Editor’s Note: This story will appear in “Playmakers,” The Vicksburg Post’s annual football preview magazine. The 48-page special edition is included with the Aug. 24-25 weekend print and E-editions of The Post and includes previews, features and more for all of Warren County’s high school teams.

When it comes to his role as a two-way player for St. Aloysius, Thompson Fortenberry insists he’s nothing special.

“We have multiple players that play both sides,” he said, almost dismissing it.
Playing both offense and defense is indeed a normal part of high school football, especially at a smaller school like

St. Al. What has made Fortenberry special is how long and how well he’s done it.
The senior is entering his fourth year as a starter. The running back and linebacker led the Flashes in rushing yardage each of the past two seasons, and in tackles in 2023.

Playing around 100 snaps every Friday night isn’t easy, he said, but he has the routine down pat.

“You’ve just got to jump into it,” Fortenberry said. “Go into the game knowing what you’re going to do and you’ve got all your stuff laid out in your head and just play the game.”

Fortenberry is not the only St. Al senior who has been a multiple-year starter on both sides of the football. Carson Smith played quarterback, receiver and defensive back at various times last season. Clark Hobson, Jaden Wheeldon and Mason Penley were on both the offensive and defensive lines. First-year head coach Walker Mosby said it’s helped increase their football intelligence and hopes it’ll make the team better.

“We ask those guys different questions to get their feedback because they’re the ones practicing and playing the game,” Mosby said. “Us as coaches are standing on the sideline, so we’re going to have to trust their eyes in the game and they’re going to be able to tell us. Their football I.Q. is very high. Having those guys that have that experience has been fantastic for us.”

Fortenberry, Mosby said, has been at the top of that class. Besides a high football I.Q., he’s also got some intangibles that make him a good fit for two hard-nosed positions.

“Athletically, he’s really good. He’s very mature for his age. He seems very determined in being successful and he seems like a competitor,” Mosby said. “He seems to have this determination about him, this grit about him, that he’s going to fight for you no matter what you ask him to do. He’ll run through that brick wall and if it doesn’t get knocked down he’s do it again again until it does.”

Last season, Fortenberry led the Flashes with 87 tackles and 10 tackles for loss on defense.

On offense, he had 523 rushing yards and two touchdowns despite being limited to four games at running back because of a back injury. In his first three seasons he’s totaled 1,480 yards and seven TDs, while also catching 24 passes for 314 yards.

Fortenberry started this season by racking up eight tackles and a sack on defense, and running for a 38-yard touchdown in the opener against Adams County Christian School.

He said scoring a touchdown is always a special moment.

“Whenever you turn around the entire team is running at you and you look up and everybody is cheering for you, it’s great,” he said.

Fortenberry hopes to have that experience a little more often this season. The Flashes have lost 19 consecutive games since winning their opener in 2022. Fortenberry said he and his fellow seniors who have endured the bad times are ready to break the streak.

“It doesn’t feel good. But it’s in the past. There’s nothing we can do about it now except show a little better this year than previous years,” Fortenberry said. “We’re more equipped this year than we have been the past two years. Everyone knows their job and where they’re supposed to go on each play, and we haven’t had that the past couple of years on offense.”

Even if the past couple of seasons haven’t gone well, Fortenberry said there is a bittersweet feeling heading into his senior year. The routine, the camaraderie, and the thrill of football are all something he’ll miss when it’s over.

“It’s sad. I’ve been there a long time doing the same thing every summer for four years,” he said. “I’m excited, though, for senior year. It’s going to be fun.”

2024 St. Aloysius schedule
All games start at 7 p.m.
Aug. 23 — Adams County Christian School 41, St. Aloysius 14
Aug. 30 — Cathedral
Sept. 6 — at East Rankin
Sept. 13 — *Tri-County
Sept. 20 — *at Clinton Christian
Sept. 27 — *Central Hinds
Oct. 4 — at Riverfield
Oct. 11 — Columbia Academy
Oct. 18 — Manchester
Oct. 25 — *at Winston Academy
*MAIS District 2-4A games