Over the past 100 years, hundreds of high school players in Warren County have taken a handoff and run with the football.

The list ranges from future NFL and college players, to linemen getting a brief moment of senior night glory. It’s arguable who did it best, but soon it won’t be a debate who did it the most.

Porter’s Chapel Academy senior running back Jase Jung is closing in fast on nearly every Warren County rushing record on the books. It’s a hallowed place in local football history that he is both humbled and honored to take.

“I haven’t even thought about that. I didn’t know I was close to breaking records at the beginning of the season, to be honest. But hearing that, that’s pretty insane and pretty cool at the same time,” Jung said. “I don’t know where I would be without those people blocking in front of me. They’re doing an amazing job this year.”

Jung is entering PCA’s homecoming game against Hillcrest Christian (1-5, 0-1 MAIS District 3-2A) on Friday with 1,982 yards and 26 touchdowns this season; and 4,692 yards and 65 touchdowns for his career.

Jung needs 257 yards to break the season record set by Warren Central’s Brian Darden in 1994, and 228 to break Darden’s career record set from 1992-94.

Jung is also approaching Warren County’s rushing touchdown records. Warren Central’s Carl Blue set the season record of 33 in 1979, and Darden has the career record of 74.

Jung broke his own single-season school record for touchdowns in last week’s 62-30 victory over Tensas Academy. He only needs 55 yards to set the school’s season yardage record that Earl Johnson has owned since 1975. Jung blew past Johnson’s career records earlier this season.

Jung said he hasn’t tracked his progress up the charts.

“My dad tells me about them, but I never know exactly how close I really am to it. I just go to the game and do my thing,” he said. “I feel like if I was to think about it, it would affect my game because I’d be like, ‘I have to get this many yards.’ When I’m not thinking about it I just run the ball.”

The current Warren County record-holders played 11-man football, and Porter’s Chapel plays the 8-man version of the game. Jung has reached his marks, however, with a punishing style and workload that harkens back to the 1970s era of Power-I and wishbone formations.

PCA has taken advantage of its veteran offensive line to utilize a power running style that flows almost exclusively through Jung.

Jung has had 20 carries or more in five of PCA’s seven games this season, and is averaging 25 per game. He had 49 carries in a 58-56 loss to Delta Academy in Week 2, when he set Warren County’s single-game records for yards (532) and touchdowns (7).

The only two games Jung has gotten a break were against Humphreys Academy and Tensas. A calf injury limited him to five carries against Humphreys, and he had 10 in the blowout win vs. Tensas as head coach Blake Purvis took the opportunity to spread the ball around. Jung still gained 285 yards and scored five touchdowns against Tensas.

In comparison, Darden had 310 carries in 15 games — an average of 21 per game — when he set the county’s single-season yardage record in 1994. Jung is on pace to match Darden’s total in 12 games.

“It’s been exhausting. But we win, so it’s worth it, to be honest. But taking an ice bath helps,” Jung joked. “If it just came easy, if I just saw the hole and ran through it, it wouldn’t be as fun. Having to work for something that hard, it’s very cool.”

Purvis noted that PCA had 40 touchdown passes in 2023, and has only attempted 22 passes this season. Jung, who often lines up as a wildcat quarterback, has thrown 11 of those.

Purvis credited not only Jung, but the linemen and other blockers for keeping the offense humming.

“It’s no secret what we’re doing. Everybody there knows what’s coming. And those guys up front and Jase are still getting it done at a very, very high level,” Purvis said. “He’s not running in space making plays. He’s running between the tackles and those guys are blocking it up for him, and he’s getting hard yards. He’s doing it play after play after play, and week after week.”

Amazingly, Jung isn’t just doing it on offense. He also plays defensive back and rarely comes off the field since PCA only has about 20 players on its varsity roster and has played a number of close games.

Jung has 40 tackles and five interceptions this season. He has 18 career interceptions in four seasons as a starter.
It’s all adding up to an astonishing season — and career — that is one for the ages.

“Even if we come up short, I’m still going to think it was an awesome season,” Jung said. “I love playing with these guys. They’re fun. They love having a good time when they’re playing football. I don’t think I can say anything bad about this season. It’s going to be a good thought.”

WARREN COUNTY RECORDS
Career rushing yards
x-Through games of Sept. 28
4,919 – Brian Darden (WC, 1991-94)
x-4,692 – Jase Jung (Porter’s Chapel, 2021-24)
4,196 – Carl Blue (Warren Central, 1977-79)
4,079 – Earl Johnson (PCA, 1974-76)
4,052 – Mike Ray (St. Aloysius, 1976-78)

Career rushing touchdowns
74 – Brian Darden (Warren Central, 1992-94)
x-65 – Jase Jung (Porter’s Chapel, 2021-24)
47 – DeMichael Harris (St. Aloysius, 2012-15)
45 – Carl Blue (Warren Central, 1977-79)
45 – Stacy Williams (St. Aloysius, 1993-95)

Single-season rushing yards
2,238 – Brian Darden (Warren Central, 1994)
2,168 – Carl Blue (Warren Central, 1979)
2,102 – DeMichael Harris (St. Aloysius, 2014)
2,040 – Mike Ray (St. Aloysius, 1978)
2,037 – Earl Johnson (Porter’s Chapel, 1975)
x-1,982 – Jase Jung (Porter’s Chapel, 2024)
1,974 – Jase Jung (Porter’s Chapel, 2023)

Single-season rushing touchdowns
33 – Carl Blue (Warren Central, 1979)
28 – Brian Darden (Warren Central, 1994)
27 – Brian Darden (Warren Central, 1993)
x-26 – Jase Jung (Porter’s Chapel, 2024)
25 – Leo Cage (Warren Central, 1974)
25 – Jase Jung (Porter’s Chapel, 2023)
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FRIDAY’S AREA GAMES
All games start at 7 p.m.
St. Aloysius at Riverfield (Radio: 101.3 FM)
Hillcrest at Porter’s Chapel (Radio: 104.5 FM)
Tallulah Academy at Columbus Christian
Port Gibson at Jefferson County
Ouachita Christian at Madison Parish
Open date: Vicksburg High, Warren Central