NATCHEZ — Trinity Episcopal went into Friday night’s pivotal MAIS District 6-A game against Tallulah Academy on a rare three-game losing streak — something that hasn’t happened since the late 1990s.

Four in a row wasn’t a phrase the Saints wanted to hear Friday night, but late in the second quarter it might have crossed a few minds.

Against a Trojans team that Trinity head coach David King said was the best he’s seen since 2002, the Saints had to rally from a 13-12 deficit late in the second to take a hard-fought 38-19 win and eventually a firm grip on first place in the district.

“We gave up too many points, but we got the win,” King said. “We had a few starters that were hobbled up, but we overcame that.”

R.J. Fleming and Brandon Daggs accounted for five of Trinity Episcopal’s six touchdowns — all on the ground. The Saints turned to their running game to eventually wear down Tallulah Academy, especially after the Trojans took the lead in the second quarter. Fleming had 20 carries for 114 yards and Daggs had nine carries for 104 yards.

“The field was still in bad shape from all the rain we’ve had, but our offensive line played good,” King said.

Fleming scored on a 2-yard run and Daggs scored on a 47-yard run to give the Saints a 12-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. But the Trojans responded thanks to a 10-yard run by Cody Isaac less than a minute into the second quarter and a 34-yard touchdown pass from Jes Shivers to John Fortenberry at the 5:02 mark.

However, that would be the only time Tallulah Academy (5-4, 1-1) would have the lead in the game. Thanks to a pair of short touchdown runs by Fleming in the final two minutes of the first half, Trinity Episcopal (7-3, 2-0) took a 24-13 lead into halftime.

“We put some points on the board early. We got down 13-12 and overcame some adversity. I think our speed was the difference,” King said. “Tallulah played us tough. Coach Weaver had them ready. It’s a good win over a district opponent.”

Daggs scored on a 3-yard run early in the third quarter and Chas Moroney’s extra point, the first made conversion of the game for Trinity, gave the Saints a 31-13 lead.

The Trojans tried to get back in the game when Shivers scored on a 4-yard run with 7:39 to go in the fourth quarter, but Kent King put the game away with a 34-yard touchdown run nearly midway through that quarter.

As a team, Trinity Episcopal had 312 rushing yards on 48 carries. The Saints’ defense held Tallulah Academy to 64 yards rushing, 171 yards of total offense and intercepted two passes.