[10/11/02]Before the season began, Porters Chapel Academy coach Bubba Mims knew his team needed a game for Oct. 11.

Rebul Academy, the scheduled opponent for that date, had canceled its season and Mims didn’t want his team to take a week off before two tough conference games at the end of the year.

So Mims scrambled and called Benton Academy, which had an open date, and scheduled a game.

Eight weeks later, Mims’ foresight has proven wise. PCA was all but eliminated from the race for the two automatic playoff spots from Conference 5-A with last week’s loss to Briarfield, but can still earn a wild-card berth by winning its last three games.

PCA (4-3) may still be alive for the second seed from the conference, but must win its last two games while hoping Tallulah Academy loses its last two. Two wild-card teams are selected from among all of the Academy-A teams based on power points, and it looks like a better bet for PCA to reach the playoffs via that route.

“At this point, they’re all must-wins. This is a good turning point in the season,” Mims said. “We’ll be top-17 or 18 if we win out. If we win out, there’s a good chance some other people won’t, and that’ll put us in the top 16.”

Academy-AA Benton (1-6) is far from among the top 16 teams in any classification. The Raiders have been outscored 220-30 this season, but have played only one team with a sub-.500 record. Their one win came against perennial power Tri-County, which has stumbled to a 1-5 record this year.

Benton assistant coach Raymond Everett said the school was caught in a numbers game it doesn’t have any, while its opponents do.

Benton is a small Academy-AA school, and most of its conference opponents were AAA schools before reclassification last spring.

“With the good teams we play every week, it’s hard for us to beat those teams. It’d be hard for a lot of people to beat those teams,” Everett said. “Manchester, Oak Hill, they have 500, 600 folks and it’s hard to beat those folks.”

How well the Eagles will be able to run the ball remains to be seen. Mims said an MRI confirmed that tailback Wesley Purvis will miss the rest of the season with a severe knee injury.

Purvis, who rushed for 865 yards and 10 TDs this season, was injured in the fourth quarter of the 28-13 loss to Briarfield. Purvis said then that he heard a pop in his right knee and the MRI confirmed two torn ligaments, including his anterior cruciate ligament.

“He’s through for six months is what they’re saying. I knew it was bad, but I was hoping for the best,” Mims said.

Backup tailback Kenny Sims, who has run for 149 yards on 25 carries, fullback Josh Rush (152 yards, three touchdowns on 31 carries), J.D. Lee and quarterback Gerald Mims will all see time at the tailback position.