Comet running back Christopher Jones leads game in rushing with 106, for 47-12 win

By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LAPLACE — A 47-12 victory by the St. Charles Catholic Comets over the Desire Street Academy Lions was cause for celebration. Yet, Coach Frank Monica saw plenty of room for improvement toward the remainder of the season.

“I was displeased with some things,” he commented after the game. “We’ve got to turn it up, as every game is a playoff game. This team hasn’t reached its stride.”

St. Charles, now 6-2 for the year, received the opening kickoff and with Philip Sutton at the helm, slammed the visiting team hard, with a touchdown on the second play from scrimmage.

Roland Ricca had received the opening kickoff and posted it to the Comet 20. Running back Christopher Jones pushed to the 25. Then Jones swept left and powered upfield for the touchdown with 11:07 on the clock. Steven Duhe’s PAT run for two points was good for the 8-0 lead.

The Lions, 0-1 coming into the game, received the kickoff, struggled for yards, and attempted to punt. The punt, though, was blocked, Ricca snatched it up and boomed it to the Lions 15. On the next play, Casey Robottom dashed in for the score and Duhe posted the PAT kick for the 15-0 lead with 7:56 on the clock.

The Comets managed a third first-quarter touchdown, this a 13-yard dash by Chase Fletcher, but it was yanked away by a holding call. On the next play Kerry Matthews snatched away the ball for the Lions.

This launched a six-play drive capped by a 50-yard sprint up the sideline by Jonathan Rochon which opened the second quarter and made it 15-6.

From then on, it was all Comets.

Jones scored on a 15-yard run with 9:34 remaining in the half. Fletcher scored two on the PAT run to bring it to 23-6.

With 5:41 remaining in the half, Corey Clay scored on a one-yard burst, followed by Nick Reine’s two-point PAT, which made it 31-6.

Jones scored again with 47 seconds left in the half on a four-yard dash, but a personal foul call nullified that TD. On the next play, Robottom scored anyway, and the PAT kick by Duhe made it 38-6 at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, a safety was scored against the Lions, with a fumble in the end zone, making it 40-6. On the first play from scrimmage after that safety, Jonathan Cancienne scored on a 12-yard run with 9:48 remaining in the third, making it 47-6 after Duhe’s PAT.

Finally, with 1:33 remaining in the game, Matthews’ 32-yard pass to Denngeio Paterson was good for the score, giving the Lions a double-digit return on their investment and the final 47-12 score.

“I want to make them feel they are contenders,” Monica added after the game, talking of his Comets. “I want them to feel they can beat anyone on any given night.”

This week, they will have that chance to prove themselves against the Riverside Rebels.

Christopher Jones ended the evening for the Comets with 11 carries, 106 yards and two touchdowns. Rochon led rushing for Desire Street with 19 carries, 109 yards and one touchdown. Total rushing yards were 182 for the Comets and 86 for the Lions. Total passing yards were 81 for the Comets and 105 for Desire.