St. Aloysius can wrap up third place with a win|[11/3/06]

Published 12:00 am Friday, November 3, 2006

Jim Taylor has fielded a hundred questions from people wondering who the Flashes will be playing in the playoffs, and he has the same answer for every one of them – we’re not in the playoffs yet.

The Flashes have spent the bulk of the season in prime playoff position, but if they stumble tonight in the final regular season game against Pisgah, it could get a little tricky.

The Flashes are 6-2 in Region 3-1A, while Pisgah and Nanih Waiya each have three losses. If Pisgah beats St. Al tonight coupled with Nanih Waiya’s Thursday night win over Noxapater, it will create a three-team tie with only two making the playoffs.

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What makes that scenario even trickier is that Pisgah would have beaten St. Al, but lost to Nanih Waiya, while St. Al would have beaten Nanih Waiya and lost to Pisgah.

Of course, as Taylor pointed out, there is one way to make that a moot point entirely – beat Pisgah.

&#8220It really doesn’t matter how many teams you have in a division, invariably it comes down to the wire for somebody,” said Taylor, who has guided his team to a 7-3 overall record. &#8220For us to beat Pisgah, it would be a reward for all the hard work and leadership our senior group has exerted throughout the season.”

The Flashes have lost to St. Andrew’s, the No. 6 team in Class 2A, and to Class 1A’s third-ranked Puckett Wolves and sixth-ranked Lake.

Pisgah (6-4, 5-3) is coming off a loss to Lake, but had a four-game winning streak before that.

&#8220Their strong point is that they have good speed and good running backs,” Taylor said. &#8220They have good-sized linemen. We ought to match up pretty good with them.”

Taylor said the Dragons will line up in many different formations, going from a shotgun with four receivers to a two tight end set in the same series.

The Flashes will ride the powerful running of senior fullback Alex Halinski, who has gained 1,222 yards and scored 16 touchdowns.

If the Flashes win tonight, they will match up with Mercy Cross next Friday night on the Gulf Coast.