Portal head coach Jason McEachin doesn't know what the future holds for his team, but he was right on the money with a prediction last week.

Facing off against familiar rival Jenkins County, McEachin anticipated a hard-fought game that wouldn't be won until the final moments.

His Panthers made a seer out of him, holding their own in a defensive struggle in the first half before pulling out a 21-14 victory for their first win over the War Eagles since 2023.

“It was two good teams with a lot of similarities,” McEachin said. “You figure that will make it a tight game. (Jenkins County) was as tough as we thought they’d be. This is just one win for us, but I think it says a lot. When you play a tough and similar team every year, it’s a measuring stick, and we’re happy with how we measured up.”

The Panthers (2-1) continue to lean on a solid and opportunistic defense that has stood tall in the final minutes of two consecutive wins.

Offensively, Portal has paced itself with a run-heavy option offense that has been its bread and butter for years. But there have also been some highlights through the air as sophomore quarterback Omod Thomas has completed 13 of his 19 attempts this season for four touchdowns without an interception.

"This is a team that knows its identity and has a lot of character," McEachin said. "We know we want to run the ball, and that opens up some passing opportunities. It's about balance. Our guys know we look to spread it around and that — if the ball isn't coming to you now — it's just a matter of time before we're going to look for you."

While last week was a bit of a mirror match, this week brings a different test.

Telfair County (1-1) boasts a stout defense of its own with only three touchdowns allowed so far, but the offense is a shotgun spread attack that looks to put it in the air often.

Portal might not be able to replicate the same throws in practice, but a healthy-sized roster this season allows its offensive starters to mimic the Telfair playbook to give its defense a fast and athletic look at what to expect.

"That's a quirk of single-A ball," McEachin said. "You see a lot of difference schemes and always have to adapt. But our kids are going to be up for the challenge."