Mistakes costly for Porters Chapel

Published 11:41 am Tuesday, September 27, 2011

When Alton Burden returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown, it was as good as it would get for Porters Chapel in a 25-10 loss to Benton Academy on Friday.

Porters Chapel (4-2) was overcome by an ever-increasing morass of mistakes in all phases, something that can’t be repeated with a road trip to undefeated Tri-County looming Friday.

The offensive line — with guard Ransom Moulder hobbled with two bad ankles and replacement center Austin King struggling to get a consistent snap to quarterback Jonah Masterson — was unable to either get a push in the running game or protect Masterson. Masterson was sacked four times, and three fumbles came off bad snaps.

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Running back Kawayne Gaston was tenative hitting the few holes there were and went backward on his first two carries. He was held to less than 100 yards rushing for the second straight game.

Penalties piled up for PCA, costing valuable field position and putting the offense in bad down-and-distance combinations. PCA was penalized eight times, and all of them came at critical junctures in the game.

Special teams wasn’t helpful either, as the Eagles missed two field goals and a short punt set up Benton’s first touchdown.

“It’s disappointing, anytime you lose,” PCA coach Wade Patrick said. “Especially since we didn’t play well offensively. Penalties killed us. I don’t know how many we had, but it seemed like 15.”

After Dewayne Russell picked off Benton quarterback Dalton Burton to give the Eagles the ball at the Benton 29, they self-destructed. PCA was flagged on first down for a delay of game, Masterson was sacked for an 8-yard loss on second down and his screen pass to Gaston fell seven yards shy of the sticks on third down, forcing Russell to try a 22-yard field goal that increased PCA’s lead to 10-6.

After PCA’s defense forced a three-and-out, it was more of the same.

A holding penalty wiped from the board a long run by Gaston that would’ve set the Eagles up in the red zone. On first-and-20, the Eagles got back 10 yards of it on a Masterson to Dewayne Russell connection, but Gaston was thrown for a loss on second down and Masterson was sacked again, forcing a punt.

In the third quarter, a bad snap flew over Masterson’s head and Benton recovered at the PCA 13. Three plays later, Burton found Bo Dickerson wide open in the back of the end zone, giving the Raiders a 13-10 lead they did not relinquish.

“We fought hard, but the penalties killed us,” PCA tackle Talbot Buys said. “We’ve got to keep up the intensity, but we’ve got to cut down on the penalties.”