The Trinity Saints had already solidified their standing as the premier football team in class A but after last night Trinity football can now be mentioned amongst the best in the entire MAIS as the Saints beat Class AA top ranked and defending state champion Brookhaven 34-28 in Brookhaven before a packed house. Trinity also halted the state’s longest winning streak at 22 games and now own an MAIS best 14 straight wins dating back to the 2009 season.
(Above) Jennings Mills of Brookhaven (#10) Gets bottled up by Tip McKenzie (#4) and Daniel Dunaway (#35) of Trinity
After battering Class AA and 2nd ranked River Oaks with over 500 yards of total offense last week in a 42-21 win the Saints dialed up 422 yards on top ranked Brookhaven on Friday night. Trinity’s big three, senior quarterback Givonni Dent, senior tailback Kent King and junior wide-out Tip McKenzie, were too much for a Brookhaven defense that was yielding just 14 points a game.
Trinity silenced the Brookhaven crowd quickly as the Saints struck on the first play from scrimmage on a perfectly thrown 68 yard pass from Givonni Dent to Tip McKenzie just 14 seconds into the game. Zach Marshall’s PAT gave the Saints an early 7-0 lead.
Bubba Keene’s 31 yard return on the ensuing kick-off set the Cougars up at their own 47 yard line but Brookhaven’s opening drive stalled following a holding penalty that wiped out a Jennings Mills 21 yard gain down to the Trinity 15 yard line. 
(Above) Brookhaven wide-out Bubba Keene (#5) makes a spectacular 29 yard grab in a 3rd quarter Cougar drive
Trinity increased their first quarter lead on their third possession of the night. The Saints rolled 85 yards on 7 plays in just 1:35 to take a 14-0 advantage on a Kent King 2 yard run with 4:52 left in the quarter.
Brookhaven looked to be in jeopardy of getting blown out when Trinity defensive end Logan Sky pressured and stripped Chandler Rogers of the football and rambled to the Cougar 15 yard line at the 3:25 mark of the opening quarter.
Trinity went nowhere fast as the Brookhaven defense bottled up Tip McKenzie for a 9 yard loss and CJ Duckworth sacked Givonni Dent to push the line of scrimmage back to the Brookhaven 28 yard line. Brookhaven regained possession following an incomplete pass to McKenzie in the end-zone on 4th and 23.
Brookhaven mounted their best drive of the opening half with 8:29 remaining. Seven Chandler Rogers completions to four different receivers quickly advanced the Cougars to the Trinity 10 yard line. Following a Bubba Keene two yard gain Brookhaven’s drive stalled when Trinity linebacker Eric James sacked Rogers on a 3rd and 6 to push the Cougars back to the Trinity 23 yard line. Tyler Trout’s 40 yard field goal attempt fell short and Trinity took over at their own 20 yard line.
Trinity’s possession didn’t last long as Brookhaven’s Bailey Hodge picked off Givonni Dent on 1st down at the Saints 33 yard line with just 1:58 remaining in the half.
Brookhaven regained momentum heading into the half as Rogers nailed Jennings Mills with a 21 yard touchdown strike four plays later. The Cougars caught Trinity napping on the PAT as Mills took a quick snap and scampering around the left end for a successful 2-point conversion to trim the deficit to 14-8 with 55 seconds remaining in the half.
Trinity fell just short of regaining the momentum before the end of the half. Facing a 3rd and 10 from their own 39 yard line Dent hit Kent King with a short pass in the flat and King bulldozed his way to the Brookhaven 31 yard line. Dent followed that pass with a hookup to Kevin Brown just inside the Cougar 10 yard line with 10 seconds remaining in the half. Brookhaven’s defense held as Trinity took two shots into the end-zone unsuccessfully to close out the first half with the Saints holding a 14-8 lead. 
(Above) Tip McKenzie of Trinity brought down by CJ Duckworth and Jeff Rushing of Brookhaven
Brookhaven took their first lead of the night on the opening possession of the 2nd half. The Cougars produced an 81 yard, 11 play drive that was capped off by a Chandler Rogers keeper from 3 yards out with 3:43 gone in the quarter. Tyler Trout’s PAT gave the Cougars a 15-14 edge.
The huge Brookhaven momentum shift got even larger as the Cougars surprised Trinity with an on-sides kick. Bubba Keene recovered the kick at the Trinity 49 yard line but Brookhaven could only manage a 24 yard Tyler Trout field goal with 6:36 left in the 3rd quarter to extend their lead to 18-14.
The Brookhaven lead didn’t stand long. With Trinity staring at a 2nd and 12 from the Cougar 49 yard line Givonni Dent scrambled to elude immense pressure from the Brookhaven defense and found Tip McKenzie with a 49 yard strike to put the Saints back on top 21-18 following Zack Marshall’s PAT with 4:43 left in the quarter.
In what was shaping up to be a wild 3rd quarter the Cougars answered back. Jennings Mills picked up a quick 21 yards to the Trinity 40 yard line on an option scamper and Bubba Keene made a diving reception of a Rogers pass at the Saints 12 yard line. Two plays later Rogers hit Keene again, this time with a 9 yard touchdown strike at the 2:35 mark of the quarter. Trout’s PAT put Brookhaven back on top 25-21. 
(Above) Givonni Dent (#2) gets stopped in his tracks by Brookhaven's CJ Duckworth (#42)
The back and forth continued as Trinity marched into the 4th quarter mounting a drive that appeared to have been slowed with the Saints optioning to roll the dice on a 4th and 4 from the Brookhaven 30 yard line, but an off-sides infraction on Brookhaven set the Saints up with a 1st down at the Cougar 25 yard line. Four plays later Trinity capitalized when Dent hit Kent King with a screen pass and King sliced his way into the end-zone for a 14 yard score. Zach Marshall’s PAT put the Saints on top 28-25 with 10:01 remaining in the game.
Brookhaven answered by quickly advancing to the Trinity 26 yard line in just four plays but the Trinity defense came up with big plays to limit the Cougars to a Tyler Trout 32 yard field goal. Chandler Rogers was sacked by Sky Logan for a loss of 10 yards and Tip McKenzie broke up a Rogers pass attempt in the end-zone to force Brookhaven into a game tying field goal with 6:31 remaining.
The ensuing Brookhaven kick-off went out of bounds but Trinity elected to have the Cougars re-kick and that decision proved to be the most pivotal of the night as Tip McKenzie took in the kick at his 26 yard line, reversed field and jetted 74 yards for what would be the game winning score with 6:16 remaining in the game. Zach Marshall’s PAT attempt went wide right leaving everyone in attendance with speculation as to how the contest may end with Brookhaven’s reputation for late game finishes.
Trinity’s defense stood tall again, highlighted by Eric James’ third sack of Rogers on the night, as they forced the Brookhaven offense into a three and out. Bubba Keene then pinned the Saints back at their own 11 yard line with a beautiful 53 yard punt.
That would be Brookhaven’s last possession as Trinity chewed up the remaining 4:33 of the game. Trinity sealed the deal with a critical 4th and 1 call with 2:06 remaining from their own 35 yard line. Tip McKenzie took a direct snap and busted downfield for 21 yards to the Cougar 44 yard line and Trinity ran out the clock to move to 8-0 on the season. 
(Above) Brookhaven wide-out Sidney Chaffin (#8) has a goal line reception broken up in the 4th quarter
Givonni Dent followed up his Southern Sports & Travel Player of the Week performance in last week’s win over River Oaks with another sterling game. The senior was 13/23 passing for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns and picked up 32 yards rushing.
Tip McKenzie turned in another huge game as the junior had 3 receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns, 45 yards rushing and 96 return yards including the 74 yard kick-off return for a touchdown.
Trinity picked up 180 yards on the ground led by senior tailback Kent King who accounted for 90 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. Trinity senior linebacker Eric James had three sacks on the night and sophomore Logan Sky had a sack and fumble recovery.
Chandler Rogers led Brookhaven with 295 yards on 25/39 passing and two touchdowns.
Bubba Keene took in 10 receptions for 139 yards and a touchdown and senior tailback Jennings Mills rushed for 79 yards and had 8 receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Trinity improves to 8-0 and will host Baton Rouge Christian next Thursday night. The Saints have defeated the top two teams in Class AA in back-to-back weeks, a feat possibly one for the record books.
Brookhaven (7-1) suffered their first defeat since a round one playoff loss to Bowling Green in 2008. The Cougars will travel to Pelahatchie next Friday to take on East Rankin.
Post game interviews below........
