NATCHEZ — Trinity Episcopal’s Givonni Dent, Kent King and Tip McKenzie have been giving opposing defenses headaches all season.

Now there’s one more game standing in the way of their ultimate goal, a state championship.

The Saints’ three-headed monster is set to suit up one final time in the MAIS Class A state championship game against Tri-County Academy at Millsaps College in Jackson Friday. King said it’s helpful to him having players of McKenzie and Dent’s caliber in the backfield with him.

“It’s good that they came (to Trinity), with them being as good as they are,” King said. “Other teams aren’t just going to focus on me, they have to focus on (Dent) and Tip.”

King realizes that he would probably have more yards rushing and receiving this year if he didn’t have McKenzie and Dent alongside him. But King said he would rather take the undefeated season.

“Individual numbers don’t mean anything to me,” he said. “As long as we win championships, that’s what’s important.

“I’d rather not rush for as many yards and win championships than rush for more yards and not win anything.”

Dent already had a strong arm at the quarterback position, but over the summer he worked hard at trying to improve his mobility in the pocket.

“I just feel more comfortable running the ball now,” Dent said. “I didn’t have to run as much last year.”

Dent said his workouts included sprints, running hills, agility drills, cone drills and rope drills.

“It makes a big difference, having a quarterback that can both run and pass,” he said. “If you do only one, a team can just sit on that one thing.”

McKenzie is the most versatile athlete of the three, lining up at quarterback, running back and receiver at different times this season. After being the star athlete at Wilkinson County Christian before transferring to Trinity, McKenzie said he was glad to be welcomed in by the Saints’ players and coaches.

“The coaches told me I was going to be a part of a good program,” McKenzie said.

“Doing this is better than being the star, because you’re getting wins. You can be a standout and a star, but it’s not fun with no wins.”

One of the unsung heroes for Trinity’s big three is the offensive line.

“They mean a whole lot to us,” King said. “They’re one of the best lines we’ve had in a while.”

McKenzie also said the line’s done a great job this season.

“They’ve been great. They’ve giving the quarterback good time to get the ball to receivers, and they’re doing a good job blocking for our running backs.”

And King, who is also a defensive back for the Saints, said the defense also doesn’t get the recognition it deserves either.

“They mean a lot, and they don’t get any respect,” King said. “They did as much for us as the offense. They don’t give up anything. Whenever we score, we know they’ll stop the other team and give us the ball right back.”

Even with a number of standout athletes, Dent said that Trinity’s bread and butter is the team concept that the players have bought into.

“We have a lot of different weapons,” Dent said. “We depend on everyone as a team. That’s what’s gotten us as far as we are now.”