Porter’s Chapel Academy drove a long way to find its second victory of the season.

Tyler Washington rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, quarterback John Michael Wilkerson threw a touchdown pass and ran for two other scores, and Porter’s Chapel defeated the New Orleans Home School Saints 26-12 on Friday night in New Orleans.

PCA (2-5) snapped a two-game losing streak and surpassed last season’s win total.

“It definitely helps your momentum and the psyche of the team when everything you’re picking and harping on pays off,” Porter’s Chapel coach Blake Purvis said.

It wasn’t an easy time for the Eagles in the Big Easy. They jumped out to a 14-0 lead, allowed the Saints (0-6) to score twice to get back within two points, and then regrouped to score two touchdowns in the second half and put the game away.

Wilkerson scored on a 6-yard run and then threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Michael Tod Andrews on third-and-goal with about three minutes left in the game to seal the victory. Wilkerson also completed a key 16-yard pass to Spencer Azlin to keep the final scoring drive alive.

“We really fought through the ebbs and flows of the game, and all of the adversity, and the whole nine yards,” Purvis said. “We had a portion of the game where we didn’t do that well. It was nice to move it, get it shut down, and then get it moving again.”

Austin Rudd led PCA’s defense with 10 tackles and an interception, and Jairus Cobbs had 12 tackles. Andrews and Gunner Hutchins each had seven tackles and an interception.

Porter’s Chapel will go on the road next week to play Greenville Christian in the first of three consecutive MAIS District 4-3A games to finish out the regular season.