MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 28, 1998

LAPLACE – St. Charles Catholic faces a must-win situation Friday nightwhen it travels to Metairie to take on St. Martin’s.The Comets are on the bubble for a playoff spot with a 3-5 overall record and a 0-2 mark in District 9-2A. St. Charles Catholic has to win its finaltwo games to have a shot at extending its streak of playoff appearances.

The Comets host Ridgewood in the season finale next week.

St. Martin’s will look to play the role of spoiler. The Saints enter thecontest with a 1-7 overall record and are winless through two district games.

St. Charles Catholic is looking to blunce back from two heartwrenchingdefeats to Riverside and West St. John. Against the Rams, the Comets led24-20 and were driving for the clinching score when they were held at the goal line in the final four minutes. The Rams then drove 95 yards for thewinning score.

“It was a tough one but the players are resilient enough to bounce back well,” St. Charles Catholic coach Wayde Keiser said.The Comets lost despite gaining 340 yards in total offense. Nick Monicacompleted 5 of his 10 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. John Pricehad 104 yards receiving. Wayne Stein added 163 yards on 23 carries.Monica has completd 52 of his 89 passes this season for 809 yards and seven touchdowns. Price has caught over 20 passes this year for 439yards.

Stein, who just missed gaining 1,000 yards last year, has an opportunity to reach that mark this season. Through eight games, Stein has carried theball 115 times for 745 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Stein can add to those totals against a St. Martin’s defense that allowedBen Franklin’s Greg Preston to gain 120 yards in a 30-6 loss Friday night.

The Falcons’ Darren Carmon added 75 yards as Ben Franklin gained 302 yards on the ground.

St. Martin’s was able to stay close behind its rushing attack that gained138 yards on the ground. Danny Trahan led the way with 93 yards on 20carries. Trahan has rushed for over 500 yards and six touchdowns on theseason.

“He is a solid, hard-nosed, takes a licking, keeps on ticking running back,” Keiser said. “He is a solid performer.” Keiser said the Saints can run out of three formations – the Wing-T, the shotgun and the power I.

“Take your pick,” Keiser said, adding that they are a team with nothing to lose.

The Saints have continued to have problems on defense. St. Martin’s hasallowed 220 points this year, an average of over 27 points per game. TheSaints are led by senior defensive end Alan Watts, junior linebackers Nick Hintz and Peter Castaing and sophomore defensive back Nathaniel Rogers.

In last year’s game, Brian Horvath had his version of the Halloween Night Run, going 98 yards on a fourth-quarter carry to seal a 21-7 win.

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