BAKER, La. – Porters Chapel Academy avenged one beatdown with another friday night.

PCA quarterback Hayden Hales accounted for 302 yards of total offense – 190 passing and 112 rushing – ran for a touchdown and threw for two more, and the Eagles rolled up 258 rushing yards as a team in a 34-6 win over Central Private in the first round of the Academy-AA playoffs.

The victory sent PCA (9-3) into a second-round game next Thursday at Brookhaven, a 38-21 winner over Centreville. It also avenged one of its’ ugliest loses of the season. Central Private (7-4) blasted PCA 29-0 on Sept. 1.

&#8220It just shows the kind of strides we’ve made as a team,” said PCA Randy Wright, whose team won it’s fith straight game. &#8220To be whipped like we were last time, and then come back and whip them like we did, it was huge.”

The biggest difference in the two games was PCA’s defense.

Central Private tailback Justin Couvillion ran for four touchdowns – and had 1,896 yards for the season coming into the game – but paid for every one of his 74 yards on Friday night. He did run for a first-quarter touchdown that put the Rebels ahead 6-0, but only had one run longer than seven yards in 17 carries.

Couvillion might have made a difference in the second half, but he wasn’t around to finish. He took a shot in the back at the end of a 15-yard gain on a screen pass midway through the second quarter and did not return. Central Private coach Mike Longmire said Couvillion sustained a rib injury.

&#8220When Couvi went down it took the wind out of our sails a little bit,” said Longmire, who’s team had 105 yards of offense in the 1 1/2 quarters before Couvillion was hurt, and 80 yards in the 2 1/2 quarters after. &#8220Couvi is 95 percent of our offense. Knowing he’s that valuable, it didn’t help us.”

Couvillions 3-yard TD run on Central Private’s first drive gave the Rebels the lead until late in the second quarter. Hales, lining up at tailback on 3/4 of PCA’s plays in the game, capped a 13-play, 68-yard drive with a 12-yard TD. The score with 4:03 to play, along with Michael Busby’s extra point, put PCA ahead 7-6 and it never trailed again.

Couvillion was hurt on Central Private’s next possesion and PCA started to pull away after that.

With just under 1:30 to play in the half and the ball at his own 18, Hales threw a 10-yard comeback route for Busby. The speedy wideout caught it, spun upfield and outran two defenders to the end zone for an 82 yard touchdown and a 14-6 lead.

Busby caught seven passes for 150 yards in the game, most of them on the same route.

&#8220It was wide open all night. They had one guy on me inside,” Busby said. &#8220They never did change it. I don’t know why.”

PCA put the game away with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. On Central Private’s first possesion of the second half, PCA defensive end Matt Cranfield got between Rebel quarterback Dillon Smiley and pitchman Josh Johns on an option. Cranfield deflected the pitch and recovered the fumble at the Central Private 31-yard line.

Hales hit Cole Smith for a 17-yard touchdown pass five plays later to make it 21-6, and the rout was on.

Busby added an 8-yard touchdown run with 2:37 left in the third quarter, and Cody Ferguson finished it off with a 2-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter.

Forced to pass, Smiley threw two interceptions in the second half and PCA never punted.

&#8220They physically just beat us up front,” Longmire said. &#8220That’s all there is to it.”

Benton 42, SIA 6.

Benton built a 22-0 lead by halftime and cruised to the MPSA, Academy A playoff win at Benton.

The loss ended SIA’s season at 6-5, but this was the first time the school has qualified for the playoffs in 15 years.

Daniel Moore scored four touchdowns to lead Benton. He had TD runs of 6, 1, 6 and 5 yards. Stewart Morgan tossed a 12-yard TD pass to Will Nickles while Shane Nobiles had an 8-yard run.

SIA was limited to a Steven Cooper 29-yard TD run and he also had the two-point conversion.

Cooper finished with 53 yards rushing and 6 1/2 tackles.

Clinton 19, Tupelo 10.

The Arrows (9-3) advance to the second round and will get three-time defending state champ South Panola next Friday in Clinton.

A blown punt snap by Tupelo (7-5) went for a key safety which the Arrows used toward its nine-point win.