MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 14, 1998

RESERVE – Riverside and St. Charles Catholic have seen quite a bit of eachother over the past year.

Last November, the Lady Comets defeated the Lady Rebels in playoff for the district title in volleyball. At the beginning of this year, the LadyRebels returned the favor, defeating St. Charles Catholic to earn secondplace in the district in girls’ basketball. In the spring, St. Charles Catholicwould upend the Rebels on their way to a the district title in baseball. Andin May, in perhaps the biggest game in the history of the rivalry, the Lady Comets defeated the Lady Rebels in the Class 2A softball state championship game.

This week the rivalry returns to the football field. Riverside has won sixstraight over the Comets, including a 10-7 victory last year in a game that went down the final second. The last time the Comets defeated theRebels was in 1987.

Both teams come into the game playing some of the best football of the season. Riverside comes into the game on the wake of a 26-6 victory overWest St. John last Friday in the Rebels’ first District 9-2A game of theseason. Riverside is ranked eighth in the state this week in the Class 2Astate poll with a 6-0 record. The Rebels gained a victory this week whenUniversity was declared to have used an inelgible player and had to forfeit its win over Riverside in the second week of the season.

St. Charles Catholic opens District 9-2A play riding a three-game winningstreak after dropping its first three games of the season. The Cometscompleted non-district play last Friday with a 49-0 victory over Pine in the final game of a four-game homestand.

Riverside gained 272 yards in its victory over the Rams, led by the passing of Joey Poirrier. Poirrier completed six of his eight passes for 129 yardsand a touchdown. On the season, he has completed 37-of-70 passes for612 yards and four touchdowns while running the Rebels’ new Wing-T formation.

Poirrier’s go to receiver has been Keith Leblanc. Leblanc caught threepasses against the Rams for 40 yards, bringing his totals for the season to 14 receptions for 359 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, CaseyRemondet ran 18 times for 85 yards and a touchdown, giving him a season total of 594 yards and eight touchdowns on 88 carries.

The Rebels defense allowed 248 yards to West St. John but kept the Ramsout of the end zone three times inside the 20-yard line, including a first- and-goal at the one.

“The defense was just outstanding,” Riverside coach Mickey Roussel said.

“The goal line stand was tremendous. We bent a bit but didn’t break.Defensively, it has been a total team effort. No superstars, just 11 guyswho play together.”St. Charles Catholic coach Wayde Keiser has been impressed with what hehas seen of the Rebels.

“They are good,” Keiser said. “They are fundamentally sound. They don’t dothings that hurt them. (Riverside offensive coordinator) John White isdoing an excellent job running the Wing-T.

“They have a solid running back in Remondet and a quality offensive line and their defensive line is as good or better as I have ever seen. Allaround, they are a good football team.”Keiser said his own team is playing better and better each week.

“We are scratching our way back into this thing now,” Keiser said. “We gotourselves back into it and got some self-confidence.”The Comets were led by Wayne Stein in their victory over Pine. Steincarried six times for 122 yards and scored three touchdowns. On theseason, he has rushed for 495 yards and eight touchdowns on 77 attempts.

Doug Friloux added 66 yards Friday while Josh Schexnayder contributed 45 yards. Nick Monica completed all four of his passes for 44 yards. Monicanow has completed 33 of his 58 passes for 500 yards on the season.

The defense had another solid game, holding Pine to six first downs and 100 yards in total offense while forcing three turnovers.

Keiser said the game could come down to two or three plays, whether they be turnovers, a punt return or a dropped pass, that will swing the momentum or the tide of the game.

Roussel said he realizes the importance of the game as far as the district standings. A win by the Rebels puts them in the driver’s seat for thedistrict title while a win by the Comets puts them a step ahead. Rousselsaid a key will be handling the distractions of the week.

“We have to keep it in perspective,” Roussel said. “We have to come outeach and every game and execute.”

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