It’s win or go home time for both Porters Chapel and Newton County Academy.

The two schools meet tonight at PCA in the regular season finale. The winner will move on to the MAIS Class A playoffs against Heidelberg (7-2) next week in Heidelberg. For the loser, the season would be over.

Newton (3-6, 1-1 District 5-A) comes in with some momentum after beating Hillcrest Christian 13-6 last week. PCA (3-7, 1-1) has lost three straight since beating Russell Christian 63-0 in Meridian. The Eagles have struggled on offense since, scoring just one touchdown in the last three weeks, including last week’s 29-2 loss to Central Hinds.

PCA seniors Reed Gordon and Jay Wiley know what is at stake.

“It’s big,” said Gordon, who leads PCA in receiving with 17 catches for 181 yards.

“It’s the most meaningful game of the year,” adds Wiley, who was moved back to tailback against Central Hinds after three weeks at split end in order to rest his injured knee.

“It’s really a playoff game and we’ve got to play like it could be our last game. It’s either win or go home,” Wiley said. Wiley has 407 yards rushing off 57 carries. He feels his knee is in the best shape it has been in since hurting it in week four.

“I don’t think it will be a problem,” Wiley said.

Gordon said the Eagles can’t take the Generals lightly. Newton has scored just 76 points this season.

“They have a pretty good team. They are athletic. It’s not going to be an easy game,” Gordon said.

PCA will need a solid game from quarterback Colby Rushing. This season, Rushing has completed 47-of-113 passes for 523 yards. He has five TDs, but has been intercepted 10 times.

The PCA defense is paced by tackle Caze Brewer with five sacks and 74 tackles while linebacker Zach Rachal has a team-best 86 tackles.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com