St. Aloysius draws winless Salem tonight on the road and first-year coach B.J. Smithhart is hoping the Flashes concentrate on the task at hand instead of peaking forward.

One week from tonight, the Flashes battle Natchez Cathedral in the latest installment of the intense rivalry. Smithhart said Thursday his team hadn’t even thought about the team from Natchez.

“We haven’t said it and I haven’t heard it. I don’t want to hear about it and they aren’t talking about it. I don’t even know if they know we are playing them next week,” Smithhart said of Cathedral.

The Flashes are coming off a 34-14 victory over Dexter, the first of Smithhart’s young career, after falling in the season opener 34-21 to Bogue Chitto. Salem isn’t on Bogue Chitto’s level, but the Wildcats played Cathedral within two points last week.

“They have athletes,” Smithhart said. “They have a big quarterback and a good scatback. There best athlete was the quarterback last year but they moved him to receiver.”

Smithhart is hoping the sting of the Bogue Chitto loss has worn off and that after tasting victory for the first time this season will propel the Flashes forward.

“All the games get bigger from here on out,” Smithhart said. “We have a lot of good football in front of us and we have to get there one step at a time.”

Chris Lewis and Ryno Martin-Nez provide most of the offensive firepower for the Flashes. Lewis is third in the area in passing, while Martin-Nez has run for 175 yards on 29 carries and scored four touchdowns. He also leads the area with six receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. Lewis also has run for 134 yards on 15 carries and a TD.

Justin Hosemann and Lewis have 22 tackles apiece for the Flashes.