MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / September 15, 1999

LAPLACE – When Frank Monica got his first win as head coach of the St.

Charles Catholic Comets Friday night, it was only fitting that the star of the game would be his son, Nick.

Nick Monica ran 16 times for 169 yards and scored three touchdowns to help the Comets defeat Grace King, 29-14, at Thomas Dupuy Stadium. Healso completed five of his passes for 89 yards and another score. Monica,who had started the season at quarterback, was used mostly at running back during the game with Jason Waguespack taking over behind center.

“Nick made the adjustment to running back,” Frank Monica said. “He gaveus more quickness at that position.”St. Charles Catholic, which had been beaten 46-7 in the first game of theseason by rival Riverside, bounced back against the Fighting Irish, scoring on three of their five first half possessions. On the third play fromscrimmage, Monica scampered 44 yards for the score with Toby Jacob adding the two-point conversion. Monica found Phillip Hoffman for a 60-yard scoring strike in the second quarter and then scored on a 12-yard run right before the half. He would break loose on a 73-yard run in the thirdquarter to conclude the scoring for the Comets.

The Comet defense forced three turnovers, the last an interception by Ricky Madere at the Comet 2-yard line at the end of the game. The defensealso stopped the Irish at the St. Charles Catholic 9-yard line early in thesecond quarter with the Comets holding onto an 8-0 lead.

“We were very fortunate to come up with some big plays,” Frank Monica said.

“We got a few turnovers and that really helped.” For Nick Monica, it was a dream come true to be able to get his dad get his first win. Before the season, Nick Monica had said Frank always wanted tocoach high school football to be with his sons and that he was finally getting the chance.

“It sometimes seems like he is putting more pressure on me but I know he is doing it for the best,” Nick Monica said. “He wants to see me succeed.”Monica followed his brother, Ty, as quarterback of the Comets last season.

Ty Monica quarterbacked the Comets for two seasons, leading the team to the quarterfinals his senior season.

“It was like a dream come true,” Nick Monica said of getting to play with his brother. “I wouldn’t be where I am now without my brother.”Nick Monica helped the Comets make it back to the postseason last year, completing 76 of 125 passes for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Grace King was the first Class 5A team the Comets have faced in their history. The road will not get any easier this week as they travel to PanAmerican Stadium to take on Lawless. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.Lawless, 0-2, is coming off a 27-22 loss to Pensacola (Fla.) last week. Inthe season opener, the Pythians fell to Fortier 19-0, being held to 91 yards in total offense, including minus 36 rushing.

The Pythians are led by senior quarterback Ronnie Banks. Wide receiverEarl Peters is the go-to receiver and is also a dangerous kick returner, having returns of 60 and 18 yards that were negated by penalties in the season opener. Glenn Smith and Rondell Lewis, both who possessoutstanding quickness, are the top backs.

Defensively, the Pythians are led by Nathan Wilfred and Eugene Windsor, two seniors who lead an otherwise inexperienced line. Chris Shelling isone of two sophomores starting with another sophomore, Lewis, in the defensive backfield.

“They are extremely explosive on offense,” Frank Monica said. “They haveone of the better throwers we will see. They throw the ball a lot and havea good receiver that is hard to stop. We really have to play ball control onoffense to keep the defense off the field. We have to take care of thefootball and time of possession will be very important.”Next week, St. Charles Catholic travels back to New Orleans to take onNewman. For Monica, it will be a chance to play at a place that has sent itslast two quarterbacks to a place he wants to play at – on the collegiate level.

“I’d like to keep playing sports,” Monica, who is also on the Comets’ basketball and baseball teams, said. “They have been a big part of my life.I don’t want to give it up.”

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