By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE — If St. Charles has its way, the next five weeks will be remembered for much longer than the previous 10.

But no matter what happens after the postseason begins next week, the Comets made history on Friday night.

Top-ranked SCC finished off an undefeated regular season, finishing 10-0 for the first time in school history with a 58-0 rout of district rival E.D. White.

“These kids would like to go a little farther, and I think we can,” said St. Charles coach Frank Monica. “But they’ve also played their hearts out all year. It’s a great accomplishment. I never dreamed we’d have this kind of success, especially in this district.”

The Comets wrapped up the outright District 8-3A crown with the win and likely a top 3 seed at worst when the LHSAA playoff brackets are released Sunday.

Much as has been the case throughout the SCC season, the game was not close. St. Charles’ first team offense had 10 total possessions before giving way to the second team, and the Comets scored points on nine of those.

Likewise, defensively, SCC recorded its sixth shutout of the season. The Comets have given up a grand total of eight offensive points over the last seven weeks and just 25 total on the season. Against E.D. White, SCC allowed just two first downs in the first half as it built a 37-0 lead.

“Our thing that we always say, ‘Play fast and play focused,’” said SCC defensive end LaJaylin Smith. “And listen to our coaches. If we do those things, everything falls into place.”

Donnie Savoie tossed four touchdown passes. Chad McNeil caught two of those. Brandon Zimmer rushed for two scores. Ross Authement had an interception and a forced fumble.

SCC got on the board after stopping E.D. White on its opening drive and quickly scored on a 1-yard Lazedrick Thompson touchdown to make it 6-0. The extra point attempt was no good.

A three and out by the Cardinals (4-6, 1-4) led to a short field for SCC, which took over at its own 45. This time, the 55-yard drive took eight plays and again ended via a touchdown run, as Brandon Zimmer ran for a 1-yard score to make it 13-0.

SCC’s third drive was capped with a 6-yard Savoie to McNeil touchdown after SCC took over on the E.D. White 49. That made it 20-0 after the first play of the second quarter.

Savoie and McNeil connected again, this time on an impressive leaping grab in the endzone by the senior wide receiver to finish off an 11-play, 57-yard drive that made it 27-0.

Lazedrick Thompson had to leave the game on the drive after sustaining a leg injury on a run into the redzone called back by penalty. He would walk off to the sideline without help, though.

“With the lead, we just decided to be cautious with him,” said Monica.

E.D. White showed a brief flash when linebacker Matt Glover intercepted Savoie; the Cardinals were deflated a play later, when St. Charles’ Ross Authement intercepted Cardinal quarterback Benton Arceneaux and returned it to the E.D. White 31.

Savoie took to the air, finding Jake Levatino for a 25-yard gain; he’d complete a 6-yard pass to Sammy Miller for Savoie’s third touchdown pass of the night. That made it 34-0.

“I’m tickled to death to see his success tonight. There’s not a player who works harder than Donnie Savoie. He made a mistake, a bad read on the interception. He recognized it and immediately adjusted.”

Said Savoie, a senior playing on the Comets’ senior night “It’s great to have all the players we have, and everyone stepped up tonight. These receivers really make my job a whole lot easier … You always want to play well on senior night, but four touchdowns, I didn’t really see that coming.”

SCC got the ball back once more in the first half after Authement came in unblocked and sacked Arceneaux, forcing a fumble. Taylor Cochran recovered. With one play left, Savoie completed a quick screen to Miller. E.D. White was whistled for a late hit after a 13-yard gain, and Patrick Juneau cashed in via a 30-yard field goal to end the half.

Savoie tosses a 33-yard touchdown pass to Chris Millet over the top on the first possession of the second half. Zimmer rushed for a 13-yard score later on, then Nick Montagut scored on an interception return of 45 yards to round out the 58-0 score.

In the fourth quarter, St. Charles’ Nick Forsyth entered the game for a play, coming in to a loud ovation.

Forsyth, who has suffered from muscular dystrophy since the age of seven, has been a St. Charles team manager for five years. He lined up at wide receiver.

“He’s always with us. It was so important,” said Monica. “This is a kid who’s been with us for five years. He’s got a younger brother on the team, an older brother who played for us. I was so happy to see him out there.”