NATCHEZ — In his pregame speech, Trinity Episcopal Day School head coach Zach Rogel asked for 22 players to lay it all on the line in a battle with a school two classifications larger than them.

Rogel said he got what he asked for, despite Trinity falling to MAIS AAAA school Copiah Academy 35-22.

“That is a great program and we went toe-to-toe with them,” Rogel said. “We were down one score with three minutes left and that shows the kids that they can play with the big boys. We aren’t supposed to be in this game, but now I think we are.”

Trinity ran into trouble late in the game, with many of their 22-man army going down fighting injuries and cramps.

“It is the first time we’ve faced it this year,” Rogel said. “We have 22, and it is just next man up. Half of these kids play junior varsity and they are out here as bodies, but we dress them because I know they can do it. I’ve got 22 guys that I feel comfortable with out there.”

Early in the game, Trinity struggled to stop Landon Murphy and the Copiah rushing attack, but the explosive Saints offense kept them in the game.

After a one-yard touchdown run from Jay Holloway early in the first to give Copiah the lead, the Saints offense went to work.

Cade Wells found the end zone first from two yards out to tie the game, and then big brother Kevontaye Caston found little brother Jakarius Caston on a 74-yard touchdown pass to give Trinity a 14-7 lead at the end of the first.

But Murphy and the Colonels took over in the second, with the junior running back scoring on runs of four and 31 yards to give Copiah a 21-14 lead at half.

Struggling to stay up, Trinity regrouped, but were down after significant injuries cost the Saints Joseph Harris for the game and caused multiple skill position guys to take plays off to regain their legs.

Copiah continued to roll in the third quarter and Murphy found the end zone for the third time, this time from 11 yards out to push the Copiah lead to 28-14.

Trinity managed to muster up a score midway through the fourth quarter, though, to cut the lead to 28-22, on a 21-yard pass from Kevontaye Caston to Wells.

But Murphy capped his big night with a 40-yard touchdown run late in the fourth to put the Saints away.

Murphy finished the game with 325 rushing yards on 30 carries.

“I think it was just them getting a push off the line,” Rogel said of the big rushing night for Copiah. “(Murphy) is quick and shifty. We haven’t seen a back like that yet, but that is why we schedule these games. Once we hit district and the playoffs, we aren’t going to see a Copiah.”

Trinity wasn’t lacking in the statistical category, though with Kevontaye Caston racking up more than 300 all-purpose yards, CJ Chatman rushing for 68 yards. Jakarius Caston was the leading receiver for the Saints with three catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.

Ultimately, Rogel said he and his team aren’t hanging their heads about the game.

“It seems like we just landed the wrong way, but I’m extremely proud. They fought until the final whistle.”