NATCHEZ &045; There’s going to be a day when Arthur Green has to leave the Trinity Episcopal football team and head home.

And truth be told, he’ll be happy when that day comes. He’s heard from his previous coach at Higgins High School in Marrero, La., and has kept track of his old teammates &045; they’ve scattered to areas throughout the South like he and has family did in Natchez &045; following Hurricane Katrina.

Yet Friday nights since then have been enjoyable, just as it was this past Friday night in the Saints’ 28-6 win over Tri-County.

&uot;Probably next week, but I don’t really know,&uot; Green said of his last game at Trinity. &uot;But I don’t really know what I’m going to do. I had talked to my coach. School will start Oct. 3, and we should start Oct. 7. But it’s like a family here. It’s the same thing at my old school. I treat them as a brother, and they treat me as a brother, too.&uot;

Green and his family are staying at the Ramada Inn after staying at the shelter at Parkway Baptist Church when they first arrived. And while it may not be like home, he’s at least made himself at home at linebacker for the Saints.

He made some big plays in the second and third quarters, got three carries in at fullback and helped the Saints contain Tri-County to only 66 yards total offense.

&uot;I think he’s really listening in practice and trying to learn a completely new defense,&uot; Trinity head coach David King said. &uot;You still have to think about all he’s had to go through. He’s made as much progress as you can ask from a kid from three weeks. It’s a matter of time before he leaves, but our kids have fallen in love with all those guys.&uot;

Green and the defense was able to make some big plays in the second quarter of a game that officials tried to get in the books quickly &045; 10-minutes quarters in the first half with eight-minute quarters &045; with Hurricane Rita approaching. The game itself was delayed 40 minutes due to a power outage.

The Saints (4-1) got three touchdowns and a safety in the second quarter to break the game open after the Rebels scored first in the first quarter and had the lead.

&uot;They’re a good ball team over there,&uot; Tri-County head coach Bo Milton said. &uot;They came out ready to play. I thought we came out ready and did some good things. I don’t know if it’s just our lack of experience. I don’t know. David and his team does a good job. They’re 4-1 right now and off to a good start.&uot;

The Saints tied the score at the start of the second quarter and took the lead when the Rebels botched a snap on a punt and kicked it out of the end zone for an 8-6 Trinity lead. The next play Stevan Ridley took a handoff 59 yards for a touchdown for a 16-6 lead.

That’s when the defense took over.

Tri-County’s next three plays were for zero or minus yards to force a punt, but the Saints were called for 12 men on the field to give the Rebels a first down. The Rebels’ next three plays were about the same &045; minus-6, a fumble recovery and minus-8 &045; to force another punt.

The Rebels botched that snap, too, but this time Wells Middleton recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. That put the Saints’ lead at 22-6 with 1:29 left.

&uot;It was a weird deal,&uot; King said. &uot;When the electricity went out, we were really pumped up. After the 45-minute delay, we just didn’t come out quite as focused. Coach (Matt) Mason had the guys lined up, and they didn’t make plays. Coach Mason just made some adjustments like he always does, and the kids finally got into the ball game.&uot;

The first down on the penalty was the only time the Rebels moved the chains after that, although they had only three possessions the entire second half.

On the first play after the score off the bad snap, the Rebels fumbled again with Kyle Ketchings coming up with it.

The Saints got it back with 1:22 left but couldn’t punch it in as time expired at the Tri-County 16.

&uot;We did a little bit of everything,&uot; Milton said. &uot;We can’t turn the ball over, and we’ve got to block people. It got to a point where there’s not a whole lot you can do but get to something basic. That’s all you can do. I felt we played hard in the second half.&uot;

Ridley opened the second half by taking the opening kickoff around the right side 59 yards for a touchdown for the 28-6 lead. Ridley didn’t get a carry in the second half and finished with 15 carries for 128 yards.