From the opening kickoff to the final drive Friday night, Porters Chapel seemed a step away from victory.

Each time, instead of moving forward, the Eagles took a step back.

PCA couldn’t overcome a slew of mistakes and missed opportunities, and lost 6-0 to Heidelberg Academy. The defeat cost PCA (5-4, 2-2 District 4-A) a chance to host a playoff game and might have put its postseason hopes in jeopardy. It can still reach the playoffs either by beating Prentiss Christian in the season finale on Oct. 28, or if district leader Newton Academy beats Park Place this week. No matter what, PCA can’t do better than third place and will travel for its playoff opener.

“I’ve still got big ideas ahead for this team. I’ll never give up on them. As long as they play hard, good things will happen,” PCA coach Wade Patrick said.

Against Heidelberg (4-4, 2-1), the Eagles’ offense never got in gear and a couple of huge special teams plays were squashed just before they could’ve given them the touchdown they craved all night.

On the opening kickoff, Heidelberg’s Austin Brown called for a fair catch on a pooch kick at the 30-yard line. The ball deflected off his hands and into those of Richie Bufkin, who sprinted into the end zone. By rule, however, the kicking team can’t advance a muffed kick. PCA got the ball at the 31-yard line and quickly drove inside the 5, but a fumbled snap was recovered by Heidelberg.

It turned out to be the best scoring chance the Eagles had all night. They finished the game with four first downs and 75 total yards, turned it over four times and ran just 11 plays in the second half.

One of the turnovers, a half-ending interception, came after Alton Burden returned a kickoff 33 yards into Heidelberg territory. Burden was tackled by the last defender between him and the end zone.

“We just struggled. It was just a bunch of different stuff. It wasn’t one thing. We had open passes we didn’t hit, they covered us on some, we didn’t block on some,” Patrick said, adding of the two near-misses, “It would’ve been a big momentum builder, but that didn’t cost us the ballgame. There were other things along the way that cost us.”

While the offense stumbled, PCA’s defense stood strong.