On a wing and a prayer.

Such is the offense for the Columbus St. Francis DeSales Stallions. The Catholic school is a perennial football power, but a lack of offense this season has caused head coach Bob Jacoby to seek desperate measures and install the single-wing offense.

DeSales, 4-4, has an outstanding defense. The Stallions are hoping that stout defense and the rarely seen offense will help as they host the Ironton Fighting Tigers Friday.

The single-wing was a popular offense in the 1920s through 1940s. Instead of a quarterback, the ball was centered directly to a player called the spinner.

Unlike the shotgun formation, the spinner can run right away, throw right away, but can also spin and turn his back to the offensive line as the other backs cross in front of him from either side. The spinner can give the ball to one of the backs, turn and run himself, or even turn and throw.

The deception-style offense is nothing new to Ironton head coach Bob Lutz. When Lutz began his coaching career at Ironton St. Joseph, the Flyers played in the Ohio Valley Conference where then-Fairland coach Jim Mayo utilized the single-wing.

DeSales' single wing is similar to the original style, but the spinner operates more like a quarterback in the shotgun formation.

"It's different," Lutz said. "Our guys have never even heard of the single-wing, let alone do they know how to defend it. We've got our work cut out for us on both sides of the ball. Their defense worries me more than anything."

The offense has scored a mere 85 points in eight games, and it has been in double figures just three times. In a 14-7 loss to Div. I Cincinnati St. Xavier, DeSales was on the 2-yard line with less than two minutes to play, but fumbled and St. Xavier returned the ball 99 yards to win the game.

The quarterback is Matt Mangini (5-10, 182). Joining him in the backfield are fullback Julian Poydras (6-0,180) and wingbacks Mark Schirtzinger (5-8,173) and Jeff Chatfield (5-8, 167).

Up front are center Joe Matovich (6-0, 215), guards Kevin Randolph (6-2, 274) and Tim Hefferman (6-0, 235), tackles Alex Stewart (6-2, 241) and Luke Egan (6-2, 235), and tight ends Austin Addington (6-1, 225) and Willie Adamson (6-4, 213).

The defense has been dominating, although the Stallions lost 42-3 last week to Div. I power Cincinnati Moeller. Before the Moeller game, DeSales had allowed only 56 points including two shutouts.

"You can throw that game out the window. Moeller is pretty good. I don't know any team in the state that plays a tougher schedule than DeSales," Lutz said.

DeSales lost handily to Moeller last year, then beat Ironton 21-14. The win enabled the Stallions to make the Division III playoffs where they lost 20-19 to eventual state champion and arch-rival Columbus Watterson in the regional finals.

"Their backs are against the wall. They've got St. Ignatius next week, so they feel like they have to beat us to make the playoffs. They'll come at us with everything they've got," Lutz said.

Heading the defense is Addington, a returning starter at linebacker. His running mate is Jeremy Ambrose (6-0, 210).

"Addington gave us fits last year. He's a good one. But the other guys aren't too shabby," Lutz said. "They're a senior team, they have size and strength, and they're physical."

Randolph, the left tackle, anchors the line. Wayne Hiles (6-0, 215) is the nose guard, Stewart the right tackle, and Zach Slupski (5-9, 200) and Jeff Herbst (5-11, 195) the ends.

Smith and Youngblood are the corners with Ben Rothrauff (5-10, 180) and Chris Brown (5-11, 205) the safeties.