Along the sideline and in the stands Friday night, people were buzzing about the great game they’d just witnessed between Porters Chapel Academy and Deer Creek.

PCA’s 20-14, double-overtime victory was certainly competitive and exciting.

Calling it great, however, might be a bit of a stretch.

Each team gave away scoring opportunities and made mistakes on defense that led to big plays. Deer Creek turned the ball over six times. PCA’s one touchdown in regulation, an 85-yard halfback pass from Kawayne Gaston to Peter Harris, accounted for more yards than all its other plays combined.

It was the kind of night where, although the Eagles were able to celebrate a victory that kept their record perfect, they were well aware they’re far from it in terms of execution.

“The first half was a total cluster. We ran basic plays. We practice these plays every day and we’d run them the opposite way,” PCA coach Wade Patrick said. “It’s a big learning experience for us. We’re going to come back Sunday, look at the film and just go to work.”

PCA’s defense was solid. Dewayne Russell had two interceptions, Gaston had another, and the Eagles also recovered three fumbles. There was one blown coverage that allowed Tanner Bennett to turn a short screen pass into a 31-yard touchdown, and another that led to a 61-yard gain, but on the whole the team turned in a strong performance for the second consecutive week.

Offensively, the Eagles were a mess all night.

Quarterback Jonah Masterson was sacked six times and pressured nearly every time he dropped back. Gaston was held to 49 yards on 18 carries. His longest runs were an 11-yarder in the first half and a 10-yard TD in the first overtime period.

PCA gained only 23 yards in the first half and came away empty-handed on a drive inside the 15. After recovering a fumble at the Deer Creek 22 in the second quarter, Masterson was sacked for a loss of eight yards and Gaston lost another nine on a swing pass in the backfield. Masterson, the holder, then dropped the ball on a field goal attempt.

“It’s a test for us. We struggled offensively,” Patrick said. “They were bringing more than we could block. We had some plays and missed some assignments. We had some opportunities that were there and we’d make a wrong read. Instead of bouncing outside, we bounced inside and instead of getting 15 yards, we’d get two.”

Another promising drive in the fourth quarter stalled inside the 10-yard line and ended when Russell missed a 25-yard field goal wide right.

“We had a lot of mistakes. A lot of missed opportunities that we should have executed on,” Masterson said.

And yet, despite all that, the Eagles found a way to not only stay in the game, but win it. The defense made Deer Creek’s offense look just as bad, and stopped the Warriors in the second overtime. Two plays later Masterson scored on a 2-yard quarterback sneak to finish it.

It was the kind of thing good teams do, even when they’re not great.

“We’re hanging our head at halftime and it’s about as bad as you could play, and it’s 7-0. That’s what they had to realize,” Patrick said.