FOLLOW THE BOUNCING BALL—Loranger QB Taylor Abdalla (2) and St. Thomas Aquinas defenders Ryan Gambel (3) and Cullen Hughes (4) are in hot pursuit of Abdalla’s fumble during last Thursday’s Falcons victory. Tonight, STA opens 9-2A play against Springfield, while Loranger hosts Jewel Sumner in 10-3A. Photo by John Lenz

The roles will be reversed from a year ago when Springfield travels to St. Thomas Aquinas for the District 9-2A opener Friday night.

A year ago, Springfield was 4-1 and ranked in the Top 10 in Class 2A when a 2-3 St. Thomas team came in and upset the Bulldogs at home, 21-20.

Five weeks later, Springfield turned the tables, defeating the district champion Falcons 34-0 in the first round of the playoffs at Strawberry Stadium.

This year, it is STA (4-0) which is the ranked team, going into the 7 p.m. game at Strawberry ranked No. 4 in Class 2A. But even with all the distractions of Homecoming week for STA, Springfield at 2-2 has the full attention of the Falcons.

"Every season, coaches are always worried about Homecoming and making sure the kids stay focused," STA coach John White said. "I believe with the experience we have on this ballclub, I think we will be focused on the task at hand, which is Springfield Friday.

“This is only my third year here and it seems like ever year Springfield is a big game now. We should be motivated to play well and be up for the contest."

St. Thomas comes in averaging almost 43 points per game following a 42-26 win at Loranger last Thursday. Josh Reed ran for 132 yards and a touchdown and also caught a touchdown pass. Ethan Bleakley, filling in for Raymone Andrews at quarterback, was 3-for-3 with two touchdowns.

"Offensively, they have athletes all over the place," Springfield head coach Ryan Serpas said. "They are just loaded with athletes and they can attack you from so many different directions."

Those athletes have been making some big plays, White said, noting a 75-yard run by Reed in the third quarter that got STA out from deep in its own territory.

"Our whole offense is doing real well but we have some guys who are making some big plays," White said. "We're focusing on not having three and outs, not having turnovers, not having penalties and we've been doing that. Our turnover ratio has been really low."

White is also impressed with Springfield's offense. The Bulldogs got 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Marty Jones in a 14-13 win at Jewel Sumner Thursday. Kevin Henderson has had 300-yard passing games against Albany and Live Oak this season.

"They are wide open," White said. "They run a spread offense and do a great job with it. This is going to be the first time we've faced the spread offense this year so we'll have our hands full there.

“Defensively, they do a good job running the 50 defense so we know we'll have to execute up front. And it's district, so I'm sure they will have some new wrinkles for us just like we have new wrinkles for them. It's going to come down to field position and taking care of the football."

Springfield has done a good job of bouncing back this year, following up losses to Live Oak and Parkview Baptist with wins over Albany and Jewel Sumner.

"We're fighting down to the end," Serpas said. "Our kids aren't giving up. We're hanging in there. We just have to correct the mental miscues we are making. I think we will be OK. We just have to realize our potential and start reaching it."

White is also looking forward to district following a non-district slate of Dunham, Riverside, Albany and Loranger.

"We played a tough non-district schedule so that should get us ready for district," White said. "You have to stay healthy, you have to stay hungry and motivated.

“These are the games that get you to the playoffs. There is only one guarantee for the playoffs and that is a district championship and that is what we are aiming for."