By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE — After five dominating victories, Class 3A’s top-ranked St. Charles Comets were finally supposed to see a true test Friday night as it hosted talented Donaldsonville, with its explosive offense and playmaking quarterback Devon Breaux in tow.

Instead, Comet supporters were treated to more of the same. Not that they’ve got a problem with such.

St. Charles came away with its sixth straight decisive win, downing the Tigers, 49-8, in the District 7-3A opener for both teams.

DHS (2-4) had averaged 30.8 points per game against a slate that included strong competition in Dutchtown, McDonogh No. 35 and Assumption prior to Friday’s clash with the Comets (6-0).

Lazedrick Thompson rushed for 163 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries and Marcus Hall rushed 13 times for 97 yards and a score; SCC’s rushing attack all but took over the game in the second half, as the Comets extended a 21-8 halftime lead to its eventual margin of victory.

“We came out with a different energy level in the third quarter,” said St. Charles coach Frank Monica. (Donaldsonville) got their attention. (Breaux) is exactly as advertised … but I’m proud of the way we answered in the second half.”

Donnie Savoie provided the offensive balance in the first half, completing 11 of 16 pass attempts for 134 yards and a touchdown. Sammy Miller was his favorite target, hauling in six receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown.

The beginning of the second half showed how effectively SCC can finish an opponent; a very competitive first half gave way when the Comets seized all the momentum in the third quarter in a matter of three quick drives.

First, St. Charles went ahead 28-8 after a five-play drive consisting of only runs, including gains of 33 and 29 by Thompson. He’d score on a 1-yard run to cap things.

Donaldsonville took over at the SCC 36 after the ensuing kickoff, and drove into the Comet redzone for the fifth time after a 23-yard run by Breaux and a 29-yard jump ball connection between he and Leondre James.

The Tigers found themselves at a first-and-goal from the 10; two incompletions, then an 8-yarder from Breaux to Tre Brown made it a fourth-and-2. Breaux attempted to run it in and broke to the outside; defensive end LaJaylin Smith cut him off and corralled him for a two-yard loss.

“LaJaylin tried to keep him contained, but he got outside,” said Jeffrey Hall. “We were in a Cover Four protecting the back of the endzone. We were watching for him to cross the line and once he did, LaJaylin was there to stop him.”

SCC embarked on another five-play drive against a clearly worn down Tiger defense; Thompson had runs of 18 and 21 while Hall added rushed of 16, 10 and finally 31 on a scoring jaunt. The five-play, 96-yard drive completely took the wind out of Donaldsonville’s sails for good, making it 36-8 after SCC tacked on a swinging gate 2-point run by Thompson for good measure.

“At halftime, our coaches really emphasized coming out with more intensity and being able to run the ball,” said Thompson.

Said Monica, “They’ve got a number of players who go both ways. My hope was that in a close game, or if we had a lead, we’d be able to run the ball and wear them down in the second half. And fortunately, that was what happened.”

The Comets started fast, as Ross Authement intercepted Breaux on the second play of the game and set the Comets up on the Tigers’ 9. Two Thompson runs later, he had a 6-yard score and SCC led 7-0.

Donaldsonville got into SCC territory on its next drive, reaching the 18 after Breaux connected with Leondre James for 38 yards on a ball James caught after it was deflected off of two other players. But Breaux was sacked on the next play after scrambling, then slipping for a loss of 12 in the backfield. A fourth down jump ball pass to James was broken up by Jeffrey Hall, who would intercept Breaux once in each half to end scoring threats.

SCC went to work again, this time marching down the field on a methodical 12-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by a 5-yard Thompson touchdown run.

Donaldsonville put together a drive of its own to answer, putting together a 14-play drive in which Donaldsonville converted a fourth-and-23 play on a pass interference penalty in the endzone. Breaux scored on a seven-yard run, then found James for the two-point conversion to make it 14-8.

After forcing a quick three-and-out, Donaldsonville put together another drive deep into SCC territory, but once again the Comet defense held firm, three Comets stopping Breaux on a fourth-and-2 run at the SCC 16; Breaux had a 24-yard run and an 18-yard completion to James to set his team up there.

St. Charles looked primed to capitalize, especially after a pretty pass from Savoie to Miller down the seam set SCC up in Donaldsonville territory. But Miller was dropped on a five-yard reception later in the drive and fumbled, and the Tigers took over at the SCC 29.

Breaux hit James again for a big gain, this one 47 yards, and Donaldsonville was in the SCC redzone for the fourth time in the first half. Two big losses dropped them into a fourth and 26; an incomplete half effectively sent the teams into halftime.