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, provides the bulk at center. Simms is an undersized right guard at 6-4 and 190 pounds, but is aggressive and takes the fight to the opponent.

Johnston is 5-11 and 225 pounds, and a blend of the two at left guard.

“I’m more of a get deep and set the ground, while Jackson is going to take somebody upfield. And Hunter? Hunter’s a headhunter. Hunter will grab you and beat the crap out of you. He’s aggressive,” Johnston said.

Of the three, Blackmon is the only one who has the traditional size of a lineman. Purvis, though, has tried to make their smaller frames an asset rather than a liability.

Purvis adapted the Eagles’ running game to use the linemen’s athleticism to their advantage. It worked to perfection last season, when they rushed for more than 3,000 yards — an average of about 250 per game. Jung set a school record with 25 rushing TDs and had 1,974 yards.

In the first two games this season, the Eagles have rushed for more than 900 yards. Jung set Warren County’s single game records for rushing yards (532) and touchdowns (7) in a 58-56 loss to Delta Academy on Aug. 23.

“Our run game is really built around us and pulling. That’s been our main thing,” Johnston said. “We’re not the biggest offensive line — besides Jackson, because he’s built like Goliath — but we’re more athletic than most linemen.”

Johnston added that adapting the offensive scheme was a necessity as he and Simms moved into the starting lineup in 2021 and 2022.

“After Bridges (Williams) and (Maureon Simms) graduated, our linemen got smaller. We had to work around that. We had to find ways to pull us and get us moving, and get momentum to move people out of our way.”
Johnston and Hunter Simms are both seniors and four-year starters. Blackmon, a junior, is only in his second season as a starter and said he’s happy to learn from his elders.

“I just sit back and do my own thing. Conley and Hunter are the seniors and I’m the junior. I listen to them. If they’ve got something to teach me I’ll listen and I’ll try to learn,” he said.

Simms said the chemistry the group has developed, with each knowing the others’ strengths, weaknesses and tendencies, has made them all stronger.

“It’s very important to know what everybody’s going to do, how they’re going to move. It’s like a machine. You all have to be working as one or it’s not going to work,” Simms said.

Besides playing together on the offensive line, Simms and Johnston are stalwarts on PCA’s defense. Johnston had 75 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss last season at linebacker. Simms, a hybrid edge rusher and linebacker, had 76 tackles.

Simms said they’ve all developed a bond off the field as well.

“It’s been probably the best experience I’ve had in my life, playing football with all of these people throughout the years,” Simms said. ”I made some really good friends. Made some brothers along the way. I couldn’t ask for nothing better.”

Well, there is one thing.

Porter’s Chapel has never played in a state championship game. It was tantalizingly close last season, winning its first 12 games before losing 52-14 to DeSoto School (Ark.) in the Class 2A semifinals.

Getting that one more win — and preferably two more — would put The Grunts in a commanding position in the school’s football history.

“Get back to where we were and do better,” Blackmon said of this year’s goals. “Simple as that. Just be better.”

2024 Porter’s Chapel Academy schedule
All games start at 7 p.m.
Aug. 16 — River Oaks 74, Porter’s Chapel 50
Aug. 23 — Delta Academy 58, Porter’s Chapel 56
Aug. 30 — Prentiss Christian
Sept. 6 — at Riverdale
Sept. 13 — Humphreys Academy
Sept. 20 — *at Park Place
Sept. 27 — at Tensas Academy
Oct. 4 — *Hillcrest Christian
Oct. 11 — Columbus Christian
Oct. 18 — at Wilkinson Christian
Oct. 25 — *Prairie View
*MAIS District 3-2A games