It may not feel like football season yet, but it is here.

The prep season kicks off a night early in Warren County with a Catholic schools rivalry featuring St. Aloysius and Natchez Cathedral.

For the Flashes to be successful, they’ll have to avoid a minefield of mistakes that cost them dearly in last season’s matchup.

Return touchdowns on a kickoff, a punt, and a back-breaking interception spelled doom in St. Aloysius’ loss to bitter river city Catholic rival Natchez Cathedral last year.

The Green Wave rode the three return TDs to a 29-12 season-opening win over the Flashes in Natchez. Tonight, the rivals square off again, this time in Vicksburg. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30.

&#8220We beat ourselves last year against them,” said St. Al coach Jim Taylor. &#8220We gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown, a (77-yard) punt return for a touchdown, had a 15-yard penalty (for punting without a shoe) that forced us to punt again.

&#8220Then, to top it off, we threw an interception that they ran back (83 yards) for another touchdown and this came deep on their end when we were driving.”

The Flashes hope a new-look offense can change the fortune this time around. St. Al will employ a double-wing attack directed by sophomore quarterback Chris Lewis, who’ll be making his first varsity start.

Lewis has good size and a good arm and will have a fleet set of quick receivers to throw to in Chip Donald, Marsh Willis and tight end J.R. Burnett. Donald led the team in receiving last year with 15 receptions.

Also back to lead the ground game is fullback Alex Halinski, who rushed for 974 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

&#8220It was a close game until the second half,” Halinski said. &#8220We haven’t beaten them since my ninth-grade year.”

A key for St. Al will be to provide protection up front for its young quarterback.

&#8220We’ve been geared up ever since the last game last year,” Flashes tackle Matt Thornton said. &#8220We’ve done the work in the weight program and our conditioning has been great.

&#8220Cathedral is a big game for us because it’s our Catholic rival. The bad thing is that we’ve just stunk it up the past two years against them,” Thornton said. &#8220We had won it seven times in a row before these last two games.”

Taylor says the Green Wave will be potent on offense.

&#8220They have a good quarterback returning and they like to run a spread offense out of the I. We’ll see a lot of the spread with them going twins and trips,” Taylor said.

On defense, Cathedral will mix a 50 look with a 4-3 set.

Despite the loss, St. Al managed to have a slightly better season than Cathedral going 4-7 compared to the Green Wave’s 3-8 mark. Cathedral, however, was in a tough league with Class 1A semifinalists Mount Olive and Gulfport St. John.