When preseason practice began nearly two months ago, Garrett Hutchins was taking snaps as Porters Chapel Academy’s backup quarterback but he planned on catching more passes than he threw.

Two games into the season, that plan was well out the window.

The junior will start his fourth consecutive game at quarterback Friday night when PCA (0-5) goes on the road to play Clinton Christian (0-5). He’s had some ups and downs so far, but is adjusting well to his new position.

“I’m learning just like everybody else on the team is learning. The main thing is that we’re learning together,” Hutchins said. “We’re getting used to what this person can do and this person can do, and we’re getting to where we can rely on each other more, and that’s helping everybody do better.”

Hutchins started the preseason as the backup to Patrick Minor while also playing wide receiver. After a 35-0 loss to St. Andrew’s in the season opener, coach Wayne Lynch re-evaluated the roster and switched the two.

Lynch said the move was designed to make the team a better offense. Minor is one of the team’s best athletes, and Hutchins a capable enough quarterback that the Eagles came out better by making the switch. Minor has still taken some snaps at quarterback.

“We got to where we felt like we needed a presence on the outside. Garrett had been working at second string quarterback the whole time and he just started progressing a little bit faster than we thought. He started learning the plays and looked real good back there and poised,” Lynch said. “I just felt with Patrick at receiver, it gives us a threat. So for right now that’s how we’re doing it. We do have a package for Patrick to run.”

Hutchins was caught off-guard, but took it in stride.

“I come out there and he said he wanted me to be quarterback,” Hutchins said. “I’m not really worried about where I play, and neither is Patrick or anybody else on the field. The only thing that really matters is that we win and do it together.”

The Eagles’ offense hasn’t quite clicked yet no matter who’s under center — they’ve yet to score a point in the first half — but Hutchins has shown some flashes of promise. He threw a touchdown pass in his first start against Central Hinds, and completed 8 of 13 passes for 100 yards the following week against Hillcrest Christian.

Minor, too, has done well in his changed role. He has 13 receptions for 200 yards and a touchdown in the last three games.

“Garrett’s fast, he runs good. He’s just got to learn to manage a game better,” Lynch said. “He’s made some mistakes, thrown some interceptions. If we can get that aspect of it down, he’ll be a good quarterback.”

Hutchins said his biggest adjustment from receiver to quarterback has been taking more responsibility within the offense. Instead of worrying about doing just his own job, he now has to make sure everyone else does theirs.

“As a quarterback, it feels like when I step up to the line I have to look out for everybody else on the team and make sure they’re doing it right while I’m thinking about what I’ve got to do,” he said. “It feels more like a leadership role. It’s more pressure. But I know the boys I’ve got on the field with me will back me up and go to war with me. So I’m not worried about it. They’ve got my back like I’ve got theirs.”

That sense of unity from his teammates is something Hutchins said will help the Eagles moving forward. Although they’ve yet to win a game on the field — their one win was a forfeit over Riverdale — he said the players haven’t fallen victim to the infighting and dysfunction that made last season a bad experience.

“The difference between this year and last year is, last year every time something went bad we fell apart. This year we’re so much more of a team and brothers than we have been every other year,” Hutchins said. “When something doesn’t go the way we planned or somebody messes up, we look at it as ‘That’s my brother. We’ll get it next time.’ We’re going to be all right. We’re going to pull it together.”

Porters Chapel at Clinton Christian

Friday, 7 p.m.

Radio: 104.5 FM

Online: For live scoring updates on Friday night, visit Facebook.com/thevicksburgpost