The Trinity Saints began practice Tuesday for what coach David King Calls a &uot;brutal&uot; schedule.

&uot;We have got the toughest 1A schedule in the state besides Amite,&uot; King said.

That tough schedule includes games against 3A and 2A schools.

Those games could make for a daunting task this year for King, whose team is only sporting 15 players on its roster this year.

The number of players on the team also dictates King’s coaching style and play calling.

&uot;We can’t play classical football,&uot; King said. &uot;We can’t run a power-I or a 4-3 defense.&uot;

The small number of players also requires flexibility.

&uot;We have kids that have to be versatile,&uot; he said. &uot;They have to be prepared to play in many different sets.&uot;

Those different sets are what gives King’s team a chance.

&uot;We can’t afford to be predictable,&uot; he said. &uot;We run a lot of razzle-dazzle.&uot;

Though most Mississippi schools stick to the power-I formation or run the wing-T, King said he will run out of the Option attack or anything that gives him a chance.

During practice Tuesday, he was harping to his players about what they need to do to be a winner.

&uot;We are gonna be smaller than everybody,&uot; he told them during drills. &uot;So, we need to be quicker and better.&uot;

The early drills during Tuesday’s practice are designed to make King’s players quicker.

Linemen cut back and forth between cones spaced five yards a part, while the rest of the players ran figure-eight drills through two pylons.

The players will have to get ready to play quickly because their first game is Aug. 18.

King won’t have many experienced players to draw on this season.

Chad Barry and Tyler Burns are the lone seniors on the offensive line and Cole Brown is his senior running back. The Saints will also be lead by a first-year quarterback. Though a junior, Chad Ridley will take the reigns of the offense for the first time this year.