By JOHN HOWARD

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – It was a nail-biting shootout in triple overtime between the St. Charles Comets and the St. Amant Gators Friday night.

The two teams went back-and-forth in the first two overtimes with both teams scoring touchdowns and converting on their PATs.

The teams were at a stalemate up until the third overtime, when the Gator defense forced the Comets to settle for a Christopher Ilski field goal putting them ahead 54-51.

The forced field goal gave the Gators just the opportunity they needed to capitalize in the third period of overtime. Quarterback Josh Jordan, who was 30-of-44 for 390 yards and seven touchdowns on the night, attempted to pick apart the Comet defensive backfield. He was unsuccessfully on first and second down throwing two incomplete passes. But on third down, Jordan struck gold as he lofted a pass over the middle to Adam Hebert for the game-winning touchdown, ending the game with a final score of 57-54.

Although the Comets held the Gators at bay for most of the game, they allowed St. Amant to hang around, never leading by more than eight. And that proved to be costly as the Gators took their first lead of the game with 9:45 left in the game on the strength of a 12-yard touchdown reception by Charles West 34-30.

Early in the third quarter, the Comets had attempted a questionable two-point conversion rather than a PAT. The conversion failed and one quarter later the Comets found themselves in a predicament, trailing by four instead of three.

Also, a debatable pass-interference call was charged against the Comets on a Corey Reed interception in the third quarter. The turnover would have put St. Charles in opportune scoring position at the St. Amant 15-yardline.

However, the Comet offense would not be denied as they drove 73 yards down the field. Toward the end of the drive, Comet quarterback Vincent Rollo found himself under heavy pressure as he squeaked out a shuffle pass to Jonathan Cancienne that brought the Comets down to the Gator six-yardline.

On the following play, Rollo rolled out and found Alex Marse in the near corner of the end zone, putting the Comets back on top 37-34 with 1:52 remaining in the game. Rollo completed 26-of-42 for 334 yards, one interception, five touchdowns and one rushing touchdown on the night.

The Gators’ two-minute offensive went to work and converted on a fourth-and-five with 1:10 left in the game that eventually set them up for a 34-yard field goal attempt. The kick split the uprights with nine ticks remaining on the clock sending the game into overtime 37-37.