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photo by Hannah Reel
Trinity’s Kent King gains yardage during the game against Riverdale Friday night. The Saints won their first 2009 playoff game 48-13.
Saints' experience shows up in playoff win
Published Saturday, November 7, 2009
NATCHEZ — Heading into the first round of the MAIS Class A South State Playoffs, Trinity Episcopal coach David King said he was happy his team would be playing on a dry field.
For the first time in six weeks, the Saints didn’t have to worry about playing in the elements. The results of their game against Riverdale Academy Friday suggest that a dry ground makes them right at home, as the Saints pounded Riverdale 48-13.
“We just have a lot of speed, and this was a dry field,” David King said. “The weather’s part of the football game each week, but we’re certainly geared around a dry football field, and I think the fans saw that tonight.”
The game saw several big plays from the Saints’ key upperclassmen. Seniors R.J. Fleming and Brandon Daggs and junior Kent King accounted for all seven Saints touchdowns.
Fleming got things started for the Saints, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter on runs of 37 and 7 yards.
In the second quarter, Riverdale made several big plays with the run, and tapped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown carry by Matt Makowsky with 11:29 to go in the second.
The rest of the second quarter was all Trinity. Saints quarterback Givonni Dent hit Daggs for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 11:11 to go before halftime.
On the ensuing Riverdale drive, quarterback Andrew Driggers attempted a short pass, only to have it intercepted by King, who ran it back 28-yards for the touchdown. It was one of King’s two interceptions on the night.
“I just try to do anything I can to make a play (when the ball’s headed my way),” Kent King said. “All week we were working on pass coverage, because we hadn’t been doing well with that.”
Fleming scored the next Trinity touchdown in the second quarter on a 7-yard carry, and Daggs scored his second touchdown of the night on a 73-yard catch with 1:04 to go before the half.
Trinity scored just one more touchdown in the game on a 4-yard run by King with 1:17 left in the third quarter.
Riverdale scored its only other touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a Zach Johnson 50-yard catch.
Dent finished 8-of-10 in passes with no interceptions, and David King said his performance was a good sign for his team’s chances throughout the rest of the postseason.
“It was good to see Givonni throw the football well to several different receivers,” David King said.
Kent King said setting the tone for the rest of the playoffs with a win in the first game was important.
“I think it was really big,” Kent King said. “Hopefully it carries over into the second round, South State and eventually the state championship.”
David King, however, was just relieved his team made it out without any injuries.
“Mainly, we’re healthy,” King said. “We got out of here healthy. Riverdale’s got a good, physical ball club. They were young — I don’t think they’ve been to the playoffs in a long time, and I think our experience there probably made a difference early on in the ball game.”
Comments
Posted by TRON601 (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
48-13? Was this really a playoff game? Good deal Saints.
Posted by jaydogg07 (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Only in one A football.They can't run with the big dogs AA.
Posted by reader (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They were good enough to beat 3A public Wilkinson County by 3 tds in Natchez High's jamboree, and they have played well against all the private AA's they played except Centreville.
Posted by jaydogg07 (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What Wilkinson County wilkinson County Please!! Football game is 4QT not 1QT.Think about it reader.
Posted by reader (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You could say that if the quarter was even close, but it was a blowout. I'm not sure if they ever put RJ Fleming on the ground. You are correct, football is 4 quarters, but Wilkinson County High knew it was only lasting 1 quarter or do you think they were planning a 4th quarter comeback haha.
Posted by jaydogg07 (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 6:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Reader!! NHS Bulldogs.Don't cross the line.Hahaha.
Posted by Mofun2win (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't blow a jamboree score out of proportion and think you're better than you are. Just keep working and progressing through the playoffs.
Posted by TRON601 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First off: To reader: Like jaydodd07 said, who is Wilkinson County? And yes RJ Fleming did play that day. If you look at the article from the Jamboree, you'll notice the picture of him flipping over the top into the endzone. It was the cover picture. Even today, I still wonder why. Secondly, who isn't good enough to beat WC? Lets see yall play a real AAA school like Tylertown or Franklin County, since you want to talk about Trinity beating a AAA school. I bet King wont get the big head like you right now and schedule a game like that will he? NHS is still waiting for Trinity in the preseason, by the way. Come play a real team for once.
Posted by reader (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TRON-Jaydogg took a shot at Trinity, and I defended the Saints. Wilkinson County was good enough to win 4 games in 3A this year. When you talk about Trinity, you're talking about a school with 80 or so in the high school. Trinity would obviously be a very small 1A school if they played in the MHSAA. Natchez High has 1200+ in the high school. They have a very good team and could obviously beat any 1A team in the State. I never said the Saints could play with NHS, but give some credit where it's due. Trinity grad Stevan Ridley scored against Alabama Saturday, and there have been other good players come through Trinity too.
Posted by TRON601 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fair enough. No harm done on either's part. I'm just jiving because it seemed you crashed "3A public" WC. You are right. Ridley did come from Trinity. Andrew Ellard came from Cathedral and he's a decent receiver at Miss State to say they aren't a really great program. But they do put out decent RBs into the NFL. Jerious Norwood, former Miss State RB, came from Brandon High and carries a load for the Atlanta Falcons when he is on the field. Cedric Griffin, former Texas CB came from Natchez and starts on the Vikings. He holds his own. Anthony Dixon is from Jackson and carries the load at state and I'm sure he will go somewhere in the draft. I'm glad somebody from Natchez is bringing home state crowns. Good deal Trinity. Im proud of them simply because they are a Natchez team and they are good. I'd much rather cheer for them than Centreville in the state championship game. Good luck.
Posted by DeanWormer (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Say what you want, Natchez High School Rebels...I mean Colonels......dang,I mean Bulldogs have not come close to the years Ed Reed ran the Notre Box many years ago. What an elusive and exciting offense. Many runners were tackled and didn't have the ball. Those were the good old days when at the end of the year the North Natchez and South Natchez games were played. If you were a Rebelette or a Colonels Lady you better not get out of shape, Suzie Russ did not go for that.
Posted by AHorn (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whoa, wait a minute folks. Before Trinity wins the state title they have to make it there first. There will be a game played Friday night and I can promise you it won't be a push over. Trinity may win Friday, but one thing is for sure, they will know that Sylva Bay aint no joke. It is gonna be one great game!!!!
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