TOXEY, Ala. — Trinity Episcopal head coach David King knew his young Saints team would be in for a battle to start the 2008 season with the South Choctaw Academy Rebels Friday night.

In a game between last year’s MPSA Class AA South State runner-up and last year’s undefeated Class A state champion in the Alabama Independent School Association, Trinity Episcopal whipped South Choctaw 30-13.

“It was hot. We weren’t in as good of shape as we should be,” King said. “It was a sloppy win, but it was a quality win over a good team. I saw some signs that we could be a very good team.”

What was perhaps just as surprising as the final score was that the Saints, a team with almost half of their 27-man roster being sophomores (13 of them to be exact), led the Rebels 24-7 at halftime.

One of those sophomores, quarterback Givonni Dent, had an outstanding game for Trinity Episcopal, ranked No. 4 in Class AA. Dent completed 9 of 13 passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns. He threw a 33-yard scoring pass to R.J. Fleming at the 4:32 mark in the first quarter and 16-yard pass to Wells Middleton with 11:54 remaining in the second quarter to give the Saints a 12-0 lead.

“Givonni grew into a leader. He did an admirable job,” King said. “He’s got some quality players around him and he did a good job getting the ball to them.”

Kent King accounted for three touchdowns in the game — he caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Dent and then returned a punt 68 yards for a score to help give Trinity the 17-point lead at the half. King also scored on a 7-yard run in the third quarter.

Matt Phillips scored both touchdowns for South Choctaw on runs of 11 yards in the second quarter and 1 yard early in the fourth quarter.

While Trinity’s offense racked up 306 total yards, its defense held the Rebels to just 193 total yards and forced three turnovers.

“We thought that was our strong point,” King said. “The defense is a little ahead of the offense. Defensively, we played very well.”

Trinity Episcopal (1-0) plays at Adams County Christian Friday at 7 p.m.