As last week’s game against Delta Academy progressed, Jase Jung knew he was having a good night but had no idea exactly how many rushing yards he had.

It was understandable. Besides being dialed in on a close back-and-forth game, it was hard to count that high.

Jung, a senior running back for Porter’s Chapel Academy, shattered Warren County’s single-game records for rushing yards and touchdowns with 532 and seven, respectively, in a 58-56 loss to Delta Academy.

St. Aloysius’ DeMichael Harris previously held the record of 395 yards, set in a 2015 playoff game vs. Bayou Academy. Four players, including Harris, had scored six rushing touchdowns.

It was an individual performance for the ages that Jung didn’t take time to appreciate — or even know about — until it was over.

“Even though we lost, it felt great. I didn’t even know what the single-game rushing record was. I wasn’t paying attention to that. I was just running the ball, to be honest. I didn’t know I had that many. I didn’t know I scored that many touchdowns. I lost track,” Jung said. “But after the game someone showed me how many rushing yards I had and I was like, ‘Holy crap!’ I did not know I had run that much.”

If he didn’t know, Jung certainly felt it. He finished with 49 carries and only came off the field for a couple of plays. In addition to his offensive explosion he had eight tackles and an interception on defense.

“I saw the 49 carries and thought, ‘Yeah, that’s why I’m tired,’” he said with a laugh.

PCA coach Blake Purvis said the heavy workload made the record more impressive. Jung had long touchdown runs of 45, 35 and 55 yards, but did most of his hard work running between the tackles and taking hits.

“The style of offense we’re using this year is not your typical eight-man offense. We’re in a two-tight end set and we’re running between the tackles. He’s getting hard yards. He’s not just running in space. That wasn’t ‘get 500 yards on 15 carries,’” Purvis said. “Our offensive line is opening up holes between the tackles and he’s running downhill and getting hard yards. That was a grueling, grinding performance that he put on. Forty-two of those carries, he took a beating — probably more than that, because some of his touchdown runs he had broke three or four tackles.”

Both Purvis and Jung credited the offensive line for making the record-breaking night possible. Linemen Hunter Simms, Conley Johnston and Jackson Blackmon are all returning starters, and tight ends Henry Slayton and Morris Bailey also did a good job opening holes to run through.

“That’s my line. I owe everything to those boys,” Jung said. “They come out here and practice, and they work their butts off, and then they show up on Friday nights. They push the pile. I just see the hole and run through the hole. And then the fullback Auston (Moore) finds people to hit and I just find the hole and run through it.”

The game against Delta was the second in a row in which the Eagles have leaned on Jung to shoulder a heavy workload. He had 21 carries for 265 yards and four TDs in the season opener against River Oaks.

Jung did not have more than 12 carries in PCA’s first eight games last season, then had 20 or more in four of the last five. The Eagles spread the ball around to several players in 2023, but after they all graduated Jung said he expected to be the workhorse this year and prepared for it.

“It’s not something I’m used to, because we had a lot of talent last year. This year, since we’re small and don’t have as many people as we did last year, I’m fine with it. I’ll take that many carries if that’s what it takes to win. They all look to me for a role model and I try to do the best I can,” Jung said. “During the summer I was running, I was working out, I was trying to keep up my endurance but keep on muscle and weight at the same time. It was a long summer. Two-a-days came and I was exhausted, and I was like, ‘This is only the start of it.’”

The fast start — he already has 70 carries for 797 yards and 11 touchdowns — rocketed Jung up the charts on a couple of other Warren County record lists.

He now has 50 career rushing TDs, which is second only to the 74 that Warren Central’s Brian Darden had from 1991-94. Jung broke PCA’s school record against River Oaks.

Jung also surpassed the 3,000-yard mark for his career, and has 3,507 heading into this Friday’s home game against Prentiss Christian. PCA’s school record is 4,079 by Earl Johnson (1974-76), and Darden has the county record of 4,919.

Only four players — Johnson, Darden, Warren Central’s Carl Blue (1977-79) and St. Al’s Mike Ray (1976-78) — have reached 4,000 yards. Purvis said it’s almost a given that Jung will be the fifth.

“I would not be surprised if we see similar performances out of him throughout the year. Our offense runs through that guy. He’s been starting since the eighth grade. He’s worked for this moment,” Purvis said.

Purvis also pointed out another remarkable stat for Jung. He has not been stopped for a loss on any of his 70 carries so far.

“That’s impressive at any level, regardless of how many people are on the field,” Purvis said. “If you go 75 straight plays of positive yards, that’s pretty dadgum good.”

Despite his impressive totals so far, there is one thing Jung and the Eagles haven’t done — win. They scored 50 and 56 points in their first two games but lost both, and want something to show for their effort when they leave the field after facing Prentiss Christian.

If that takes another 49 carries, Jung said he’ll do it. If it takes 49 carries every week to win a state championship, he said he’ll do that, too.

“If this is what it takes, I will keep up this pace,” he said, adding with a laugh, “My body is exhausted, but nothing an ice bath can’t help.”

FRIDAY’S GAMES
MAIS regular season – Games at 7 p.m.
Prentiss Christian at PCA (Radio: 104.4 FM)
Cathedral at St. Aloysius (Radio: 101.3 FM)
Tallulah Academy at Franklin Academy
Red Carpet Bowl – Games at 7:30 p.m.
Holmes County Central at Vicksburg (Radio: 107.7 FM)
Clinton at Warren Central (Radio: 105.5 FM)
• Red Carpet Bowl tickets are $10 and are available through GoFan.co
• Fans are also encouraged to read the Vicksburg Warren School District’s new clear bag policy before attending games this season