By RYAN ARENA

“Finally!” exclaimed one longtime St. Charles supporter, arms raised in triumph on the sideline of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Saturday.

The Comets had been in two state championship games and two state semifinals since 2005, but had never taken home the big prize. But Saturday was different. While St. Charles’ explosive offense was largely corralled, the Comets’ showed how complete a team they were, relying on an incredible performance by defense and special teams en route to a 9-8 win over the Amite Warriors in the Class 3A championship game.

Running back Marcus Hall took MVP honors, finishing with 112 all-purpose yards, a game-high.

The Comets finished a perfect 15-0.

St. Charles led 9-0 in the fourth quarter, but Amite turned it into a nailbiter when Amite’s Reginald Porter scored on a 5-yard touchdown with 8:46 remaining. Porter would also find James Oden for a 2-point conversion pass to cut the SCC lead to one.

But St. Charles’ special teams came up big on the ensuing kickoff, as Jeffrey Hall returned it 31 yards to the Comets 48.

St. Charles called upon its “Comet:” formation, a variation of the single-wing or “Wildcat” for the first time on its ensuing possession, and put together a drive to the Amite 22 with Marcus Hall at quarterback. But penalties stalled the drive; Donnie Savoie would throw a pass to the endzone for Chad McNeil on fourth and 16 from the 28, but it was intercepted by Christian Cotton at the Amite 5; a break, as it turned out, for SCC as it was essentially a punt, Cotton going out at the 5.

With 4:19 left, Amite had a chance to drive and win, but SCC would not even allow a first down. Porter rushed for a yard, then threw an incompletion before Taylor Cochran came up with a pass deflection on third down. Amite punted from its own endzone, but Marcus Hall returned a line drive punt 12 yards to the Amite 20.

SCC would face fourth and 1 with just under two minutes left; Lazedrick Thompson took a handoff and powered through for three yards. It all but ended the game; Savoie would take knees and the celebration was on.

Naturally for the Comets, a key special teams play in the game’s very early moments resulted in the day’s most key points.

After Conner Western hit Amite’s Jermaine Jolla Jr. for a loss on a third and two play on Amite’s first possession, Taylor Cochran blocked Amite’s punt and set SCC up on the Warriors’ 33. An 18-yard run by Marcus Hall a few plays later would set the Comets up on the 3, and Brandon Zimmer ran it in on the next possession to make it 6-0 SCC. The point after attempt was no good.

On Amite’s second possession, SCC’s defense came up big when Ross Authement picked off Reginald Porter on a pass along the sideline. He returned to the Amite 8; the Warriors’ defense held SCC, but the Comets scored on Patrick Juneau’s 29-yard field goal, making it 9-0.

From there, both teams would rely on their defenses. St. Charles had opportunities to add to its lead in the first half, driving into Amite territory on each of their next three possessions. The first stalled on the 45; the second after Lazedrick Thompson was stopped behind the line on a fourth and 1 at the 23; and the third after SCC took over at the Amite 50 after a defensive stop on a Warriors’ fourth and 8.

St. Charles began the third quarter with a three and out, but Jeffrey Hall forced a fumble on a punt return and Macky Cortez recovered at the Amite 43. SCC drove to the 25, but stalled when Donnie Savoie threw incomplete on fourth and seven.

Then Amite had its next best chance to draw close, driving from its own 25 to the SCC 11, thanks largely to Porter’s 31 yard pass to Jolla and a 17 yarder to Joshua Gibson. SCC forced a third down and goal from the 11, but Western came up with an interception in the middle of the endzone to halt the drive.

Check back with L’Observateur.com later for more updates, including pictures and quotes from the Comets’ championship victory.