[09/27/02]All it takes is one look at the Conference 5-A standings to understand the importance of tonight’s game for Porters Chapel Academy.

The contest with Academy-AA Presbyterian Christian isn’t a conference game. It’s not even a rivalry game. But with four teams chasing after two automatic playoff spots, it never hurts to have a little insurance.

A PCA win would give them extra power points that would help toward a potential wild-card berth if the Eagles can’t break into the top tier of the conference.

“It makes a big difference. It’s a big game. That adds a little icing to the cake,” PCA coach Bubba Mims said.

“As big as our district is, and as competitive as our district is, it could end up in a tie.”

That’s not to say the Eagles are already thinking solely of the wild card. They head into the game against Presbyterian with a 3-2 record, and are in the thick of the conference title race with a 2-1 mark.

Tallulah Academy (2-0 in conference play), Briarfield (2-0), and Humphreys (3-0) are also battling for the top two spots. All of the teams still have games remaining against the others including a Humphreys-Briarfield showdown this week and a PCA-Briarfield matchup next week so the fun is just beginning.

“It’ll go a long way toward the wild card, but we’re not out of the top two yet,” Mims said of beating Presbyterian. “Anything can happen … There’s still a lot of district games left.”

So many that there is the potential to overlook this week’s game. The Bobcats (2-3) have been outscored 122-58 this season only their second to have a team and there is little motivation for PCA in this game other than getting a win.

The Eagles are coming off a big 55-14 win over conference rival Greenville Christian, and have the home game against Briarfield looming next week.

“We don’t know a whole lot about this team … so it’s not like a normal game, like a rivalry game,” said PCA wide receiver Joseph Ivey, who has caught 12 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns this season. “We’re not overlooking them by no means. But we’re not thinking they’re going to blow us out of the water.”

And speaking of water, there figures to be plenty of it lying around in the wake of Tropical Storm Isidore. The game will be played at Columbia Academy Presbyterian has no stadium of its own and the field there should be a muddy, soggy mess.

“It depends on how much (water) is on the ground. If the field is saturated, it’s going to get on the ball and everybody’s going to be wet,” Mims said.

“You have to adjust a lot of things when it’s wet.”