A powerful Central Hinds rushing attack was too much for St. Aloysius to handle Friday night as the Flashes fell 30-7 to the Cougars in the District 3-AAA opener for both teams.

The Cougars (1-2, 1-0 District 3-AAA) used a potent running game and the legs of running back Prentice Brown to overpower St. Al (0-3, 0-1). CHA ran the ball 61 times for 380 yards, with Brown picking up 247 of those yards on 35 carries. He scored three of the Cougars’ four touchdowns.

“We knew our depth up on the line would be a problem,” St. Al head coach Michael Fields said. “We’re just so much smaller than everybody. We’ve just got to bow up and become better ballplayers. Some things coaching can’t do anything about.”

The Flashes were in the game, down just 14-7 heading into the fourth quarter, but saw the ball for just six plays in the final quarter. One drive ended with a fourth down interception that the Cougars converted into their final touchdown, and the other ended with a safety in the final seconds.

St. Aloysius had just 146 total yards on the night.

“We’re playing well, but not consistently,” Fields said. “We’re giving up the big play at the wrong time and what that’s doing is killing morale. We’re just going to have to put it together.”

The Cougars scored on their opening drive of the game, as Brown went into the end zone on a 2-yard run to cap a 13-play, 67-yard drive.

The Flashes answered with 10:37 to play in the second quarter when quarterback Antonio Thompson connected with wideout Ryan Theriot for a 27-yard score.

Central Hinds broke the tie on its next possession as Brown scored on a 5-yard run. Brown had a 45-yard run to move the ball inside the red zone.

Thompson and Theriot hooked up again for 34 yards, but the promising drive stalled on four straight incompletions. The Cougars took over with 3:40 to play in the second quarter, but missed on a 44-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of the half.

The two teams traded turnovers in the third, with St. Al coughing the ball up on a failed hooked and lateral play, but Jaylen Whitaker got a strip-sack to get the ball back for the Flashes with 3:45 remaining.
St. Al drove out to midfield before punting on the last play of the quarter. It was their final sustained drive of the night.

Blake Montpelier, who ran for 96 yards on 17 carries, scored on a 5-yard run in the final minute of the game to put Central Hinds up 28-7. A sack in the end zone for a safety capped the scoring.

Thompson finished the night 6-of-17 passing for 89 yards, with Theriot hauling in three passes for 68 yards.
St. Al travels to Washington School next Friday before facing crosstown rival Porter’s Chapel Academy.

“There’s no need to panic,” Fields said. “We’re just going to keep working hard.”