PELAHATCHIE — Trinity Episcopal senior quarterback/linebacker Givonni Dent accounted for two touchdowns, one on offense and one on defense, as the Saints went on to defeat Class AAA East Rankin 21-9 Friday night.

But it was the hard-nosed, tough ball game that Saints head coach David King said it would be as the Class A Saints tackled a much larger school.

East Rankin scored the game’s first points on a safety when Reed Davis made a play in the end zone with 4:33 to go in the first quarter.

East Rankin’s defense kept Trinity off the scoreboard until late in the first half when Dent threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Tip McKenzie with 1:20 remaining. However, the two-point conversion was no good and the Saints led at halftime 6-2.

“It was a very physical defensive battle. They were an outstanding football team,” King said.

Kent King scored on a 1-yard run and Dent connected with McKenzie on the two-point conversion to give Trinity a 14-6 lead with 3:24 left in the third quarter.

Dent then picked off a Justin Laster pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown to give the Saints a 21-2 lead with 3:21 left in the ball game.

Tyler Rhodes caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Laster and J.D. Houston added the extra point with 2:11 to go in the ball game to make the final score a little more respectable.

“They have an outstanding defense. We were able to come out with a win,” King said.

Dent completed eight-of-15 passes for 128 yards with no interceptions.

McKenzie ran the ball nine times for 43 yards.

Trinity’s defense held East Rankin to minus-16 yards rushing on 19 attempts and forced four turnovers.

Trinity Episcopal (2-0) hosts Centreville Academy at 7 p.m. Friday in their second home game of the season before hitting the road to Alpha Christian on Sept. 10.