For Porters Chapel Academy coach Bill Fleming, last Friday’s 27-6 win over Newton County Academy was more indicative of the team he felt he had.

The Eagles (4-7, 2-1 District 4-A) ran for 236 yards and held Newton to just 47 total yards in clinching a MAIS playoff berth against Sylva-Bay Academy (8-2) this week in Bay Springs.

A rain-soaked Fleming, elated with the win, said the Eagles were oh so close to having a winning record.

“We’re really just three plays from being 7-4. Just three plays,” Fleming said. “We also had to play against a lot of larger schools than the rest of the Class A teams did.”

That they did. PCA had to face River Oaks and Central Hinds, two Class AA playoff bound clubs. They also lost to Trinity Episcopal and Tri-County Academy, who both won their respective districts. This week, they get Sylva-Bay, another district champ.

Newton coach Robert

Roberts says the Eagles will have their hands full. For years, the Generals have played in the same district as Sylva-Bay along with notable academy powers like Heidelberg and Wayne.

“Sylva-Bay won that district and they beat Heidelberg pretty good. They have a really strong team,” Roberts said.

PCA would love to duplicate the formula used against Newton. Offensive and defensive tackle Caze Brewer is confident, they can.

“Yeah, this was our best game of the season both on offense and defense. Everything just worked well and we pushed ourselves into the playoffs,” said Brewer, who had three more tackles for loss and also was a big cog behind the Eagles’ rushing attack.

“Our coaches made a good adjustment with our offensive line and we were able to go ahead and line up and do what we do best and that’s run out of the I formation,” Fleming said.

A trio of backs benefitted. Jay Wiley had 112 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns on runs of 17, 14 and 42 yards. Montana McDaniel had 70 yards and one score and Kreuz Federick added 64 yards, including a 52-yarder in the first quarter to set the tempo.

“You got to have fun and tonight was so much fun,” Wiley said.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com