ANDRE BURL / L’Observateur / October 30, 1999

LAPLACE – The St. Charles Comets played host to the Christian LifeCrusaders Friday, with the weather absolutely perfect for football in Dupuy Stadium. The Comets did not put a damper on their fans’expectations for a victory, keeping a 19-17 thrill-ride win.

Coming into the game, the Comets seemed to be out-manned and out- gunned, but nobody told that to Coach Frank Monica or his players. TheComets didn’t worry about the stat sheets though, and their performance proved what a team effort can accomplish.

After winning the toss, the Crusaders chose to receive, and it look like the game would be just going through the motions with a 5-yard return, and the Crusaders took over at their own 34.

The first play drew a flag against the Comets, moving the ball to the St.

Charles 39. Christian Life’s talented quarterback, Stefan Lefors, movedthe ball skillfully downfield with a 10-yard scamper over the right side to the 49 of St. Charles. A 5-yard run by the fullback, JohnStewart, and a QB keeper for three more landed the ball on the Comet 35. With first and 10, and 8:58 in the firstquarter, and the ball sitting on the 30, QB Lefor connected with a speedy Raymond Mason on a crossing pattern and gained 27 yards to the Comets’ 3-yard line.

With a first and goal, the Crusaders went to their power back, John Stewart, and pushed the ball over the line for the game’s first score with less than five minutes into the contest. The PAT was good and, at 8:48,Christian Life was leading 7-0.

With their turn to make a statement, the Comets only managed to advance the ball to their 48 before they were forced to punt. Quickly, theCrusaders went back to work. Their talented duo of quaterback StefanLefor and wideout Raymond Mason again headed the ball toward the Comet end zone.

But with the ball laying on the St. Charles 40-yard line, the defensestiffened, led by Elinus Noel, Mike Duhe, Kevin Blank, and Garrett Stephens.

The Crusaders were forced to punt. At the 4:28 mark in the first, the firsterror happened, as a bad snap sailed over the punter’s head and put the Comets at Christian Life’s 26-yard line.

Now, Comet quarterback Nick Monica took things into his own hands, coming off a sack, then back to back to the 26 with a pass, a double reverse, and a Monica quarterback keeper, which landed the ball at the Crusader 6 with a first and goal.

Two plays later, Monica caught a diving Toby Jacob in the end zone for a St. Charles touchdown, but the PAT was blocked and the score stoodChristian Life 7 and Comets 6, to end the first quarter.

At the 11:54 mark into the second quarter, this was followed by a beautiful 36-yard run by Stewart and a couple of passes to Ronnie Mason.

The Crusaders lined up to kick a 36-yard field goal on the foot of Jacob Simmons, and the score stood at 10-6, Crusaders, with 11:54 remaining in the quarter.

The Comets took the kickoff but after only getting 13 yards. ChaseCourville boomed a nice 41-yard punt with no return. The Crusaders tookover and went back to their game plan, moving the ball nicely down the field, but once again the Comets answered the challenge and stymied the Crusaders’ drive at their 48 forcing them to punt.

Simmons put the ball at the St. Charles 37, but after a 6-play drive, theComets offense stalled and they had to punt. Than again, another miscue bythe Crusaders, a fumble at their own 30 with 4:21 to the half, gave St.

Charles a golden opportunity and they took advantage.

With less than 3:30 to go in the half, the Comets took a seven-play drive, highighted by good Monica passing and great receiving by Jacob and great offensive protection.

Monica pinpointed a pass to Jacob in the corner that landed on the one- yard line. With 2:21 to go, Monica called his own number and push it up thegut for the score. The PAT was good, and St. Charles led 13-10 at the half.The third quarter saw Christian Life moving the ball again, but a fumble and a St. Charles recovery at the 8:52 mark put the Comets in goodposition to score and add to their lead.

A 10-yard run by Anthony Jacob set up a Monica sneak up the middle and a score at 7:32. A two-point conversion failed, but it was St. Charles 19,and Christian Life 10.

After some strong defensive plays and a diving interception by Chris Martin, the quarter rolled down to 52 seconds and saw the Christian Life sitting at their own 20-yard line with a second and 10.

Quarterback Lefor found a streaking Travis Trepagnier for a 80-yard touchdown. The finally tally was St. Charles 19 and Christian Life 17.

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