A year ago at this time, Porters Chapel’s season was looking lost. The Eagles were coming off a pair of ugly losses to River Oaks and Prairie View, struggling with injuries and inconsistency, and looking like anything but the playoff team they eventually morphed into.

Just like any good do-over, though, the Eagles got it right the second time around.

After three games, against the same three they played poorly against last season, PCA is 3-0 and on top of the Mississippi Private School Association’s Class A. They have the most power points of any Class A team and are ranked No. 1 in the Clarion-Ledger Class A poll.

It’s a thrilling, if precarious, position that PCA will put on the line tonight when they travel to Jackson to face district rival Veritas at Smith-Wills Stadium.

“We feel pretty good about where we are. With the same schedule last year, we were 1-2, so we’ve got to feel good,” PCA coach Randy Wright said. “We’ve got a lot of momentum right now. We’ve got the No. 1 ranking on our back, two wins against AA schools. But if we don’t come out to play, that can all go away.”

Part of the reason for PCA’s strong start has been a balanced offensive attack led by quarterback Clayton Holmes and tailback Josh Perry. The two have combined for 540 rushing yards and five touchdowns so far. Holmes also has thrown for 256 yards and three TDs.

The defense has also been sound, allowing 29 points in the first three games.

PCA defeated Prairie View last week, 34-8. Middle linebacker Joe Borrello, who has 35 tackles, said this year’s team has simply clicked together a little better than the 2007 edition.

“We really got a lot stronger and know what we’re capable of doing. We know our strengths and weaknesses, and how to make each other better,” Borrello said.

In Veritas, PCA will face a team still trying to find its footing. The Lions opened with a rout of Sharkey-Issaquena, picked up a forfeit win over CM&I in Week 2, then rolled up nearly 400 yards of offense against Tallulah last Friday — only to lose going away, 40-14. Tallulah pulled away after the score was 21-14 midway through the fourth quarter.

“We had about 10 offensive penalties and two fumbles. We drove the ball up and down the field and then shot ourselves in the foot,” Veritas coach Jeff Thigpen said. “I knew going into that game, with the holiday and then the rain — we weren’t able to get on the field all week — that it was going to be a bad one.”

Veritas has the weapons to right things in a hurry. Similar to PCA, they feature a two-pronged rushing attack with quarterback Jesse Blakemore (262 yards, one touchdown) and Mathias Dryden (145 yards, two TDs). Blakemore has also thrown for 207 yards and two TDs as the trigger man in Veritas’ spread option attack.

“They can give everybody fits with their passing game. The quarterback has a cannon and they’re a really good group,” Wright said. “We’re going to have to get pressure on the quarterback, cover the receivers and make sure of our tackles.”

Hinds AHS at Raymond

The two Hinds County rivals renew their annual grudgematch in Raymond tonight. The War Dawgs are coming off their first loss of the season, a 24-6 setback to Crystal Springs. Jeremy Lee scored a touchdown in that loss.

Franklin at Tallulah Acad.

It’s a modest winning streak, but a winning streak nonetheless. Tallulah Academy’s 40-14 win over Veritas last week was its second in a row, giving a big lift to a program that hasn’t had a winning record since 2003. And, with weaker teams from Franklin and Riverdale up next on the schedule, the Trojans can take a step toward breaking that streak before they hit a tough stretch of games in the second half of the season.

Tallulah coach Doug Branning said the next hurdle for the Trojans isn’t necessarily on the field, though. It’s maintaining focus off it and not getting ahead of themselves.

“I just can’t think like that. We just keep them focused on having a good day today and tomorrow. We focus on that day and that practice,” Branning said, adding that the job of rebuilding the Trojans has seemed a lot easier the last two or three weeks. “I’m not a part of the past history. But I do know that football practice is a lot easier when you’re winning. The hours go by a lot faster.”

Central Hinds at U. Christian

Central Hinds finally sorted out its early-season mistakes last week and routed Amite 28-0. Next up is the “official” District 5-A opener — the Cougars got a forfeit win against CM&I in Week 1 — against University Christian.

“They are 0-3, but they are probably the best 0-3 team around,” Central Hinds coach Bobby Allen said. “They have played three good teams. We will have to play hard.”

University Christian has been outscored 62-0 the last two weeks. In three games overall, it has allowed six scoring plays of 30 yards or more, including a punt and an interception return. Central hinds has three scoring plays of 20 yards or more.

Port Gibson at South Delta

The Blue Waves begin a two-week road trip that starts with a date with the Bulldogs in Rolling Fork and ends next weeks against the Class 5A Biloxi High Indians.

Port Gibson (0-2) is trying to turn things around behind new coach Willie Brown. They lost last week to Jefferson County 30-6.

South Delta, meanwhile, blanked JFK of Mound Bayou 26-0 last week. The Bulldogs (1-1) are led by running back Darrell Barnes.

SIA at North Sunflower

The Confederates (0-3) best shot at ending a 15-game losing streak this year may come tonight in Drew when they visit NSA. SIA suffered its worst loss in three weeks with a 40-0 decision to Deer Creek. Two weeks ago, they managed to score 20 points in a loss to unbeaten Briarfield.

Briarfield at Strider

The unbeaten Rebels head to Webb to battle the Strider Academy Rams. Fullback Jeffrey Graham leads the way.