By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

ST. JAMES — To call it anything short of complete domination would be to undersell the effort of No. 1 St. Charles, as it defeated St. James on the road, 55-0, to wrap up at least a share of the District 7-3A crown.

The win made the Comets (9-0, 4-0) only the second St. Charles team to ever begin a season 9-0. It has a chance to complete an undefeated regular season next week as it hosts its final district foe, E.D. White.

SCC scored three non-offensive touchdowns and scored all 55 of its points in the first half.

Lazedrick Thompson paced the Comets with a career half; he rushed for 233 yards and two scores on 16 carries on the night, despite not carrying the ball in the second half.

Austin Weber rushed eight times for 61 yards and a touchdown for SCC.

The Comets rushed for 341 of their 357 total yards. The Comet defense held SJH to 72 total yards and recorded its third straight shutout, its fifth on the year.

SCC scored its first points on special teams. After forcing a 3-and-out, it blocked a punt and recovered in the endzone for a 7-0 lead just 1:01 into the game.

Thompson scored next after a SJH turnover on downs at the 50, running it in from 34 yards away to make it 14-0 at the 5:40 mark of the first quarter.

SCC would score on three consecutive possessions, all on runs: a Weber 7-yarder; a Brandon Zimmer 18-yarder, and a LaJaylin Smith 3-yard run, making it 42-0.

The Smith touchdown started a final 2:17 of the first half that saw a flurry of points, all but allowing SCC to go to its bench in the second half. Luke Jackson recovered a fumble and ran it in for a 17-yard score after Smith’s touchdown run. Dontre Scarpero then intercepted a pass and returned it for a 41-yard touchdown with 52 seconds left before halftime.

The Comets played with heavy hearts, after the loss of the school’s development director, Marie Ory Dupont, who passed away last weekend.

“We didn’t expect this type of performance at all,” said St. Charles coach Frank Monica. “They were close in all of their district games, so that concerned us … We had so many things go on this week. Dealing with a real tragedy … I didn’t know if we’d have focus.

“But these kids responded. And she would have been proud of the effort they put forth.”