RAYVILLE, La. – Friday’s game between Porters Chapel and Riverfield was everything a battle for the district championship should be.

There were comebacks, big plays, enough momentum swings to make a statue nauseous, and one wild finish.

Riverfield quarterback James Doughty scored on a 1-yard sneak in the second overtime, giving the Raiders a 19-16 win over PCA and their first district title in 10 years.

&#8220Nail-biting. I can’t compare it to anything. I’ve never had anything like this happen to me,” said Riverfield receiver Jared King, who caught eight passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Riverfield (6-1, 3-0 District 4-AA) overcame a 10-0 deficit in the fourth quarter, converted two fourth-and-long situations on a touchdown drive late in the period, and blocked a potential game-winning field goal in the first overtime.

That left PCA’s players smarting over a game – and a district title – they felt they let get away. PCA (4-3, 1-1) must now beat Adams County Christian at home on Oct. 20 to clinch its third straight playoff berth. A loss in that game eliminates PCA from playoff contention.

&#8220We started out the third quarter good, and the fourth quarter we fell apart,” said PCA’s Michael Busby, who caught five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, and also kicked three field goals. &#8220We definitely had a chance and didn’t put it away when we had the chance.”

PCA was dominant through three quarters.

Busby caught a 12-yard touchdown pass and kicked a 36-yard field goal in the last 90 seconds of the first half to put his team up 10-0, and the Eagles’ defense held Riverfield to 67 total yards in the first half. Riverfield ran two offensive plays inside PCA territory in the first three quarters.

In the fourth, everything changed.

Doughty hit King for a 23-yard touchdown with 9:15 to go to cut it to 10-7, and the Raiders stopped a nine-play PCA drive on downs to get the ball back at their own 36 with 4:31 remaining.

A sack and a penalty put Riverfield in a fourth-and-10 situation, but Doughty hit King on an out pattern and King broke a tackle to pick up the first down. PCA’s defense stiffened again and forced a fourth-and-24 from the PCA 32. This time Doughty got King in single coverage along the left sideline and lofted a perfect pass that King hauled in for the go-ahead touchdown.

&#8220We knew before the game that they were just playing man, and coach (Cleo Head) said he wanted to get the ball in my hands,” King said. &#8220I wouldn’t have caught it if James Doughty hadn’t thrown a perfect pass.”

Riverfield’s Tyler Ogden missed the extra point, leaving the score at 13-10 and giving PCA some life. Hales scrambled for 6 yards, completed a pass to Cole Smith for a first down, then threw a jump ball that Busby hauled in for a 27-yard gain to the Riverfield 13. With 2 seconds to play, Busby drilled a 30-yard field goal to tie the game and send it to overtime.

On the first series, the sequence seemed to be replaying itself.

Riverfield’s first three plays from the PCA 10-yard line went nowhere, and Ogden pushed a 27-yard field goal wide left. PCA’s offense then returned to the field, but lost two yards on its first two plays and gave way to the kicking team on third down. The snap was low and a horde of Riverfield defenders smothered the kick, sending the game to a second overtime.

&#8220They just came around the left end. I couldn’t tell, but it looked like he was unblocked,” Busby said. &#8220I hesitated a little. Maybe I shouldn’t have kicked it. But it’s hard to decide that in a game situation.”

The Eagles started with the ball in the second overtime and had to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Busby, giving them a precarious 16-13 lead.

Riverfield then took control and wasted no time finishing it off. Doughty hit King for a 9-yard gain, putting the ball inside the PCA 1, then sneaked in on the next play for the 19-16 victory.

&#8220They just made the plays right there, that’s all there is to it,” PCA coach Randy Wright said.