By Billy Gomila

Contributing Writer

LAPLACE – If the layoff caused by Hurricane Katrina is affecting the play of the St. Charles Catholic Comets, it’s not showing up on the scoreboard. After defeating H.L. Bourgeois 28-7 Friday night, Frank Monica’s Comets have outscored their first two opponents of the 2005 season a combined 70-7.

“It was a huge win for us because we beat what I think is a pretty good 5A team,” said Monica.

Senior Casey Robottom led the way for St. Charles with 196 all-purpose yards, providing big play after big play for Monica’s offense.

“We were out of synch and never got in a real rhythm on offense,” said the coach. “But he made some big plays.”

The Comets scored on their first possession, with Matthew Walter capping a 10-play 50-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run.

Robottom began to take over in the second quarter, squirting through the Braves’ defense on a 51-yard touchdown run that gave the Comets a 14-0 lead with 4:50 left in the first half.

Bourgeois’ Jake Hebert answered with a 79-yard TD pass to Willie McKinley later in the quarter, but Comets answered on their next possession.

Robottom caught a 34-yard pass on third and long that brough St. Charles to the Braves’ 28-yard line and set up a six-yard touchdown pass from Phillip Sutton to Christopher Jones. The extra point gave SCC a 21-7 lead with 52 seconds left before halftime.

Robottom would add another diving catch on third and 17 in the next quarter, and finished with 79 yards receiving, 91 rushing and 26 on returns.

Bourgeois would never threaten again, as the Comets held them to 66 yards rushing. Hebert finished with 128 total passing yards, most of which came on the long scoring strike.

“Defensively, we did a real good job of holding their wing-T in check,” added Monica.

St. Charles’ final touchdown came courtesy of a blocked punt that Darin Helm recovered and ran in for an eight-yard score.

Sutton was efficient in running Monica’s offense, completing six of eight passes for 95 yards.

“Phillip was doing a nice job of taking care of things at the line,” said Monica.

Still, the coach wasn’t happy with his team’s overall execution, particularly penalties.

“We need to do a better job of executing,” he said.

“We still have a lot of football in front of us.”

St. Charles will travel to Washington Parish Friday night to face the Pine Raiders at 7 p.m.