There are 48 teams left in the MAIS football playoffs. The most unlikely of them all might be the St. Aloysius Flashes.

The team that only won twice in the regular season, and that at one point had a 23-game losing streak, is one of the last eight standing in the Class 4A bracket following last week’s epic five-overtime victory against Winston Academy.

St. Al (3-8) will go back on the road this Friday to play Bowling Green (6-4) in the second round.

“It was like everything relinquished. It felt amazing. It felt better waking up Saturday,” junior quarterback Sadler Lambiotte said. “It’s just crazy still playing football. I love it.”

Besides advancing in the postseason for the first time since 2015, beating Winston was a satisfying moment for a group of players who endured one of the program’s worst stretches in a century.

Nine seniors on this year’s roster went more than two years without winning a game at all. That streak ended with a victory over Clinton Christian in September, and then they had another breakthrough with a superb effort against a Winston Academy team that beat them 27-12 the week before.

St. Al’s defense kept the game scoreless through four quarters, and then the offense never failed once overtime began. The Flashes scored on all five overtime possessions as the teams took turns starting from the other’s 10-yard line.

Lambiotte scored three rushing touchdowns and senior Thompson Fortenberry had two as St. Al won 33-27. A defensive stand capped by a pass breakup in the end zone by Dru Gleese on fourth-and-goal from the 8 sealed the win.

“It was exhausting, honestly. But we went into that game knowing we had a really good chance of winning that one so everybody on the team fought really hard for it,” Fortenberry said. “I was really happy that our team was the one that won the first playoff game in nine years. Everything was piled up on top of us and we finally came out on top.”

Even though it was only one first-round victory, St. Al coach Walker Mosby said it was the kind that can have a lasting effect on the program.

“A hundred percent we can build on it. I told the seniors this year that they’re the foundation of this mansion that’s going to be built. Without a sturdy foundation, a house just gets washed away,” Mosby said. “These seniors have provided a really solid foundation and set the standard of making the playoffs and winning playoff games. We’ve got to carry that over into next year, and the year after that, and 20 years down the road when I’m coaching their kids. That standard’s been set by these seniors.”

Before they start enjoying the memories of that victory, however, the Flashes want to make some more. Suddenly, they are not only in the second round but have a believable path to a truly deep run in the postseason.

Undefeated Tri-County (10-0), the defending Class 4A champion and a heavy favorite to win it all again, is on the opposite side of the bracket. St. Al’s side includes Bowling Green, Wayne Academy (7-3) and Lee Academy (4-5) — all solid teams, but not unbeatable if the Flashes can muster the same kind of effort they did against Winston.

“We’re one of eight teams that gets to continue to practice this week. I think the guys have also looked at it as a new season. Pierson Smith, as we were getting ready to break it down, said, ‘Guys, we’re 1-0.’ He’s a thousand percent right. And we’re going to try to make it 2-0,” Mosby said. “It’s something special to be one of those last teams to continue to practice and have a shot to make a run at a state championship.”

Add a shot of confidence from winning a difficult, emotional game on the road, and the Flashes aren’t just happy to be here — they feel like they belong and can stay at the party a while longer.

“Now there’s something in the air that says, ‘All right, we can do this. We can compete and play with anybody,’” Mosby said. “I think they’re ready to go. There’s something different in the air of this mentality, this switch.”

MAIS Class 4A Playoffs
Second round – Friday, Nov. 8
All games start at 7 p.m.
St. Aloysius at Bowling Green (Radio: 101.3 FM)
Wayne Academy at Lee Academy (Miss.)
Centreville Academy at Tri-County
Columbia Academy at Central Hinds