[10/25/01]With the playoff picture set and St. Aloysius not being invited to the postseason party, Flashes coach Jim Taylor wants his seniors to go out with a bang.

A win Friday night would cause such thunder.

St. Al (4-4, 2-4 Region 4-1A) will travel to Tylertown to face playoff-bound Dexter, a team that possesses size, speed, an unusual variation on the Notre Dame box offense and the state’s No. 10 ranking amongst small schools. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

“They’re just like the rest of these division teams we’ve played real big,” Taylor said.

“They have outstanding running backs and run out of a very deceptive offense.”

Offense has been the Flashes’ problem throughout a four-game losing streak. St. Al has been outscored 86-6 over that stretch.

“We’ve lacked big plays and getting some breaks,” Taylor said. “Hopefully, something good can happen for us.”

Dexter (6-2, 4-2) is in fourth place in the region with a game against first-place Enterprise-Lincoln remaining. The top four teams from each region advance to the state playoffs.

The Bulldogs have three offensive backs in the backfield and a wide receiver on the wing. The offense is designed to disguise who has the ball with motion and misdirection.

What worries Taylor more than the offense are the Bulldogs’ dark maroon uniforms.

“I’ve never seen them play except on film,” Taylor said. “It will be tough enough to keep up with the football with all the movement, but those dark uniforms make it tougher.”

The Flashes held Enterprise-Lincoln to a pair of touchdowns in a 14-6 loss last week and Taylor said the offense will have to show up for his team to have a chance.

Justin Williams leads the team with 690 yards and five touchdowns, while Michael Head, who will likely miss the rest of the season with an injury, had 324 yards and four TDs.

Quarterback Chad Cox has thrown for 107 yards and a score. Taylor said he plans to use more passing on Friday night.

“We moved the ball well on offense, but we have miscues here and there that cost us drives,” Taylor said. “… Maybe we can put it all together and win a game.”

Taylor said he believes his seniors deserve to go out respectably.

“Certainly we have to win two of these next three or three of three to make our season respectable,” Taylor said. “We started out great, but have gone four weeks without winning a ballgame.

“The goal has turned now to being in the playoffs to ending with something good for our team and our seniors.”