During his five seasons at Bayou Academy, Wade Patrick saw plenty of fight out of the Deer Creek Warriors.

Patrick tried to relay that message to his first Porters Chapel Academy team last season. Deer Creek delivered a bruising contest and the Eagles had to claw their way to a 20-14 overtime win.

Patrick won’t have a hard time convincing his team how difficult Friday night’s game in Arcola could be.

“They didn’t believe me how physical and tough they would be,” Patrick said. “We were able to pull out a very physical game, 20-14. This will be the seventh straight year I’ve faced Deer Creek and I know they are always going to be tough and play a hard-nosed brand of football.”

The Eagles come in flying high after smashing Union Christian 58-0 last week but they will be without junior quarterback Jonah Masterson.

“Jonah got banged up last week, so we’re going to sit him out this week,” Patrick said. Patrick declined to say what and how severe an injury Masterson suffered at Union Christian. Patrick said sophomore Zac Morgan will be the Eagles’ quarterback against Deer Creek.

Masterson completed 4 of 7 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns at Union Christian. Both of the scoring tosses went to Peter Harris who finished with five touchdowns in all and had 115 yards rushing.

“Peter scored on five of the six times he touched the ball,” Patrick said. “We were up 39-0 at the half and then the game got out of hand because Union Christian turned the ball over and our guys had two scoop-and-scores.”

Ransom Moulder and Justin McDaniel scored touchdowns off fumble returns.

“Defensively we did what we wanted,” Patrick said. “Bryce Fleming, Josh Masterson, Ausin Bond, Hunter Lyons, Michael Croisdale and Sam Kirk all played well.”

Fleming led the way with 10 tackles.

The Eagles’ defense will be counted to slow down Deer Creek’s I-formation offense that ripped Humphreys Academy 40-20 in an 8-man contest last week.