By ROBERT B. ROAN

LAPLACE – Two proud prep football programs collided on a mud-cached field Friday night and before the final gun sounded it was difficult to determine what deteriorated to the highest degree – the Bermuda grass gridiron or the composure of the North Shore contestants.

It was the initial game for both the St. Charles Catholic High School Comets and the Wolves of St. Paul’s School of Covington and the fact the field was a morass by the middle of the second quarter did not help either team get off to a fast start. The players showed early season jitters and the occasional lapse of concentration inherent to playing a regional rival in front of a packed house but there were numerous shining moments for both squads in the 17-0 Comets’ victory.

On a down side, as the game wore on, several flags flew as personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties were accrued by the visiting team. At one point, following a fourth-quarter Comets’ score, which was preceded by a personal foul called against the Wolves, the visitors were flagged for a pair of personal fouls during the point after kick and the Comets ended up kicking off from the Wolves’ 30-yard line.

SCC sophomore running back Tyrell Fenroy plowed through the Wolves’ defensive line in route to a game-high total of 107 yards rushing on 22 carries for a 4.8 yard average. The slight and slashing runner rolled up the majority of his ground gains on toss sweeps and traps which fully utilized his deceptive speed and keen ability to turn on a dime, despite the foul weather conditions. Southpaw junior quarterback Jeremy Catoire consistently led the Comets into Wolves territory and he seemed to execute the game plan of head coach Frank Monica as well as could be expected in the first game of the regular season.

On defense, the Comets had several players standout, including their bookend defensive ends, Chris Cancienne and Alton Alexander. Using stunts and bull rushes, the senior linemen duo dominated the line of scrimmage and thoroughly frustrated the Wolves’ offensive scheme. SCC senior defensive back Lee Kliebert turned out the lights for the Wolves with 2:25 remaining in the contest when he intercepted sophomore quarterback Bert Periera around the Wolves’ 25-yard line and smashed his way down to the 1-foot line. Catoire snuck it in behind his right guard and following the point after kick the score was 17-0 with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

The Comets were clearly energized after one of their leaders, senior fullback Rod Remondet, sustained what appeared to be a severe leg injury in the third quarter and was led by the trainers from the field of play. Replaced by sophomore Jarvis Sanders, but not forgotten, Remondet cheered for his teammates as he stood with the aid of crutches and the coaching staff coaxed their charges back into the offensive and defensive groove.

In a first half in which both teams struggled on the ground as well as through the air, the Comets were credited with five first downs, the Wolves with three, the only score came as sophomore place kicker Ben Sellars booted a 26-yard field goal at 6:24 to go in the first quarter.

The Comets, following the injury to Remondet and a subsequent injury to Sanders, began to mount a substantial drive around the nine-minute mark of the third quarter. Following a jaw-dropping block by SCC junior running back Jamie Arceneaux, Fenroy swept around the left side for a brilliant 38-yard gain to the Wolves’ 22-yard line. Catoire broke through the line for a 10-yard gain and a first down and on the next play he dropped back three steps and hit senior wide receiver Jamall Singleton on a crossing route for the score.

Field position and the play of special teams turned out to be crucial in the contest. SCC junior punter, who doubles as a run-stopping defensive tackle, Daniel LeBlanc regularly pinned the Wolves deep in their own territory. With less than 10 minutes to go in the game, LeBlanc sailed a punt 61 yards and his punt coverage team neatly downed it on the Wolves’ 1-yard line, thus snuffing out any chance St. Paul’s had of making a comeback and avoiding a loss to the Comets for the second-straight season.

As the crowd thinned and the players gathered around family members, cheerleaders and booster club participants, coach Monica leaned in to the Comets and congratulated them on a job well done. He singled out Remondet for his courage and he extolled his players to savor the triumphant moment but remember the length of the season.

“This is a big win for our program,” Monica said. “We will remember this win in November. Let’s enjoy this tonight and tomorrow it is back to work.”