A week after playing a mistake-free game against Salem, miscues cost St. Aloysius dearly against visiting Dexter.

The visiting Bulldogs used big plays in the passing game and on special teams to beat the Flashes 30-3 at Balzli Field.

St. Aloysius coach B.J. Smithhart has built his team around being physical on both sides of the ball. On offense that means controlling the game’s tempo behind an emerging offensive line featuring the slashing running style of senior Carlton Campbell.

When looking at the game’s final stats, the Flashes (1-4, 1-2 Region 4-1A) were successful in setting tempo by controlling the clock. St. Al ran 58 plays to Dexter’s 32, but lost because of ill-timed special teams mistakes and miscues in the secondary.

Down just 6-3, St. Al gave the Bulldogs the ball on a fumble at the St. Al 20. Two plays later, Dexter quarterback Clifford Fernandez found tight end Ron Harvey for a 24-yard touchdown pass. Fernandez, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound sophomore, ran in the two-point conversion for a 14-6 lead.

St. Al answered with the second of three long, time-consuming drives. The Flashes picked up four first downs and reached the Dexter 12 with 39 seconds left to go in the half. Smithhart opted for a 28-yard field goal by Blake Hudson, who had earlier hit from 26 yards to put St. Al up 3-0.

This kick was blocked at the line. Dexter’s Dante Butler scooped up the ball and ran 95 yards for a touchdown. Another Fernandez conversion completed an 11-point turnaround. Instead being down just 14-6 at the half had the kick been made, the Flashes were in deep trouble, trailing 22-3. Fernandez added a 30-yard TD pass to Harvey in the third quarter.

Smithhart said Dexter (1-3, 1-2) showed it will again be a force to reckon with in the region despite an 0-3 start.

“We knew Dexter was better than their record,” Smithhart said. “You just had to look at who they played like Durant and West Marion. Tonight, they made some plays us against us. The tight end is a big kid.”

Dexter coach Randy Sumrall was glad to see his team come through.

“We finally put it together after working out some issues,” Sumrall said. “St. Al has a good team and their coach does a super job. I also like how well they treat us. It’s one of our favorite places to come play.”

Smithhart would prefer his team make it more difficult on the visitors, but also knows it will take time. Of the Flashes’ 26 players, 22 are underclassmen, including nine linemen. Freshman Bash Brown started at guard. Several other of the Flashes’ young linemen saw action either on defense or as the second-team offensive line.

“We just want to find some consistency,” Smithhart said. “We had a great game last week, but tonight, this one got away from us.”