NATCHEZ — David King’s Trinity Episcopal team is looking for a 4-0 start to the season tonight when it takes on Tri-County Academy.

The Saints have blown their opponents away by an average of 26 points this season.

Yet King said his MPSA District 3-AA team still is not as good as expected, and will use tonight’s game as a stepping stone to reach its potential.

“We haven’t looked sharp in any one of our wins so far,” King said. “We’re just shooting for a better performance as far as the little stuff, penalties and things, that are bogging us down from being a great team.”

He said for the first time in a long time, he is still trying to solidify a starting lineup, including linemen and a defensive back and receiver rotation that will work best for the Saints.

King said all he has preached since Monday morning’s practice is to be a better all-around football team.

“We’ve got some very talented kids who are hard workers, but we’ve got a bunch of sophomores and some juniors who haven’t had a lot of experience,” he said. “We knew we we’re going to struggle early. We hope to use this game to really step up and look more like a disciplined Trinity team than we have been.”

One rotation the Saints do have set is the quarterback position, although it is a bit of a unique role this season.

Sophomore Givonni Dent is Trinity’s starting quarterback, but junior running back R.J. Fleming has also been taking snaps.

“We want to make sure we’re ready to go, and we always like to have a backup plan. When a team is taking something away from us we want to be able to do something else,” King said. “We always wanted R.J. to play quarterback in addition to his fine running ability, and Givonni has done a fine job sharing that role.”

Tri-County, an MPSA AA District 2 team, is 1-2 this season following last week’s 36-14 loss to Manchester Academy in Yazoo City.

King said he knew the Rebels’ traditionally strong program has been down in recent season, but he still will not look past the team.

Instead, the Saints will attempt to play their best possible football, which King said by this week or next should be up to par.

“The expectations are so great at Trinity, I think we all get antsy and frustrated when we don’t see a real polished team out there,” he said. “Our fans have been so accustomed to smooth, sharp football, and we’re not there yet. I knew we wouldn’t be there. I think by week four or five we will be a pretty dang good football team.”