With the clock ceaselessly and ruthlessly ticking off the seconds in the fourth quarter, Porters Chapel Academy’s offense was on the march. The crowd held its breath with each play, desperately wanting something good to happen.

Patrick Minor took the direct snap, sprinted to his right and hit the edge. He got around the last defender and, as the officials raised their hands in the air to signal a touchdown, the fans at Eagles Field jumped to their feet in delight.

Minor’s touchdown cut PCA’s deficit to 36-7 against Amite School Center. The game ended moments later by the same score, and PCA’s season with a 1-9 record. It was a meaningless score in a meaningless game, in the dying moments of one of the worst seasons in school history.

But dang if it didn’t feel good.

“It felt good to get some points on the board,” Minor said. “It made me feel good because we got on the board. That’s all that matters. As long as we scored. We didn’t come out on top, but we scored and we played as a team.”

David Leyendecker and McCain Carnegie each ran for two touchdowns for Amite (5-5, 2-1 District 5-AA), which scored 52 seconds into the game, rushed for 276 yards, and led 36-0 at halftime.

The outcome of the game was never in doubt. That was hardly the point, though.

PCA played hard to the final whistle of the final game during its worst season since also going 1-9 in 1993.

In the final minute of the third quarter, Amite quarterback Josh Berberette fumbled the snap. Leon Simms chased him down, pushed him out of the way, picked up the football and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown — a superb effort that was negated by an illegal block on the return.

Undeterred, the Eagles started their first scoring drive in nearly a month. Minor ran for gains of 7 and 10 yards to move the ball into the red zone, and a 3-yard run by Simms took it to the 11. On third-and-7, Minor sprinted around the right side and into the end zone and Jagger Weekly added the PAT to put the Eagles on the board for the first time since scoring in the first half against Clinton Christian on Sept. 25.

“I think, in every situation, you have to celebrate the little moments because the little moments are going to add up to big moments. Seeing them celebrate the touchdown was awesome,” PCA interim head coach Stacey Sykes said.

The PCA defenders made several hard hits on the ensuing drive, including one by sophomore linebacker Michael Brewer that generated a series of cheers from his teammates on the sideline.

The clock quickly bled out on the season and Amite exited the field with its 36-7 victory. The Eagles retired to their locker room, but were hardly in a down mood.

Players joked and made a couple of quick speeches about the good things they believe will come next season. It seemed like the most fun a bunch of football players could have while going virtually winless.

“It was a rough season, but I had a lot of fun during it. I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” junior offensive lineman Andrew Screws said. “Just the environment around here, and the attitude, it was just fun. It holds us up. It’s kind of like a brotherhood.”

Tallulah Academy 42, Briarfield Academy 14

Mason Todd threw three touchdown passes, Ryan Hodge rushed for 155 yards and three more scores, and Tallulah Academy (7-1, 4-0 District 4-A) routed Briarfield Academy (4-6, 1-3).

Parker Morgan added 158 yards on the ground, while Todd had 108. Dakota Cone caught two passes for 98 yards and two TDs, and Brice Wood caught a 4-yard TD pass.

Central Hinds 35, Hartfield Academy 0

Central Hinds (5-4, 2-2 District 3-AAA) finished the regular season with a shutout of Hartfield Academy (3-7, 1-3), but wasn’t able to secure a berth in the MAIS Class AAA playoffs.