As the saying goes, to be the best you have to beat the best. St. Aloysius is wasting no time getting its chance to prove it.

The Flashes open the 2024 football season Friday night in Natchez against defending MAIS Class 5A champion Adams County Christian School. It’s a difficult assignment at any time, let alone in Week 1 with a new coach and system still finding its way. St. Al coach Walker Mosby, however, said he’s just ready to get the season started no matter who it’s against.

“They’re a great football team. Obviously, they were 5A state champs last year. They’re going to be tough this year. They have a great coach, great kids, a great program,” Mosby said. “I don’t really care who we start with or who we play first. Our mindset is just to go out there and compete against whoever it is.”

St. Al got its first on-field look at the 2024 roster two weeks ago, in a scrimmage against Lamar School. The Flashes lost 21-0 in the two-quarter game. Although they didn’t score, Mosby said he was encouraged by their defensive effort. One of Lamar’s three touchdowns came on a blown coverage.

“For defense, I was pleased. We gave up 21 points, one time off a blown assignment and the other two touchdowns they scored them,” Mosby said. “Overall, I thought we were physical, We did good in the run game. Pass game needed a little work, but other than that I was pleased with defense and it’s only going to get better.”

Mosby added that a strong defense will be vital to the Flashes’ chances of ending a 19-game losing streak that started in Week 2 of the 2022 season. The first four games include not only Class 5A champion ACCS, but last year’s 4A champ Tri-County.

“Defense is so important. If you can get a three-and-out and score, that’s so big,” Mosby said. “People aren’t kidding when they say offense wins games and defense wins championships. I want to be as good as we possibly can defensively. We’ve got to be top-notch on defense and offense has got to come in and help out, which we just didn’t do last week.”

More than anything, Mosby said the Flashes are just ready to play and put the past behind them. Their first play against Lamar — a defensive stop — showed that, he said, and keeping it going all year will lead to some success and victories.

“I don’t know if there’s a group of kids that are more ready to play than these guys that we have here,” Mosby said. “Last week, they come out of the locker room and they’re amped up and ready to play. The first play of the game (Lamar) runs an inside zone and we stop them for no gain. They’re ready to go out there and show the people in the community what they can do.”

FRIDAY’S AREA GAMES – AUG. 23
Preseason scrimmages
Vicksburg at Clinton, 6 p.m.
Warren Central at Northwest Rankin, 7 p.m.
MAIS regular season
All games at 7 p.m.
Porter’s Chapel at Delta Academy (Radio: 104.5 FM)
St. Al at Adams County Christian School (Radio: 101.3 FM)
Riverdale at Tallulah Academy