After a strong start Friday, Porters Chapel Academy fell behind the athletic offense of Trinity Episcopal and could not recover. The Saints overcame an early seven-point deficit and rolled over PCA, 54-14.

“We fought hard. They didn’t give up. They adjusted well. We moved guys all over the field, and they took the cards that were dealt to them and did the best they could,” PCA coach Blake Purvis said.

The Eagles held a brief lead for about six minutes in the first quarter — the first time they’ve led in a game this season — but were unable to hold on in part because of injuries and a lack of depth. Toward the end of the first quarter, on two separate plays, junior Cameron Harvey and freshman Larry Ballard were injured. The long-term extent of their injuries was not immediately known.

“At the end of the first quarter we lose two more starters. We lose a starting running back, a starting fullback and at that point we’re up to 11 starters out and we now just got to play shuffle. We’ve got to get guys moving around in positions they haven’t necessarily practiced in to get us through the game, and they responded well to that,” Purvis said.

The Eagles did score again with 6 minutes left in the second quarter when freshman Josh Smith recovered a fumble and returned it 50 yards to the end zone.

“As depleted as we are, to have some success and to get that. It’s a process and they’re sticking with it. We’ve just got to keep moving ahead and hope to get some guys healthy and give us a chance down the stretch,” Purvis said.

The PCA defense was able to notch four sacks on the night, but more often than not, the Trinity players were able to scramble out of tough situations and gain major yardage on running plays.

“We had a hard time containing him (senior quarterback and wide receiver Kevontaye Caston), but we played hard,” junior Glenn Alan Kittrell said. “We played to the very last play. We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but we’ll never give up on it.”

Purvis chalked the Saints’ unstoppable offense up to the athletes on their team.

“You get that many fast weapons and space and they run around and spread us out. We were just outmanned,” Purvis said.

The Saints struck first just 30 seconds and two plays into the game with a 57-yard passing touchdown by Caston. The extra point was blocked by Kittrell, allowing PCA to gain the lead.

The Eagles, helped by two penalties, scored on their first drive. Sophomore Wade Dickard took it in with a 4-yard touchdown run with 7 minutes left in the quarter, and Jagger Weekly added the extra point to make it 7-6.

It’s the second offensive touchdown PCA has scored this season.

“We came out playing hard. We moved the ball right down the field. Took six, seven minutes off the clock and marched the field running the ball at will,” Purvis said. “It couldn’t have gone any more perfect on the first offensive drive. We looked good. We executed a game plan.”

The Saints scored again on their third possession of the night, on a one-play drive. Caston caught a 30-yard pass from Sterling Yarbrough with a minute and a half left in the first quarter. On this and every other touchdown of the night, the Saints went for the 2-point conversion. They made 2 of 7.

This score gave Trinity the lead for good and it never looked back.

Sophomore Jacquan Johnson had an 18-yard TD, Caston ran 25 yards for a score, and senior David Jackson ran 59 yards for another touchdown with two minutes left in the half to make it 32-14.

In the third quarter, Demond Fleming scored on a 10-yard run, Jackson caught a 30-yard pass, and sophomore Jarred Simpson caught a 31-yard TD pass for the final score of the night with three minutes left.

Tallulah Aca. 50, Humphreys Aca. 20

Raie Garza rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns, Ryan Hodge added 118 yards and two more TDs, and Tallulah Academy rolled past Humphreys Academy in an MAIS Eight-Man football game.

Garza also caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Luke Fortenberry, who was 4-of-6 passing for 122 yards and two scores. The Trojans scored 30 straight points after falling behind 14-12 in the second quarter.

Ethan Beene had six total tackles, including one for loss, and a fumble recovery for Tallulah.