For Trinity senior quarterback William McGehee, it’s all about heart. &uot;Last year we had size and strength,&uot; McGehee said. &uot;This year we’ve got more heart.&uot;

Last year, Trinity advanced to the playoffs after going 5-25 the previous three years. The Saints went 7-4 overall and 5-2 in MPSA Division 6A, earning a wild card spot in the playoffs.

The Saints lost to Tri-County 35-6 in the first round.

McGehee played a big role in Trinity’s success, passing for 1,430 yards last year and rushing for 159 more.

Needless to say, the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder was expecting even better things this year, despite the loss of several key seniors. But like last year, things didn’t get off to a good start.

Trinity lost to Tensas 8-7 in their opening contest.

&uot;It seems like I’ve thought about that forever,&uot; McGehee said. &uot;I couldn’t believe we lost by one point. When&160;I moved up to varsity in the ninth grade, we got beat 56-0 by Tensas. Then it was 18-0. Last year it was 6-0. I just knew this year we would win. It just wasn’t going to happen.&uot;

Trinity rebounded by defeating Chamberlain-Hunt 36-26, scoring the last 30 points of the game. The Saints trailed 26-6 at halftime.

&uot;That was pretty amazing,&uot; McGehee said. &uot;At halftime we all thought it as over. I got in the huddle and told them that we just wanted to go out and have fun over the last two quarters. Nobody figured we would win it. That was the most heart I’ve ever seen a team show.&uot;

Trinity got back into the race for the district title with a 19-0 win over River Oaks, while Tensas was beaten by Tallulah.

&uot;Our defense came out strong, while the offense was flat,&uot; McGehee said.

Trinity plays at Woodland Hills Friday in a non-division Class A contest.

&uot;Last year we would win two in a row and then lose,&uot; McGehee said. &uot;We need to go out and win this one.&uot;

McGehee has completed 23 of 51 passes for 244 yards.

He has thrown three touchdown passes and has one interception. The signal caller also has 34 rushes for 100 yards.

&uot;Everybody has been playing us different and given us a different look,&uot; McGehee said. &uot;Tensas played us with a 4-4 and they were quick. CHA&160;blitzed their middle linebacker and River Oaks had a 6-6 guy who kept batting the ball down.&uot;

McGehee has been playing with a pulled quadricep muscle.

&uot;I&160;did it two weeks ago and couldn’t really throw against CHA,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s gotten better. When the adrenaline starts pumping, it makes everything go away.&uot;

McGehee has only been sacked.

&uot;That’s because all of our guys play with heart and don’t want to see me get hurt,&uot; he said. &uot;All of them give 100 percent.&uot;

With playmakers Hicks Winters and and Dunbar Jenkins gone to graduation, McGehee said he felt he would have to do more on offense.

&uot;I&160;just feel it’s up to me to make things happen and other guys on the team feel the same way,&uot; he said.

McGehee has also been doing it on defense. He has nine tackles and an interception.

&uot;I like playing defense,&uot; he said. &uot;I just go where the ball goes.&uot;

McGehee admitted he would be very disappointed if the Saints don’t get back to the playoffs.

&uot;It would be pretty tough,&uot; he said. &uot;Right now we’re counting on being there. But if something happens and we don’t, at least I can say I got there once.&uot;

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