The St. Aloysius Flashes are in an enviable position in their quest for a playoff berth.

Win their last two games, and the Flashes are in as a No. 3 seed from Region 3-1A. Split the last two, and they probably make it as the fourth-place team. Lose the last two, and they end up at home when the playoffs start in two weeks.

It’s the last scenario that St. Al coach Jim Taylor has been preaching to his players this week. With a showdown for third place in the region with Pisgah looming next week, and Nanih Waiya lurking a game behind, waiting like a vulture to pounce on the last remaining playoff spot, it’s imperative that the Flashes take care of business tonight against Sebastopol (3-6, 2-5).

&#8220We certainly don’t want this one to be a factor in our situation. The situation being, we could lose two in a row and be out,” Taylor said. &#8220It’s that simple. And their guys are good enough to beat you.”

On paper, however, St. Al (6-3, 5-2) is a favorite. Sebastopol’s only wins in the region were against Edinburg and South Leake, both of which reside in the second tier of the division alongside the Bobcats.

Taylor said Sebastopol looked good in a 33-7 loss to region frontrunner Puckett last week, however, and characterized the Bobcats as a team with enough talent to put together an upset.

&#8220They have some good athletes, some raw-boned boys. They get in a power set and just run at you with a ball-control offense,” Taylor said.

The Flashes can move the ball on the ground, too, and have done it very well all season.

Fullback Alex Halinski ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-8 rout of Edinburg last Friday, passing several milestones in the process.

It was Halinski’s sixth 100-yard game in nine outings this season, and put him over 1,000 yards for the year. He ran for 970 yards in 2005 and is eight shy of 2,500 for his career.

His two scores against Edinburg also gave Halinski 30 for his career, making him only the sixth St. Al back in nearly 100 years to reach that plateau.

&#8220It’s been the best year I’ve had in my high school career, so far, and it can only get better,” Halinski said.

That would happen by making the playoffs, something St. Al has not done since 2002. Beating Pisgah next week should do the trick, regardless of what happens tonight against Sebastopol.

But the Flashes would rather it not come down to a one-game season against a team that has given them fits in the past. Beating Sebastopol avoids that.

&#8220This is a very important game, because we have to win to get into the playoffs. We’re not in the playoffs yet,” said Matt Thornton, a senior lineman for St. Al. &#8220Everybody kind of knows there’s a good chance we can make it to the playoffs. But we can’t overlook these games.”