[9/20/01]It won’t take long for Aaron Curry to get his first test as the starting quarterback for Porters Chapel Academy. It should come with his first pass attempt.

Curry, named the starter after rallying PCA in the second half of Saturday’s 32-8 win at Union, will make his first start on Friday at River Oaks the defending Conference 7-A champions and one of the favorites to win it this year.

“Not really,” Curry said when asked if he was nervous. “I’m just anxious to play them. I’ve heard how good of a defense they’re supposed to have.”

River Oaks’ defense has proved itself in its first three games, all wins. The Mustangs shut out Riverdale and Claiborne in their first two games before beating Academy-AAA Prairie View 30-16.

In last season’s meeting, River Oaks ran through PCA, 35-0.

“It’s pretty big, because we’re supposed to get beat pretty bad,” said Curry, who is 4-for-11 passing for 102 yards and two TDs. “But hopefully we can show them we’re better than everybody thinks we are.”

River Oaks coach Robert Hannah felt the Eagles might be able to spring an upset. He said his team’s defense has been strong, but some of the younger players River Oaks graduated 10 from last year’s team are still coming together.

“If you look at the first two games, I’d say we did a pretty good job defensively. But Prairie View moved the ball on us. I really hate that Coach Mims got that film, because he can probably find some things to use against us,” Hannah said, adding that he was impressed with the Eagles on film. “They look like they have really good people at the skill positions.”

PCA coach Bubba Mims said Curry shouldn’t be rattled by River Oaks’ pressure.

“He’s pretty laid back. Curry’s all right. He’s the type there’s not much stress. He’s a cool customer,” Mims said.

Although this is Curry’s first start, he has gotten plenty of practice at leading the Eagle offense. He was the starter heading into the fall, but injuries to his left shoulder and back sidelined him for most of the first two games.

Ryan Hoben took over and won the starting job with great play in practice.

“The first couple of weeks they were nip-and-tuck. Hoben had a better week and then Curry got hurt,” Mims said.

But Hoben’s good practice play didn’t carry over to Friday nights. He struggled in PCA’s first three games, completing just 9 of 29 passes for 174 yards, with one touchdown and four interceptions.

Curry came on in the second half against Union and threw two touchdown passes to lead the Eagles to a 32-8 win. Another long pass was just off a receiver’s fingertips. So far this week, Mims said Curry has continued to impress.

“He’s looked pretty good. He’s throwing the ball pretty good. He’s working on his footsteps and technique, things like that,” Mims said. “It hurt him not getting a lot of snaps at the first of the year.”

Hoben, meanwhile, said he isn’t upset or bitter, and is filling a new needed role for the Eagles.

Josh Rush, the team’s starting fullback and one of its best defensive players at linebacker, may be limited this week because of a broken rib suffered against Union. So Mims has tried putting Hoben in Rush’s spot and said he has played well in practice.

As for Rush, Mims said he would play, but not the whole game. Rush will wear an extra rib pad.

“It ain’t going to hurt,” he said.