NATCHEZ &045; The ripple effects of Trinity’s road win over Columbia just keep on coming.

Simply put, had the Saints lost that game, there likely would be initial preparation for the basketball season. Instead, the team erased that disappointing loss at home to Centreville from everyone’s mind, got a step closer to clinching a second straight winning season in Class AA and set the stage for another big road game this week at Bowling Green.

What would another win mean?

In short, things will be that much better.

&8221;We went from playing as bad as we could on Centreville to playing as well as we could on Columbia,&8220; Trinity head coach David King said. &8221;It’s a testament to our kids how well they came back after that loss. You can’t look back, and you’ve got to take care of business. If we win this week and Brookhaven beats Centreville, we play Brookhaven for the No. 2 spot in the playoffs at home next week.&8220;

There’s still scenarios to play out in District 4-AA since four teams now remain alive for the runner-up spot since Oak Forest is a cinch to go through through the league unscathed. Bowling Green (3-1, 4-2) and Centreville (2-1, 3-4) are tied with Trinity with one loss each with Brookhaven sitting back with two losses.

The Saints (2-1, 5-2) will face Oak Forest the final week of the season in a game postponed due to Hurricane Katrina.

&8221;Obviously, Bowling Green has got other plans on their mind,&8220; King said. &8221;They’re wanting that spot, too. It’s just an unusual team this year. It could come down to the last week of the season, which would be exciting for the district. I’m just very pleased with how we came back on the road last week.&8220;

The Buccaneers will have thoughts of playoffs with a team that’s quite different from the one the Saints beat 28-23 last year in Natchez en route to a 1-9 campaign. The team has a new head coach in Gary Hendry, a longtime coach at Amite High School who won a LHSAA state championship there in the 1990s.

The Bucs’ only two losses this season have been to Oak Forest and Class AAA Parklane.

&8221;He’s a popular guy down there, and he was able to bring along about 20 new players from what we can gather,&8220; King said. &8221;I think they dress out about 50, and last year they dressed out 25. It’s a totally different team from last year. They seem to be moving along, playing well and looking athletic on game film.&8220;

The Saints will counter with an offense that may have found its stride again last week along with success in the passing game. The offense cut down on its turnovers some and utilized Stevan Ridley’s arm in the passing game with 188 yards in the air.

Kris Ford, Clint Easom and Tripp Bryant came up with big catches from Ridley, who wound up splitting time at quarterback with Parker Brumfield. Ridley will line up behind center when the offense goes to four wides, and Brumfield will go in a pro set.

&8221;That was a move we made there,&8220; King said. &8221;Columbia was so big, and we had to start spreading them out. I think he threw the ball extremely well, and our receivers contributed with great catches. I look for Stevan to take 75 percent of the snaps this week, but Parker is a good blocker and receiver. He had about four key blocks in that game to open up a hole for Ridley.&8220;

Tensas at Huntington

FERRIDAY, La. &045; First-year Hounds head coach Chad Harkins is finding out quick what it’s like preparing for the annual matchup with Tensas Academy. There’s pride at stake among the two neighboring schools, but now there’s more to it.

The Hounds (2-1, 5-2) need a win to stay in the playoff race. And they’ll shoot for their first win over Tensas in three tries and second in eight years in the process.

&8221;They’ve been hammered pretty good, no doubt,&8220; Harkins said of his team’s history against TA. &8221;We’ve got to win this one. If we win this one, we’ll prepare like hell for two weeks for River Oaks and hope to stay on the field and give ourselves a chance. If we lose this, you can stick a fork in us because we’ll be done as far as the playoffs.&8220;

And you can bet the Chiefs would relish the role of spoiler, particularly since they entered the season with high hopes but have struggled to find consistencey this season. The Chiefs’ losses to Briarfield and River Oaks put them on the outside looking in, but they just want to finish the season on a solid note.

&8221;We’ve had a lot of success, and hopefully it’ll continue,&8220; Tensas head coach Chris Jacobs said. &8221;We’ll need it. We haven’t had much of that this year. Over the last month, really, we’re starting to realize our youth, even though we do have some weapons. We’re playing a sophomore quarterback (Bennett Schauf), and he’s doing a fine job, but we’re not able to do the same thing we did last year with a strong-armed senior quarterback.&8220;

Yet the Chiefs put together one of their better offensive games last week and three weeks ago against Franklin Academy while struggling against River Oaks. Will Ratcliff actually ran for 212 yards in last week’s game after Jacobs went back over the film despite the backfield being without Michael McWilliams.

McWilliams will play this week, Jacobs said.

&8221;We’ve been a little inconsistent against some good teams,&8220; Jacobs said. &8221;Having a pretty strong schedule costs us some losses here and there. Realistically, we’re not far off. Defensively, we’re probably playing better than we have in recent years.&8220;

That ground game will be the emphasis Friday for the Hounds’ defense, which has strung together some solid outings in recent weeks. Riverdale had just over 100 yards total offense last week, and the most yardage given up by the Hounds so far is that game against Adams Christian when the Rebels ran for more than 220.

&8221;I think we’ve played pretty well most of the year,&8220; Harkins said. &8221;We’ve given up some big plays, and that’s been the downfall of our defense. We’ll bend but don’t break. I think our whole defensive line is playing a lot better. &8221;

WCCA at Amite

WOODVILLE &045; The Rams have plenty at stake Friday night as well, and a win over Amite School Center would put the wraps on a second straight district title and another home game to open the playoffs.

And it’ll have to come despite some question marks and on the heels of a beating last week at ACCS. Starters Chris Gann, Wayne Covey and Robby Arnold sat out last week with mono, and that put the Rams &045; already thin in numbers &045; forced to line up freshmen who had already played a junior high game earlier in the week.

&8221;Any time you line up ninth-graders against seniors, you’re not going to fare well &045; especially against a bigger school,&8220; WCCA head coach Paul Hayles said. &8221;My young kids fought hard. I was real pleased with the effort out there. They never quit.&8220;

It’s too early to tell if those three will return this week against Amite, and the Rams have to prepare for an ASC team that has some weapons in Casey Aldridge at running back and Lee Turner at quarterback.

&8221;It’s a lot at stake for us,&8220; Hayles said. &8221;If we can get a victory, we’ll be district champs, something our kids set as a goal early in the year. We’re definitely holding this in high regard. Wherever (Aldridge) is at on the field, we’re going to have to know.&8220;

Centreville at Brookhaven

CENTREVILLE &045; The Tigers need to stay hot with a win this week to stay in the playoff hunt &045;&160;quite possibly the least likely team anyone thought would be in this position back in August.