Porter’s Chapel Academy turned on the offense Friday night in a dominant 48-22 win over Park Place in Round One of the MAIS Class 2A playoffs.

Jase Jung led the way with 243 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including a 57-yarder on the third play of the game. He added touchdowns runs of 67 and 60 yards in the third quarter, threw two touchdown passes, and also had six tackles and two interceptions on defense.

“We hit some passes. That’s something we haven’t done all year long,” PCA head coach Blake Pruvis said. “We hit some passess early and were able to loosen up the run game and it took a lot of pressure off Jase in the run game. Any time we can do that and take the pressure off him, we’re in good shape, so I really liked what we did, passing-wise.”

The rematch of a game PCA eked out a 22-20 September win in was decidedly more lopsided this time around. The Eagles punched their ticket to a second-round playoff bout next week in West Helena, Arkansas, with No. 1 seed DeSoto School (10-0).

“Defense did make a lot of big stands tonight, so that was good to see. I think this was the first game all season we didn’t turn the ball over, so if we don’t put the ball on the ground and give the other team extra opportunities, then I think we’re going to be tough to beat moving forward. (DeSoto) is number one. They had a first-round bye, so they’re waiting on us.”

Park Place responded to Jung’s early score on its first offensive drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Bray to Baker Craig to tie things up at 8-all exactly halfway through the first quarter. The Crusaders did not find the end zone again until late in the third quarter.

In the meantime, the Eagles opened up their offense. Hunter Simms hauled in a 65-yard touchdown pass, and Grayson Price and Auston Moore scored on runs of 55 and 12 yards, respectively.

Late in the third quarter, Bray found Craig again through the air to close the gap to 42-14, but Jung hit Chad Fuson for a 55-yard touchdown pass to answer.

Purvis said the successful passing attack allowed his backs to stay fresh for the second half. Jung was only 2-for-6 passing, but both completions went for long touchdowns. He also threw a pair of two-point conversion passes to Moore and Conley Johnston.

Johnston had seven tackles and one sack on defense, while Simms had a team-high nine tackles and Schaffer Bell had eight. Moore had seven tackles and two sacks to go along with 58 rushing yards and a touchdown.

“In the second half, coming out and running the ball and making a statement early. I thought we lacked a little focus in the fourth quarter, trying to put the game away, but other than that, I thought it was one of the cleaner games we played,” Purvis said.

MAIS Class 2A playoffs
First round – Nov. 1
Porter’s Chapel 48, Park Place 22
Newton County Academy 55, Deer Creek 18
Tunica Academy 20, Prentiss Christian 0
Delta Academy 30, Christian Collegiate 12

Second round – Nov. 8
Porter’s Chapel at DeSoto School
Newton County Academy at Ben’s Ford
Tunica Academy at Prairie View
Delta Academy at Humphreys Academy