LAPLACE — Vandebilt Catholic rallied in the second half but it wasn’t enough to overcome St. Charles Friday night.

The Comets captured a 45-32 victory over the Class 4A Terriers, who trailed 35-7 at the half.

“Anytime you beat a Class 4A school as a 2A club, you not only take it, but cherish it,” said SCC coach Frank Monica, who saw his own team rally last year from a 17-point halftime deficit to defeat Vandebilt Catholic. “But we tackled and blocked like little leaguers in the second half. I was disappointed that we didn’t close out this game properly.”

VCHS scored early in the second half when running back Elijah McGuire busted loose for a 74-yard touchdown. The Terriers immediately got the ball back on an onside kick and scored again when McGuire connected with Beau Smith on a 26-yard halfback pass to make it 35-20 with 5:57 left in the third quarter.

From there, St. Charles turned to the Wildcat — Monica calls their version “The Comet” — and unleashed Marcus Hall at quarterback. He chewed up 56 yards on four carries and helped set up a 36-yard Ben Brady field goal that made it 38-20.

“We really put it in for East St. John, but it was so close, we didn’t get a chance to use it. I wish we had,” said Marcus Hall. “Then, last week, we got ahead big. But tonight we had a chance to bring it out. It wore me out at first, but I like it.”

But just as quickly, Vandebilt drew within 12 after a four play drive that culminated in a 9-yard touchdown run by quarterback T.J. Cantrelle. The two-point attempt was no good when Jared Keating broke through the line to tackle Cantrell in the backfield.

But SCC came out in the Wildcat again and effectively slammed the door in the fourth on Hall’s five yard run, capping a six play, 53-yard drive and making it 44-26 with 9:36 remaining.

“Anytime we can put Marcus and Lazedrick in the same backfield, we feel like good things can happen,” said Monica.

On the next play from scrimmage, LaJaylin Smith forced a fumble that was recovered by Keating.

SCC struggled with field position for much of the night after kickoffs, due to an injury to Ben Brady, who could kick field goals but not kickoff — SCC suffered a number of penalties after kickoffs out of bounds and also had some short kicks.

“(Brady) had a strain to his hip flexor. He gutted out the field goal,” said Monica. “We gave up a ton of position in the kicking game.”

But special teams also contributed to a big first half lead. First, Aaron Hampton took advantage of a Vandebilt Catholic miscue when punter Michael Blanchard dropped the snap. Hampton hit Blanchard and Jeffrey Hall picked up the ensuing fumble and scored to make it 7-0 with 6:12 left in the first quarter.

SCC recovered a Vandebilt Catholic fumble on the next drive and drove 57-yards for another score, this time on a 9-play drive capped by a 4-yard Marcus Hall run. The extra point was no good, making it 13-0.

Donnie Savoie’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Harley Scioneaux and Lazedrick Thompson’s two-point run on a “swinging gate” play made it 21-0. And after Vandebilt put its first points on the board on a McGuire 15-yard run, Jeffrey Hall blasted through the Terrier coverage unit, taking the ensuing kickoff 99-yards for a score.

Thompson would add another 1-yard touchdown run before halftime.

Marcus Hall finished with 134 yards and two touchdowns. McGuire rushed for 194 and accounted for three scores.