St. Aloysius and Central Hinds Academy traded first-half leads in Friday’s district match-up before the Cougars managed some separation late in the third quarter — and eventually a 21-13 victory.

Jay Shuff ran for one touchdown and threw for two more for Central Hinds (4-2, 1-0 MAIS District 2-4A), while all of St. Al’s points came on special teams.

Keller Bradley scored on a 60-yard kickoff return and John Ellis Montgomery kicked two field goals for the Flashes (1-5, 1-2).

“I hate it for our kids,” St. Al coach Walker Mosby said. “We go into what we did last week offensivley and it wasn’t working for us, so we got out of it and we started moving the football. But, it’s my fault.”

The Flashes kept it a one-possession game until the end, when the clock literally ran out on their comeback attempt and a second straight win.

With 2:26 to play and backed up to its own end zone, the St. Al defense forced a turnover on downs at the 7-yard line. Trailing 21-13, St. Al quarterback Carson Smith orchestrated some offensive momentum, but missed the opportunity for one last shot at the end zone. He was unable to take the snap as time expired.

“Keller Bradley played his tail off. John Ellis got us some field goals. I mean it was a fantastic night for our special teams,” Mosby said. “Offensively, we tried to stick to what we did last week and it wasn’t it. But (assistant) coach Bumper (Brogdon) and his defense, they play their tails off every week. I’m just hoping I can help them, and this night I did not.”

The Flashes (1-5) fell behind early as the Cougars scored first off a 6-yard touchdown run from Shuff with 3:13 to play in the first quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, St. Al evened things out with Bradley’s 60-yard touchdown return. Thompson Fortenberry recovered a fumble on the next drive, setting the Flashes up for a 41-yard field goal from Montgomery and a 10-7 lead.

With just 2:17 remaining in the first half, the Cougars reclaimed a 14-10 lead with a 41-yard touchdown pass on fourth down.

Both defenses stiffened early in the second half, before Central Hinds put together a sustained drive capped with a 17-yard touchdown strike from Shuff to Walt Saums to give the Cougars a 21-10 lead with 3:51 to play in the third quarter.

The Flashes found their offensive rhythm late in the game, with Smith connecting with Laken Bradley and Beau Brogdon to set up a 20-yard field goal from Montgomery to bring them within 21-13.

The Flashes will travel to Riverfield next week before returning home Oct. 11 to face Columbia Academy on homecoming.