Rebuilding is an ugly word at St. Aloysius.

The Flashes will be a nearly new team on the field this upcoming season. They lost their quarterback, Regan Nosser, their leading rushers, Brendan Beesley and Ryno Martin-Nez and their leading receiver, Luke Burnett.

But coach B.J. Smithhart has reasons for optimism as the Flashes continue camp in preparation for their Aug. 20 opener against Pelahatchie.

The Flashes are entering their second week of two-a-days, and the impact is starting to weigh on the team.

“We had a week of it last week,” Smithhart said. “They know what to expect, but they’re starting to get heavy legs. The freshmen, they’re still learning. But I’m pretty pleased with the effort and that’s all you can ask for.”

With such a young team, fundamentals have been key. After last week’s drills centered primarily on conditioning, the Flashes are beginning to install bits and pieces of the offense.

“We’re getting back to basics,” Smithhart said. “We’ve been installing a run (play) a day and a pass here and there. We don’t have everything installed, but I think after our jamboree, we should everything installed except for a wrinkle here and there.”

For the third year in a row, the Flashes will have a senior under center. Ford Biedenharn is taking the reins after holding off several other candidates, led by Carlisle Koestler and Judson Gatling, to entrench himself at quarterback.

Biedenharn played cover corner last season for the Flashes.

“Ford is way ahead of them right now,” Smithhart said. “He went through the spring, he’s older and until the other guys learn the offense, Ford is pretty far ahead. They’ve got a lot of growing to be the man back there. He’s (Biedenharn) getting pushed, but he’s more comfortable.”

As for the heat in the triple digits, the Flashes can do little in two-a-days to beat it except avoid practice during the heat of the day.

“There’s really no beating the heat,” Smithhart said. “Just taking a lot of water breaks, practicing at 6 in the morning and 6 in the evening and try to cool down things that away. You’ve got to get acclimated to it.”

One sad note and key loss for the Flashes this season will be the blocking of Hunter Matherne, who was injured against Mt. Olive last year with a broken vertabrae in his back. While he won’t be returning, his presence has been a key morale boost for what promises to be a very young squad.

“He’s tried to come back,” Smithhart said. “He’s been at every practice, every workout, encouraging everybody. I know it’s hard on him, being it’s his senior year. He’s still a part of this team.”