Cancienne scores three, Rollo throws two in 35-14 win

By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

St. Charles Coach Frank Monica needed to find out his team’s identity as it took its home field Friday night against East Ascension.

Was it the gritty, intense group he saw take down South Plaquemines, 30-6, in the season opener? Or was it the listless team that fell to Higgins, 38-19, in the next game?

It appears the real Comets are much closer to the first description than the latter.

Senior running back Jonathan Cancienne rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and added a 98-yard kickoff return score as the Comets downed the Spartans, 35-14.

&#8220We played much harder than we did against Higgins,” Monica said. &#8220We also played a lot smarter and with much more intensity. I think we proved who we are, but we’re not out of the woods, yet.”

Cancienne was as explosive as ever in leading the Comet offense. Aside from his 98-yard return, which put St. Charles up 21-7, he also broke an 87-yard run in the third quarter. Each time East Ascension scored, it seemed Cancienne had an answer.

&#8220He had a very big game,” Monica said. &#8220He was a big part of our special teams, which were key in that win. He had a real good night.”

Senior quarterback Vincent Rollo also continued his solid play as a first year starter under center. He completed 11-14 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

&#8220He’s doing extremely well,” Monica said. &#8220He’s making good reads, and really is a big part of the offensive success we’ve had. He and Jonathan have to play well each week, we have a lot of guys learning the system.”

Cancienne scored the first quarter’s only touchdown when he scored on a one-yard plunge to put the Comets up 7-0.

East Ascension answered with a rushing touchdown of its own in the second quarter, as Robert Williams scored from ten yards away. The extra point attempt was no good, leaving the Comets with a 7-6 advantage.

Rollo found wide receiver DeMarcus Bernard for a 27-yard touchdown later in the quarter, and led 14-6 at the half.

Cancienne wasted no time in the third quarter supplying some breathing room for St. Charles, taking the opening kickoff 98 yards for the score, making the score 21-6.

Williams wasn’t about to let his Spartans go without an answer, scoring from 40 yards away this time. After a two-point conversion, the deficit was cut to one score, 21-14.

But St. Charles pulled away before the end of the third. Cancienne took Williams’ 40-yard jaunt and topped it with his own 87-yard touchdown run. A short time later, Rollo found receiver Devin Snyder for a 25-yard touchdown, ending the scoring at 35-14.

&#8220We had to get back into the win column after our last game,” Monica said. &#8220This game was much closer than the score indicated. They made a few more mistakes than we did, and it allowed us to get on top.”

St. Charles will host St. Amant this Friday night.