NATCHEZ — In a game where 27 penalties were committed, Silliman Institute and Trinity Episcopal Day School showed flashes of great offense in a grinding three-hour season opener.

Ultimately, though, the MAIS AAA Silliman would prevail with a 20-15 victory against MAIS AA Trinity.

“(Penalties) shut down a lot of drives and kept them in a lot of drives,” said Trinity head coach Zach Rogel, whose Saints committed 17 total penalties in the game. “You take away penalties or even them up on both sides, I think we have a different outcome. We expected to be rusty but not that rusty.”

When the yellow laundry wasn’t hitting the ground, C.J. Chatman, Cortez Adams, Cade Wells and Sammy Banks were wreaking havoc on the defensive side of the football. Going against a Silliman rushing game that totaled 172 172 yards on 39 carries, Trinity’s defense swarmed to the football and contained the Wildcats for the most part.

“Coach Bunio has them where he wants them,” Rogel said. “Our front seven are a lot stouter than they were last year. We feel good with one-on-ones on the corner. Defense did their part tonight, but offense, not so much.”

In the second quarter, Silliman quarterback Zach Kelly busted through the line of scrimmage on a quarterback power, taking the ball 82 yards for a touchdown, the longest play on the night. Trinity answered later in the quarter after a Kevontaye Caston touchdown on a punt return was called back for a block in the back. On the ensuing play, Caston faked an option read and kept it, going 26 yards down the sideline for the score. Caston punched it in after a Silliman penalty on the extra point try to give Trinity an 8-7 lead.

“He shows flashes of loading the team on his back, and that’s why we call his number,” Rogel said. “You can tell by the way he moves his body that he’s in it and wants the ball.”

Silliman struck back in the third quarter, after a 2-yard run by Ryder Lockhart gave the Wildcats a 14-8 lead. Trinity responded with a promising drive of its own, but penalties would force a punting situation. Before fourth down, though, punter Cade Wells was cramping up, forcing Rogel to think outside of the box. Rogel elected to put Sterling Yarbrough in, who would then take the snap on a fake and throw to a wide-open David Jackson. Jackson caught the pass and took it 50 yards for a score to give Trinity a 15-14 lead after Grant Falkenheiner’s extra point conversion.

“On that fake, somebody was looking down on us and wanted us to win the game,” Rogel said. “We thought we’d put somebody athletic back there with C.J. looking like he was going to punt, and let Sterling throw it. He’s a freshman. He’s too young to feel the pressure.”

Silliman responded with a long 63-yard drive that was aided by multiple Trinity turnovers, ending in a 2-yard Michael Beauchamp run to give Silliman a 20-15 lead with 7:19 to play.

Trinity had promising drives to follow but could not overcome its own mishaps, committing penalties and turning the ball over on a Wells’ interception with a minute left in the game.

Silliman coach T.J. Davis was proud of his team’s effort, as he knew getting the win against Trinity was a big deal, no matter the size difference in classes.

“We had a little more depth than they had, but our guys were going both ways too,” Davis said. “Trinity is a very dangerous team. They pose a big threat for a lot of people because of those weapons. I was pleased with the outcome and how we bought into the second half.”

Late in the game, Wells suffered a leg injury, moaning after a helmet collided with his knee. Wells was taken in an ambulance after the game’s conclusion. Rogel said after the game that no damage was done to any of Wells’ bones, but the doctors believe he might have suffered a significant sprain. Wells has an MRI scheduled for Monday.