By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE — “There’s a game this Friday night?” asked Riverside coach Mickey Roussel wryly.

Indeed there is, Coach.

While always anticipated, this weekend’s game between local rivals St. Charles and Riverside carries with it some extra hype. Unlike last season’s clash, both teams are ranked in the top 10 of Class 2A (The Comets are currently fourth, Riverside is seventh in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association poll).

Of course, there’s also the bragging rights.

“You have dad’s from each school that work together, moms from each school that work together,” said Roussel. “You’ve got friends on each team. Everybody’s just four or five miles apart, living in the same neighborhoods, the same town.”

St. Charles coach Frank Monica said he also looks forward to the excitement.

“Playing in these kinds of ballgames, it’s exactly why you play,” said Monica. “You play to play in these exciting games. The crowds, the fan participation, the alumni, everyone gets so involved with it. It’s good for River Parish football.”

Last season’s meeting left a sour taste in Riverside’s mouths. The Comets (6-0, 3-0) defeated the Rebels 48-7 in Reserve behind strong performances by then-quarterback Henri Faucheux and running back Jeffrey Hall.

Monica puts little stock in that result, though. He said that was then, and this is now.

“I think our players understand that this is a brand new year,” he said. “I don’t think our kids look at it as any indication whatsoever. It’s a totally different deal. The majority of our starters weren’t on the field as starters in that game a year ago.”

Contrarily, most of the veteran Rebels’ starters were on the field for the matchup last season.

“They got out to a fast start last year,” said Roussel. “We’re a better football team than we were and I feel like we’re better prepared for a game like this. Last year, St. Charles was senior-oriented. This year, we are. It should help our level of focus.”

Roussel said that defensively, there’s nothing tricky about what St. Charles does: they line up and play disciplined, sound football. The Comet offense, he said, presents a challenge in its diversity.

“They do an awful lot of things,” said Roussel. “They make you really make sure you’re lined up in the right place, or you get burned.”

The biggest key for Riverside (5-1, 2-1), though, could be cleaning up its special teams play from Friday night. The Rebels gave up two return scores and fumbled away two kickoffs, setting up two more touchdowns in its 55-24 loss to John Curtis.

The Comets’ special teams play has been a strength, particularly its return game behind Marcus Hall — who was injured in last season’s St. Charles-Riverside game — and John Wood.

“They’re going to break some against you, but the things we did, the two fumbles, the two returns, you can’t do it,” said Roussel. “If we don’t clean it up, it will cost us again.”

That said, the Rebel offense did little to sour anyone on its strong performance this season, finding success moving the ball against the strong Curtis defense.

Monica said he knows his team will have its hands full attempting to contain an explosive offense averaging 44 points per game.

“Their quarterback (Darnell Rachal) is an exceptional athlete. Their running back (Thomas Crouch) is another exceptional player, he always falls forward. They’re very big up front. We’re outmanned when you look at their line against our line. Nobody has really slowed them down yet. They’re a quick strike offense.”

SCC defeated Fisher 42-0 last week. The Comets rushed for 335 yards and six scores: three by Marcus Hall, two by Lazedrick Thompson and one by Brandon Zimmer.

Rachal and Crouch starred for the Rebels against Curtis despite the loss. Rachal rushed for two scores while Crouch broke off a 55-yard touchdown run.