And while the road may not get any easier next weekend against East Catholic, the Falcons (0-3) are slowly putting the pieces together that should soon yield the team's first victory of the season.
A little of that ability was on display in the first quarter, when St. Paul held Northwest to seven points and took advantage of early miscues by the visitors.
"I felt that we were doing some things that we were working to try to improve in the first quarter," St. Paul coach Jude Kelly said. "We felt like we got to a point where we could at least compete. But again, we just kind of make mistakes and things happen and the next thing you know, you're fighting for your life."
From that point, turnovers and gaffes doomed the Falcons, who saw the Indians paste 28 second-quarter points on the board to trail 35-0 at halftime.
Northwest's double threat at quarterback paid handsome dividends as Dean Spence (five completions, 49 yards throwing, 80 yards on the ground) and Tom Bourdon (1 completion, 52 yards) mixed it up with plenty of play action that led to multiple scores.
The Indians ran for 245 yards on the ground for the game while putting it up in the air for just over 100 yards on the day.
"Northwest is a class team," said Kelly. "They play hard, well coached, they come to play and have a winning attitude now. They believe in themselves. They've done a great job and they showed that today."
St. Paul was led by Marcus Aiken who caught six passes for 96 yards, including a 40-yard bomb from QB Brian Kaczynski for the final score of the game.
Kaczynski had his moments despite having to dodge and weave against a smothering Northwest defense the entire game. He was rushed and battered into four interceptions on the day but still managed to connect on nine passes for 132 yards.
"He's come a long way since spring practice in June," said Kelly of his quarterback. "He has worked hard at his skills. I think we're certainly not helping any as far as with some of the protection and things. That we have to do a better job at and our ability at not being able to run the football has certainly hurt us as well."
Ryan Moore caught two passes for 27 yards, Rob Cannata made a four-yard reception, while Aiken led the Falcons on the ground with five carries for 40 yards.
After a 21-yard touchdown run got Northwest on the board in the first quarter, the Falcons simply faced too many scoring threats in the second quarter of play and things quickly got out of hand.
Spence ran the Indians' second play of the second stanza 33 yards in to give Northwest a 14-0 lead. Later in the quarter, a Ryan Foster interception led to a Bourdon yard-line plunge for a touchdown and a 21-0 edge.
The Indians' scored twice in the last two minutes, getting a 52-yard touchdown reception - delivered by Bourdon to Kevin Leuenberger - and another seven off a quick Spencer six-yard pass to an open Lukas Walsh to seize a 35-0 lead at the half.
The Falcons continued to have running woes in the second half, and a blocked punt by Lucious Coulette set up a direct snap to Nathan Tyler for a 3-yard score to make it 42-0 with 8:47 left in the third.
Both teams went scoreless for the rest of the frame before the Falcons started to get the ball moving on the ground over the final 12 minutes.
"If we can get something going, I think we got to get something we can build on and try to get better in the running game," said Kelly, "and I think (Kaczynski's) skills will show more when you've got a balance of things you're able to do."
Aiken opened things up with 40 yards on five carries during the Falcons' final drive and the Kaczynski to Aiken endzone hook-up put the home team on the board with just over a minute remaining in the game.
"(I give) credit to the kids," Kelly said. "They come to practice every day. We work hard every day. Maybe we're working too hard. I've always believed if you keep doing the right thing, eventually good things will happen. I keep saying that over and over again but it's frustrating."