Early turnovers send PCA down in defeat

Published 1:49 am Saturday, September 3, 2016

It only took about four minutes Friday for the Porters Chapel Academy Eagles to have a long night.

Central Hinds scored three defensive touchdowns on PCA’s first three possessions, and then added another on a long pass after the Eagles punted on their fourth drive. Prentice Brown returned an interception for a touchdown and added another rushing TD for Central Hinds as it went on to win 42-6.

“With eight minutes to go in the first quarter, we were down 28-0. We settled in after that,” PCA coach Blake Purvis said. “Despite what the score was, the defense played well. When we didn’t put the defense in a bad position, they had one sustained drive against us.”

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In all, Central Hinds returned two interceptions, one fumble and a kickoff for touchdowns. PCA’s defense, which had kept it in its first two games for most of the way, only allowed 14 points — seven of which came on a 72-yard pass from Tanner Leggett to Copper Currie on a blown coverage.

“Our defense essentially held a very potent offense to 14 points, and one of those was a blown coverage. We hadn’t turned the ball over this year, and we created turnovers. Tonight was the opposite,” Purvis said.

PCA’s offensive woes continued. It had been shut out in its first two games and only had 94 total yards Friday. Quarterback Garrett Hutchins was 8-of-18 passing for 52 yards, Cameron Harvey caught three passes for 45 yards, and leading rusher Wade Dickard had 24 yards on 13 attempts.

The Eagles did at least get on the scoreboard, though, for the first time this season. Josh Hunt punched in a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal in the fourth quarter.

“We improved offensively. Still not a major outburst, but we were picking up some first downs. We converted several third-and-longs,” Purvis said. “It wasn’t a booming effort, but it was better than we’ve been.”