Trinity one step closer to repeat

Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
It was a cool and damp night at Trinity Episcopal on Friday night, no different from most early November evenings in Natchez. The setting for the Class A South State Championship game was the “Pit” and by halftime the visiting team looked no different than the previous 19 victims of the defending state champions.
The top ranked Trinity Saints ripped 2nd ranked and previously undefeated Sylva Bay 43-13 to claim their second straight South A title and in doing so put to rest any doubt the status of Trinity football as being amongst the elite programs in the entire MAIS.
The Trinity offense rushed for 230 yards and produced timely passing to the tune of 140 yards on the night while a dominant defense held the MAIS rushing leader and Dandy Dozen player Cody Prewitt to 109 yards rushing on 27 carries.
Trinity set the tone on the first possession of the night as the Saints pounded out a 15 play, 69 yard drive that consumed over five minutes of the opening quarter. Quarterback Givonni Dent’s scrambling abilities and timely passing moved the Saints deep into Sylva Bay territory before senior tailback Kent King hit pay-dirt from 3 yards out at the 6:27 mark of the 1st quarter. Zack Marshall added the PAT to give Trinity a quick 7-0 advantage.

(Above) Trinity tailback Kent King (#22) rushed for 108 yards and 3 touchdowns
Trinity added to their lead on their second possession. Givonni Dent scrambled for 23 yards out to the 43 yard line on 1st down and two plays later Dent went long to Tip McKenzie who made a circus catch over the out-stretched arms of Cody Prewitt at the Sylva Bay 8 yard line. Dent capped the 80 yard drive with a 7 yard touchdown pass to Jake Winston with 29 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. Tip McKenzie then sped around the right side for a successful two-point conversion to extend the lead to 15-0.
Sylva Bay stalled on their second possession to begin the 2nd quarter but a clutch 51 yard punt from Cody Prewitt pinned Trinity inside their own 1 yard line.
A fired up Sylva Bay defense forced Trinity into a three and out and a 32 yard punt from Jake Winston set the table for Sylva Bay at the Trinity 37 yard line. (Above) Sylva Bay's Cody Prewitt (#25) is greeted by Eric James (#11), Daniel Dunaway (#35) and Hunter Knapp (#62)
Prewitt picked up a tough six yards on 1st down followed by a 24 yard burst up the middle from fullback Wade Robertson down to the Trinity 7 yard line. Cody Prewitt scored from 3 yards out two plays later and Robertson added the PAT to trim the deficit to 15-7 with 6:33 remaining in the half.
Trinity started out deep inside their own territory following the Sylva Bay kick-off. From their own 7 yard line Trinity couldn’t muster a 1st down and were forced to punt.
Sylva Bay set up shop inside Trinity territory once again at the 49 yard line but three consecutive Prewitt runs netted a total of 0 yards as the Trinity defense honed in on the senior tailback.
Trinity took over at their own 17 yard line following a Prewitt punt and never looked back. Givonni Dent nailed Kent King with a 28 yard hook-up out the 45 yard line and two plays later Dent found Daniel Dunaway all alone in the flat and Dunaway raced 53 yards down the sideline for Trinity’s third score of the half. Zach Marshall added the PAT and with 1:20 left in the half Trinity had extended their lead to 22-7. (Above) Cody Prewitt (#25) hits pay-dirt in the 2nd quarter
Trinity continued to pull away in the 3rd quarter as the Saint’s defense forced Sylva Bay into two three and outs and a fumble recovered by Peyton Young on their three possessions of the quarter.
Trinity went up 29-7 at the 6:37 mark of the quarter on a 17 yard scamper by tailback Kent King and increased their lead to 36-7 when Givonni Dent intercepted Sylva Bay quarterback Bryant Baucum and went 58 yards for a score with 3:36 left in the 3rd quarter.
Trinity capitalized on Sylva Bay’s third turnover of the night just five seconds into the final quarter. Senior linebacker Eric James covered a Prewitt fumble at the Sylva Bay 16 yard line and Kent King notched his third rushing touchdown on the night as the senior raced in from 13 yards out with 10:43 left in the game to give Trinity a commanding 43-7 lead.
Sylva Bay scored with 3:46 remaining in the game on a Cody Prewitt 10 yard burst on a 4th and goal. (Above) Trinity speedster Tip McKenzie (#4) rounds the corner for a few of his 175 all-purpose yards.
Trinity’s big three, quarterback Givonni Dent, tailback Kent King and wide-out Tip McKenzie, produced once again for the potent Saint offense. Dent was 7/14 passing for 140 yards and two touchdowns and picked up 84 yards rushing, King rushed for 108 yards on 15 carries and 3 touchdowns and McKenzie had 175 all-purpose yards as Trinity took home their 20th straight win to move to 14-0 on the season.
Trinity will battle undefeated and North State Champion Tri-County for the Class A title on Friday at 12:30 at Millsaps College in Jackson.
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Post Game Interview:

**Trinity head coach David King