Early in the second quarter Friday night, St. Aloysius was struggling to hold on to the ball and trying desperately to keep Broad Street from going in for the tying touchdown.

That was when the defense that had kept the Flashes in the game in the early going stiffened up and the offense finally kicked into gear.

St. Al made a goal line stand and then embarked on a 98-yard touchdown drive capped by a 1-yard run by Connor Smith. The momentum swing turned a tight game into a rout, as the Flashes went on to blast Broad Street 49-8 in a second-round Class 1A playoff game.

“You don’t want to get down early on the road against a good team, and they picked us up and kept us going,” St. Al coach BJ Smithhart said. “We play a lot of people and they continue to get better. It’s a real next man up attitude we’ve got.”

While St. Al’s offense has often stolen the show this season — it’s averaging more than 40 points per game and has scored at least 35 in five straight — the defense has been an overlooked star.

In its last six games, St. Al has allowed a total of 26 points in the first half. It’s also forced 26 turnovers in that span, including three against Broad Street. Smith has six interceptions in the last three games, and nine for the season.

The defensive dominance has allowed the offense to weather some tough times. St. Al committed three turnovers in the first quarter against Broad Street, and eight in the last two games.

With the defense forming a wall, however, it’s bought time for the offense to work out of the slump and keep pressure on opponents.

“You get into the playoffs and everybody’s got a good defense. Everybody feels each other out early, and you’ve got to have big plays on defense,” Smithhart said.

Another good night from the defense will be crucial for St. Al if it has any chance of reaching its first state championship game since 1981.

Coffeeville (12-1) has shut out eight of its last nine opponents, meaning opportunites for the Flashes to score might be few and far between. Keeping Coffeeville off the board might be their best chance to advance.

“We remember just how good they are,” said Smithhart, whose team won at Coffeeville in a playoff game last season. “Defensively, they get after it. This is the team everybody’s been touting as the team to beat, and we want that challenge.”

On the radio

Friday, 7 p.m., 101.3 FM

Coffeeville at St. Aloysius

Class 1A North State championship