NATCHEZ — For the better part of two quarters, Porters Chapel hung tough with Trinity, the defending Class A champions.

But Trinity scored three touchdowns off PCA turnovers and got a 94-yard kickoff return from Tip McKenzie to open the second half, and went on to blast the Eagles 47-7 on Friday night.

“Turnovers against a good team, you can’t do that,” PCA coach John Weaver said. “We had them on the ropes, we really did. You’ve got to play perfect. I know 47-7 looks ugly in the paper, but I really am proud of my guys.”

It’s the third straight loss for the Eagles (2-3), who have been outscored 127-26 in those defeats.

PCA dented the scoreboard first thanks a drive extended by three Trinity penalties. Peter Harris took the dive handoff one yard to cap a 12-play, 71-yard drive and PCA quieted the home crowd with an early 7-0 lead, slicing more than seven minutes off the clock in the process.

“They did a very good job of keeping the ball away from us,” Trinity coach David King said. “We had to make several adjustments. We had a few more athletes, but it was a much closer game than the scoreboard indicated.”

Trinity (5-0) needed only three plays to cover 59 yards after a couple of long runs by Kent King. Quarterback Givonni Dent found McKenzie for a 34-yard TD strike to knot the game at 7-all.

Trinity took the lead for good after recovering a fumble on the next PCA drive. The Saints took over at the Eagle 20 and King scored on a 10-yard run to put Trinity up 14-7.

PCA, which moved the ball effectively between the 20s in the first half, put together another long drive behind the passing of Jonah Masterson and the running of Jake Boyd. The nearly six-minute drive ended on the Trinity 5 when Masterson’s pass was picked off, but a fumble on the return gave PCA the ball again in the red zone. Then Masterson threw his second pick to end the threat.

King then ripped off a 45-yard run and Dent capped a three-play, 94-yard drive with a 44-yard TD toss to McKenzie to put Trinity in command 22-7 at the break.

In the second half, McKenzie’s TD return put Trinity up by three scores. Masterson hit Boyd for a 37-yard completion to the Trinity 48. But one of four fumbled shotgun snaps by the PCA offense ended the drive. A few plays later, King took a handoff 35 yards to paydirt to give Trinity a commanding 35-7 lead at the end of the third quarter.

“They are a better team,” Boyd said. “There is a reason why they’re the number one team in the state. But we’re going to get back on the chalkboard and get back to work with Prentiss coming here next week. I think we’re not where we want to be, but we’ll get there. I have faith in my team. We’re going to come back and blow the roof off, the next five games. We’re going to make the playoffs and walk in there with our heads held high. We’ll see these guys again.”

Tallulah 39, Riverdale 18

Cody Landrem ran for 98 yards and three touchdowns, Cody Petty caught a touchdown pass and returned a punt 45 yards for a score, and Tallulah Academy (2-3) won its second straight game.

Brookhaven Aca. 42,

Central Hinds 13

Chandler Rogers rushed for five touchdowns and Brookhaven Academy crushed Central Hinds.

Hunter Farrior ran for 103 yards and a touchdown, and added seven tackles on defense for Central Hinds.

Briarfield 62,

Franklin Academy 42

Fuad Ahmed rushed for 408 yards and five touchdowns on 25 carries to lead Briarfield (3-2, 1-0 District 2) to an eight-man victory over Franklin Academy (1-3, 0-2).

Matt Dennis added 137 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries.

Amite County 34,

Hinds AHS 13

Ledarion Robinson scored on a 5-yard run and Delarren Singleton added a 64-yarder, but Amite County scored 21 straight points in the third quarter to beat Hinds AHS.