NATCHEZ — Any questions Hunter Ogden had about the Trinity Episcopal Day School defense was answered in the team’s first scrimmage during preseason.

Ogden, Trinity’s defensive coordinator, was hired in the spring to lead a unit that has shut out five opponents and held other teams to less than eight points per game en route to Saturday’s MAIS Class A state title appearance at Mississippi College. It was something Ogden didn’t think possible at first — until he saw his defense in action.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Ogden recalled. “I knew they had a good nucleus coming back, but I didn’t know what we’d be able to do. I really didn’t think we would be this good, but once I saw them flying to the ball in the fist scrimmage, I looked at (head) coach (Josh) Loy and said, ‘This defense is going to be good.’”

Loy said Ogden has done an outstanding job with the Saints’ defense this season, and he was happy to have made the hire despite Ogden having no previous experience as a defensive coordinator.

“He was worried about that when I hired him, but I knew he was a good football coach, and good football coaches find a way to coach kids up,” Loy said. “I taught him the scheme I wanted him to run and told him, ‘It’s yours. Make the most of it,’ and he’s done that and done it very well.”

Senior middle linebacker Michael Iles said Ogden’s fiery personality rubs off on his players.

“He gets into the games just as much as we do,” Iles said. “He’s the one who gets us fired up and gets us ready. When you see him yelling and getting crunk on the sidelines, it gets you really riled up.”

Loy acknowledged Ogden’s ability to relate to his players was a major component in Ogden getting the most out of the Saints’ defense.

“He’s passionate about it and has a great personality for defense,” Loy said. “He’s very energetic, and the kids respond to his coaching very well. He’s got a good demeanor for that side of the ball.”

Ogden said he’s become good friends with Loy throughout the season, and the two of them share many of the same opinions when it comes to coaching.

“We think on the same page,” Ogden said. “I’ll come to him with something and say I think it will work, and he feels the same. We’re together in everything we do, and that’s hard to find in coaching. I’ve coached at a few places, and you won’t see eye to eye on schemes and things like that.”

With the team one win away from a state title, Ogden said he’s excited about his players having the chance to make memories that will last a lifetime.

“We have a great group of boys that battle and play hard,” Ogden said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a group of kids with our (smaller) numbers that will throw everything they have at you.”