St. Aloysius shook off — in a big way — its reputation as a slow-starting team Friday night.

The Flashes scored twice in the span of a minute early in the second quarter to take a 21-point lead, and ripped Madison-St. Joseph 31-7.

St. Al reclaimed the Strauss-Stallings Trophy, given to the winner of the Catholic School rivalry game, for the first time since 2009.

“It was great. The kids came out on fire and got off to a fast start like we wanted to, and we got it going,” St. Al coach BJ Smithhart said. “I don’t know exactly what happened to fire them up, but I’m glad it did.”

After St. Al took a 7-0 lead on Tae Warnsley’s 3-yard run late in the first quarter, quarterback Connor Smith struck with a couple of lightning-quick scores to blow it open.

Smith ran for a 96-yard touchdown with 11 minutes to go in the second. On St. Joe’s ensuing possession, a pass was batted and intercepted along the sideline by Warnsley. Smith threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Josh Brown on the next play to make it 21-0.

Smith made another big play late in the first half, stopping a St. Joe drive with an interception in the end zone to keep the shutout intact.

The Flashes padded the lead in the second half with a 1-yard TD run by Casey Landers and a 24-yard field goal by Casey Griffith to go up 31-0 with about seven minutes left in the game.

St. Joe spoiled the shutout bid on its next possession, when John Turner scored on a 26-yard run.

St. Aloysius 31, Madison-St. Joe 7

Records: St. Al (2-1); St. Joe (1-2)

St. Aloysius 31, Madison-St. Joe 7

Records: St. Al (2-1); St. Joe (1-2)

Up next: St. Al at McAdams

Skinny: Flashes score twice in a minute, ride momentum to first win in Catholic school

rivalry game since 2009

St. Al at McAdams

Skinny: Flashes score twice in a minute, ride momentum to first win in Catholic school

rivalry game since 2009