NATCHEZ — With so many years of playoff experience under his belt, Trinity Episcopal head coach David King knows a thing or two about what it takes to win in November.

And his best advice simply comes in painting a picture of reality to his players.

“Everybody’s 0-0,” King said. “Everybody’s going to play their best game of the year. I tell them, if you take one play off, it could be the play you remember for the rest of your life, if you get beat.”

Tonight, the Saints will play host to Riverdale Academy in the first round of the MAIS Single A playoffs.

“They’re 7-3, and this is the best team they’ve fielded in years,” King said. “They had a coaching change in the middle of the season. One of their assistants took over, and they’ve won four in a row after that.”

With the coaching change came a style change on offense for Riverdale, King said.

“Before the new coach took over, they were 85 percent pass. Now, they’re 85 percent run. They converted an offensive lineman to a fullback, and he’s a 260-pound bull. He’s made a big difference for them.

“From looking at the film, they seem more loose now that the new coach has taken over. They look like they’re having fun, which is what high school football is about.”

With Riverdale’s power running game being a big threat, King said his players would have to match the physicality its physicality.

“We’re going to have to hit their big running back low and early. We’re going to have to come in there and hit him low, hard and often.”

Postseason play means that the Saints plan to come out with guns blazing, and leave everything on the field, King said.

“We feel like this is the first game we’ve played in six weeks that’s on a dry field,” King said. “We’re going to hold nothing back and hope for the best.”

Senior leadership will be a key for the Saints this postseason, and King said he thinks his upper classmen know what’s at stake.

“We’re very focused this week in practice,” King said. “The seniors have stepped up and realized, as we tell them, that we’re not guaranteed tomorrow. Everyone’s playing for his life. If we don’t play our best, all that’s left is basketball and hunting camp.”

Trinity, which finished 8-3 on the season and first in District 6-A, will kick off at 7 tonight.