For once, Porters Chapel won’t have to face a first-place team. This week’s opponent is just possibly playoff-bound.

The Eagles host Central Hinds on Friday night in their homecoming game. It’s only the third time in nine games this season that PCA has not played a team that is either in first place or tied for the lead in its respective district.

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PCA hosts Cent. Hinds

The tough schedule — along with injuries, inexperience, a lack of depth and simple mistakes on the field — has been a big contributor to a frustrating season. Although it can still make the MAIS Class A playoffs by beating Newton Academy next week, PCA enters Friday’s game with a 3-6 record. No matter the outcome of its last two games, PCA is assured its first losing season since 2003.

“Everybody I’ve talked to has something negative to say about this year,” PCA coach Bill Fleming said. “December of last year, we weren’t supposed to have a team this year. Then they said we’d be lucky to get four wins. We’re right on track for that.”

As the losses have mounted, Fleming said he has become frustrated with some of the grumbling from PCA’s fan base. He took the blame for some questionable coaching calls over the course of the season.

A number of starters have missed time due to injuries and some have played hurt. Linebacker Jay Wiley has played the last three games with a torn ACL.

“They want to compare us to everybody else from last year. We’re different from last year. We don’t have 13 seniors. But if you take the measure of their heart and backbone and compare it to any team at this school or in this county, they’re right up there with them. They never quit,” Fleming said. “If we lose, I’ll take the blame. If we win, they get the credit. My frustration is with people doubting these kids’ heart.”

If anyone can sympathize with PCA’s tough schedule, it’s Central Hinds. The Cougars (5-4) have lost games to top-ranked Lamar, No. 5 Brookhaven Academy, a Class AAA Copiah squad, and a Bowling Green team that is 3-0 in its district.

The losses have left Central Hinds with the record of an also-ran, but the mindset of a playoff team. CHA can still qualify for the Class AA playoffs as a wild-card by winning its last two games.

“They just pound the ball. They’ve got a sophomore quarterback (Jordan Currie) who can run the option and he runs it like he’s a sophomore in college,” Fleming said.

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com