After one week of the Class 1A District 8 football schedule St. Albert knew it would have its work cut out for them.

The Falcons were backed into a tough spot and likely needed to run the table against its district foes if they wanted to keep the postseason streak going.

"I think they realized there is no tomorrow if you lose again," St. Albert coach Jim Duggan said. "We've kind of stressed that as a coaching staff. We've gone back to the old cliché of one game at a time."

The Falcons' one-game-at-a-time approach saw them get a homecoming victory then two big road wins at Audubon and Riverside to put improve to 3-1 in the district. The Falcons return home to Al Leber Field in a 7:30 p.m. game Friday night against Underwood and when they take the field the Falcons look to have a secure grasp on the second spot of the district race.

With Logan-Magnolia sitting atop the standings (4-0), St. Albert is second (3-1) with four teams at 2-2. But three of those teams the Falcons have beat already. The other squad is this week's opponent.

"The kids understand the circumstances but we really haven't talked about it," Duggan said. "We have to win out to guarantee anything,"

St. Albert's final two games are against Corning (2-4) and Panorama (0-7), though Duggan was quick to warn about looking too far ahead.

"They understand what's down the road," Duggan said of his squad. "Ultimately if they don't concentrate and focus on the game right in front of them, anything can happen."

This week's game is a do-or-die situation for Underwood. If the Eagles want to have any shot at the postseason, they'll need to win Friday, making them a dangerous foe for the Falcons.

"This has been a big rivalry of ours the last six, seven years," Duggan said. "And we just can't take anybody lightly."

The Eagles' season has had its bumps in the road, but the team has been good with running back Austin Jager healthy and in the lineup.

"With him they're an outstanding football team, he just makes them go," Duggan said. "He's one of the premier backs in the district, if not the state. He's got a lot of talent and a lot of speed."

St. Albert has been running the ball well themselves, with Jeremy Schieffer rushing for an impressive 6.8 yards per carry this season.

Schieffer has been getting the support of the guys up front in Lee Mass, Chris McKenzie, Shawn Daley, Andrew Knuth, Nick Burke and tight end Marc Baumert.

"They seem to be finding a little bit of a rhythm up front," Duggan said. "It's been giving (Schieffer) a little bit of a running lane and he's been pretty productive."

Quick Hits .

What: Underwood (2-2, 3-3) at St. Albert (3-1, 4-2) in a Class 1A District 8 football game.

When: Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Al Leber Field

Broadcast: www.stalbertsportsfan.com.

Playoff hopes: It's simple for St. Albert, win and you're in. For Underwood, being 2-2 in the district race means the Eagles will need to win out and likely get some help, a lot of it.

Rivalry renewed: The Falcons and Eagles have had more than their fair share of big games in the past.

As in all rivalry games, the records are pretty much thrown out the window.

~Jeff Deluca~ Daily Nonpareil 10.12.06