Friday, November 30, 2001

The Natchez Democrat

While the top-ranked Wayne Academy Jaguars are extremely formidable

in their own right, they will have to look hard at stopping perhaps

the top athlete in the Mississippi Private School Association

if they are to win their third Academy A championship in the past

four years.

For the young upstart Trinity Episcopal Saints ball club that

is led by quarterback/return man Chad Ridley, it’s all about dancing

with the one that brung you.

The 5-11 senior Ridley has accounted for 41 of Trinity’s touchdowns

this season on either running, passing or returns. Ridley, who

also plays in the defensive secondary, is only one of six seniors

on a 23-man roster.

The Saints, ranked fourth in statewide media polls, have scored

414 points this year in compiling their 11-2 record. That translates

into an average of 31.8 points per game.

Ridley leads the MPSA Class A ranks with 166 total points scored,

including 27 touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions. Yes,

for Tom Boznor’s Jaguars, it’s pick your poison as far as Ridley

is concerned.

On the ground, he has rushed for a team-high 1,240 yards on 177

carries with 19 touchdowns. Through the air, he has completed

60-of-177 passes for 1,016 yards.

The passing numbers include 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

&uot;It’s a fast-paced offense. We try to move up and down the

field and have used a lot of big plays to our advantage this season.&uot;

But all of this isn’t to say that Ridley is the Saints only weapon

on offense. Teammate Walt Ketchings has rushed 96 times for 628

yards with six touchdowns.

Sophomore Chase Brown is the top receiver with 26 catches for

448 yards and six touchdowns.

Defensively, Brown leads the charge from a defensive back position.

The 5-9, 160-pound sophomore has a Class A-best 10 interceptions.

Ketchings, a sophomore, has a team-best 154 total tackles from

a linebacker spot. Ketchings has also recovered a team-high six

fumbles.

&uot;When you have leaders like these guys, it really makes things

easier for you,&uot; Trinity head coach David King said earlier

this week.

Trinity may have even more reason to be motivated. A statewide

publication predicted that the 12-1 Jaguars will prevail 20-19.