By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — So, is it possible for a jamboree to go down as the game of the year?

There will certainly be plenty of others played over the next four months, but each will have a tough act to follow as St. Charles and East St. John kicked off their respective seasons with major fireworks.

The Comets blocked Marco Barrera’s extra point attempt with one minute remaining in regulation and recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt to wrap up a thrilling 35-34 victory over the Wildcats at Joe Keller Memorial Stadium on Thursday night.

“It’s a big step for us,” said SCC running back Lazedrick Thompson. “I know people thought they’d beat us big this year. But we were able to show otherwise.”

Said ESJ coach Larry Dauterive: “I think people got their money’s worth, seeing all the fireworks. “But when you score 34 points in a half, you’re supposed to win. If we don’t improve substantially defensively, then we may not win a game.

“They’ve got our number the last two years. I’ve said it before, I think they do the best coaching job in the state at St. Charles.”

It is the second straight season SCC has topped ESJ by a single point and the second time in as many years that the deciding play came on a point after attempt. Last season, SCC took a one-point lead on a “swinging gate” two-point conversion pass.

“That was amazing,” said Thompson of the block. “It’s what we train for, making those kinds of big plays.”

ESJ quarterback Darion Monroe had just rushed for a five-yard touchdown, sparking a memorable moment when the exuberant junior ran over to hug ESJ Principal Patricia Triche, who was seated on the track alongside the field.

Monroe and receiver D’haquille Williams put on a show, perhaps a sign of things to come this season. Monroe rushed for three scores and Williams caught three passes for 133 yards and a touchdown while adding a two-point conversion.

“(Williams) has to be the most electric player in the state,” Monica said. “He plays hard, and he knows how to play. Hopefully, we’re lucky enough to see him playing on Sunday’s one day.”

But the ESJ defense was not able to halt the balanced attack of the Comets. SCC offered a steady diet of running backs Marcus Hall and Lazedrick Thompson (two rushing touchdowns each), while Donnie Savoie made an impressive debut at quarterback.

The Comets broke a 21-21 halftime tie by marching down to score in six plays on Thompson’s first touchdown, a 4-yard plunge to make it 27-21. Ben Brady added the extra point to make it 28-21.

“We didn’t tackle well and we were out of position. That falls on coaching, and I take the responsibility for that,” said Dauterive. “It’s my loss.”

East St. John then turned the keys of the offense over to running back Andrew Taylor, who chewed up 53 yards on five carries, helping to set up a 1-yard Monroe touchdown sneak to tie the game.

“There were a lot of matchups that concerned us,” said Monica. “East St. John is so fast, so explosive. We were playing with a lot of puppies on defense. Our guys fought very, very hard, but we didn’t hold up.”

John Wood set up SCC in good field position with a return to the ESJ 46, but the Comets stalled at the Wildcats 28.

SCC responded with a stop of its own, though, when a Monroe deep pass intended for Williams was intercepted by a leaping Aaron Hampton at the St. Charles 31. It was the second turnover of the game that Hampton caused, after forcing a fumble to halt a driving ESJ deep in SCC territory in the first half.

“He’s a real good player, a (Division I) guy. He’s going places in life,” said Hampton. “I felt a lot of pressure. But at the same time, it wasn’t about me. We’ve just got a team of guys who put in a lot of work and listen to our coaching. Hard work is the answer to everything.”

The teams traded stops, but the Comets downed a Jared Keating punt at the ESJ 4. A personal foul penalty placed the ball at the two, and ESJ would have to punt after a three-and-out. Marcus Hall returned the ball to the ESJ 34, but two personal foul penalties against ESJ set SCC up at the Wildcats’ 8, and Thompson would score on the first play to make it 35-28.

A 20-yard run by Williams, a 17-yard run by Monroe, and an 11-yard run by Taylor set up Monroe’s last score before the fateful extra point try.

“In retrospect, I should have gone for two,” said Dauterive. “But when your players fight so hard, you don’t want to see them take the loss.”

SCC began the game with a bang when Brady Hitt intercepted a Monroe pass, setting up a 12-yard Hall touchdown run four plays later. The extra point was no good.

Taylor tied the game on a 17-yard scoring run, but ESJ’s extra point attempt missed.

Hall’s second touchdown run from 3-yards away was set up by a 43-yard catch by Jeffrey Hall. The Comets nailed down a two-point conversion when Thompson ran it on another “swinging gate” setup.

DeChris Strong answered for the Wildcats via a 74-yard touchdown run. Each team would score once more in the first half, on rushing scores by Monroe and Savoie

“It’s a great win. Even if it doesn’t count, it goes for a lot of respect in the parish,” said Hampton. “There was some pre-game hype, but we told everyone beforehand, no talking,” said Hampton. “We’ll show it on the field.”