By ROBERT B. ROAN

RESERVE – Despite the town’s name, the Riverside Academy Rebels were anything but reserved Friday night.

The home team thoroughly dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage and skinned the Fisher High School Gators to the tune of 42-13. Led by a punishing ground game and the multi-position talents of seniors Jared St. Amant, Zack Cambre, Scott Poirrier, Dexter Falgoust and Darryl Fortenberry, the Rebels (5-4, 3-2) hammered their way back into the District 9-2A race.

Fast and furious, Riverside used superior offensive and defensive schemes to overwhelm Fisher (3-6, 1-5) at the points of attack. The RA quarterback, Poirrier, deftly read the Gators’ alignment and consistently ran the option to whichever side was the weakest for the visitors.

St. Amant busted up the middle early and often and compiled 101 yards on 12 carries, while Cambre swept in and around the tackles for 107 yards. The holes created by the offensive line, featuring the drive-blocking talents of Kirk Brady, Casey Keller, Dustin Bourg, Lance Simon and Trey Ledbetter, allowed St. Amant and Cambre, as well as freshman Andrew Herring at a later point in the game, to consistently move the chains and keep the Gators’ offense off the field.

The game was marred by numerous unsportsmanlike conduct and personal foul penalties but it was the jaw-breaking hitting of Rebels headhunters like Chris St. Pierre, Jordan Remondet, A.J. Delaneuville and Stephen Mohon that kept the Gators on their collective heels.

In a series of plays which would exemplify the quick-strike ability and overall team resiliency of the Rebels, the second half began with an explosion from the Gators and a resounding answer from Riverside.

The paint on the scoreboard had barely begun to dry at the dawn of the second half when the Gators’ lone offensive star, senior running back Scott Blanda, churned around the left side for a 62-yard touchdown and the 14-point Rebels’ lead was whittled to eight points.

The chilled crowd began wind up and in turn, Poirrier, St. Amant and Cambre ground over and around the Gators’ defenders for three-consecutive touchdowns and a resounding victory.

With its win, momentum squarely moved into the Rebels’ corner as the team prepares for the regular season’s final contest against the Newman Greenies.

By LEONARD GRAY

LAPLACE – St. Charles Catholic High School running back Tyrell Fenroy piled on four touchdowns, matching Cedric White’s three touchdowns and Rod Remondet’s single TD to roll up a 56-14 trouncing of the St. Thomas Aquinas Falcons Friday night.

The SCC Comets led 28-7 at the end of the first quarter, 35-14 at halftime and matched the final score by the end of the third quarter.

The Falcons got off to a slow start, but St. Thomas’ Kyle Johnson snared a fumbled Comets’ snap to start the Falcons’ first possession. That ended in turning over the ball on downs and Fenroy pounded out six of seven plays, which ended with Fenroy over the middle for a touchdown with 7:03 remaining in the period. Ben Sellars’ PAT kick was good for the 7-0 lead.

St. Thomas’ next possession ended with a punt, which gave the Comets the kick to drive down for the next score. This was a five-play drive ending in a 30-yard run by Fenroy for the score. At 3:07, with a two-point conversion run by Jamall Singleton, SCC led 15-0.

Comets defensive back Steven Green snared an interception on the first play after the kickoff reception at the St. Thomas 16-yard line. This set up another fast St. Charles touchdown three plays later, and with the missed PAT kick, the Comets led 21-0.

However, St. Thomas came back fast. On the first play from scrimmage at the Falcon 18-yard line, Donnie Chaucer began running, bobbled the ball, recovered and kept running for the touchdown with 1:44 remaining in the first quarter. The PAT kick by Brad McKee was good, and the Comets led 21-7.

Even with less than two minutes left, St. Charles drove down in five plays to another Fenroy TD, this from 28 yards out. The PAT was good and St. Charles led 28-7 as the second quarter started. St. Thomas accepted the kickoff and mounted an 80-yard offensive drive which ended in a Jeremy DiBenedetto touchdown from inches. The PAT was good, and St. Charles held onto a 28-14 lead with 8:07 left in the half.

A Comets pass was intercepted by John Milazzo with 6:10 remaining in the third, stalling a St. Charles drive. That drive ended in a punt, and Cedric White carried five times to set up Rod Remondet’s TD with 1:27 remaining in the half. The PAT was good for the 35-14 tally.

Early in the third quarter, the Comets took the opening drive 73 yards to the next Fenroy touchdown with 10:42 left in the third. The PAT made it 42-14.

After a punt, St. Charles went five plays to another Cedric White score. The PAT kick made it 49-14 with 7:01 left in the third.

Finally, with 27 seconds left in the third period, White scored again from 22 yards out, making the tally 56-14.

Comets coach Frank Monica admitted St. Charles was fortunate in being able to take advantage of some breaks, and told his players, “This team can go all the way to the big house. And why not us.”

Next week, St. Charles travels to Lutcher.