ANDRE BURL / L’Observateur / November 2, 1998

METAIRIE – On the eve of fright night, the St. Charles Catholic Cometspulled a trick out of their hat and unmasked the St. Martin’s Saints for a38-0 District 9-2A win Friday night.

The Saints took the first possession at their own 30-yard line and quickly went to Danny Trahant for what look to be a run-control offense by the Saints. After an 11-play series, The Saints got off a net 53-yard puntwith the Comets finding themselves opening their series of downs at their own 5-yard line.

At the 6:12 mark of the first quarter, the Comets went to work with their own ground control game in Wayne Stein and a prolific passing attack by Nick Monica. These two weapons chewed up first down yardage withefficiency as the Comets marched the football down the field in a span of four minutes to the Saints’ 1-yard line. With 2:50 in the quarter, JoshSchexnayder push the ball in for the game’s first score. The extra point byChristian Panquerne was good to make the score 7-0. St. Martin’s againtook over, but a stifling defense only allowed the Saints one play before Panquerne stepped in front of a Dennis Stewart pass at the 49-yard line for one of his two interceptions to give St. Charles another opportunity toincrease their lead.

And again ball control was the Comets’ game plan. The Comets drove to putthe ball for Panquerne as he drilled a 28-yard field goal with six seconds remaining in the quarter to make the score 10-0, Comets.

The start of the second quarter saw the Saints go three plays and punt.

With 10:30 left in the second, Matt Weber elevated high over the defender to haul in a 17-yard grab at the 30 to set up two running plays and land the ball at the 10-yard line of the Saints. At the 8:01 mark, Steinbarrelled up the gut for the touchdown. The extra point was good to makethe score 17-0.

St. Martin’s again went three plays and punted. Nick Monica gained 22-yards on a run and followed by nine more running plays, put the ball at the Saints’ 1-yard line with 2:13 left in the half. From there, Monica called aquarterback keeper for the score. A good extra point put St. CharlesCatholic ahead 24-0.

The Saints went four plays and punted on their next possession, giving the football to St. Charles Catholic at the Comets 37-yard line. St.Charles Catholic needed only three plays to score, highlighted by a 49-yard pass from Monica to Weber for the score. The extra point was good,making the score 31-0.

The Comets would add another touchdown by Julian Ward in the third quarter from 4-yards out for the final score.

St. Charles Catholic improved to 4-5 overall and 1-2 in District 9-2A. St.Martin’s fell to 1-8 overall and 0-3 in district.

The Comets gained 182 yards in the air and had 51 carries for 265 yards, good for 24 first downs.

St. Martin’s was held to 32 yards passing and 29 rushing for a total of 61yards and three first downs.

St. Charles Catholic lines up against Ridgewood next week for a districtmatchup with a win possibly setting the stage for a wild card berth.

St. Martin’s travels to Riverside for the final game of the season.

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