Porters Chapel running back Chris Mixon runs through a Lee Academy tackler during the Eagles’ 26-20 playoff loss on Friday night. (Meredith SpencerThe Vicksburg Post)

[11/1/04]If, two years from now, Porters Chapel is standing on the field at Mississippi College celebrating a state championship, its players might look back on Friday night’s loss to Lee (Ark.) Academy as an important learning experience.

For now, though, it just hurts.

PCA committed a number of crucial penalties, dropped two potential touchdown passes, squandered an early 13-0 lead and lost 26-20 to Lee in the first round of the Academy-A playoffs.

The defeat ended one of the best seasons in school history. PCA (9-2) won its first district championship since 1982, reeled off a nine-game winning streak and reached the playoffs for the first time since 1998. They also hosted a playoff game for the first time in school history.

“This team did a lot of firsts this year for this school, and we’re very proud of what they’ve accomplished,” PCA coach Randy Wright said. “We know and understand that we’ve got the majority of our team coming back next year.”

Although the season ended in disappointment, the future is bright for the Eagles.

None of their defensive starters this season are seniors, and all will be back in 2005. On offense, most of the key skill players including quarterback Michael Busby and leading rusher Chris Mixon are sophomores. PCA will lose just two starters on the offensive side of the ball.

“It’s going to make us work so much harder for next year,” said Busby, who threw for 112 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. “To soak in this feeling, this is the worst feeling ever. Next year, we’ll be back.”

One key component of this year’s run that may not be back is Wright. He was hired as interim coach this summer, but has not been assured of a permanent spot as the school’s football coach.

A final decision will likely be made in spring, when the year-to-year contracts for teachers and coaches are renewed.

“I’ve really enjoyed coaching football here at Porters Chapel, and I’d definitely like to continue to coach,” said Wright, who also coaches baseball at the school and was an assistant football coach there for nine years before becoming head coach. “As long as they need me to coach here, I’m here.”

Ironically, the youth that has the Eagles so optimistic about the next few years contributed to their undoing on Friday.

Lee, a veteran team that has reached the playoffs the last two seasons, took advantage of the Eagles’ young defense. The Cougars gashed PCA repeatedly with shotgun draws and short passes, victimizing a secondary that seemed tentative to press the Lee receivers.

Lee totaled 429 yards of offense, and held the ball for more than 30 minutes. Quarterback Landon Bullard ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 17 of 26 passes for 172 yards and a score.

“They spread us out all over the field,” Mixon said. “They ran double-double. trips right, five wide, spread us out and run up the middle or run a little pass route and get yardage. That’s why we couldn’t stop them.”

Offensively, the Eagles hurt themselves with ill-timed penalties. Two first-down runs in the second half were negated by penalties, and both drives ended in punts. PCA jumped on top 13-0 early in the second quarter, but managed only one first down on its first four drives in the second half.

The Eagles finally scored on the last possession of the game, converting a third- and a fourth-down in the process. By the time Busby hit senior Allen Cassell for a 16-yard touchdown, however, only three seconds remained in the game and Lee held a 26-20 lead.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a few times tonight. We had a couple penalties that hurt us, we had a couple dropped passes, we had a fumble, and we just couldn’t seem to get things going and execute on offense as we normally do,” Wright said. “A lot of it probably has to do with the fact we’re so young and so inexperienced. It’s the first time in the playoffs for these guys.

“The great news is, we’ve got a young team and we’ll be back again next year.”