By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. Charles Catholic will roll into the postseason firing on all cylinders.

The Comets allowed just 38 total yards and rushed for 282 in a 49-7 rout of Grace King in non-district action, cementing a 7-3 record for St. Charles Catholic for the regular season.

St. Charles is likely to host its opening round playoff game as a result of the victory, which is its sixth in the last seven weeks.

“We were a football team left on the side of the street as roadkill,” said St. Charles coach Frank Monica. “We came back from that, battle-tested, and now hopefully we’re in the place we need to be in to make a run.”

Erron Lewis has scored three touchdowns or more in three consecutive weeks after a three-score effort Friday. He rushed for 175 yards on 15 carries, pushing him over the 1,000 yard mark this season.

“That was a goal we had for him before the season,” said Monica. “He’s really been our bellcow running back. The offensive line did a nice job tonight.”

Justin Loupe rushed 9 times for 50 yards and a score.

Austin Weber completed 6-of-8 pass attempts for 97 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Lewis scored three of the team’s four touchdowns in the first quarter of play, from 15, 15 and 8 yards respectively. A 56-yard touchdown pass from Weber to Jemal Baptiste gave SCC its other score, and the Comets led 28-0 after one.

“We felt that we had to come out fast,” said Monica. “The first quarter would be the key. We took the opening kickoff, went down and scored, and that set the tone.”

A 3-yard Weber touchdown pass to Eian Mitchell, a 5-yard Loupe touchdown and an Eric Lewis 38-yard interception return for a touchdown rounded out the scoring for SCC.

Grace King (2-7) scored its lone touchdown on a Gregory Glass kickoff return.

Andrew Poulos and Sean Alonzo each recovered fumbles for the Comets. Jordan Favorite intercepted a pass.

“The turnovers were critical,” said Monica.

Monica said the Comets set out to take the run away from Grace King. That was a successful venture. King rushed for minus-4 yards on the night.