By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Though St. Charles Catholic football coach Frank Monica has sung the praises of so many of his former Comets who signed to play at the collegiate level,  he seems to hold Louisiana College signee Patrick Juneau in especially high esteem. 

“I don’t know that anyone has commanded more respect on our football team than Patrick,” said Monica. “Our players responded to him. He’s a tremendous leader and a proven winner in the clutch. And he’s gonna be really, really hard to replace.”

Juneau signed with the Wildcats last week in a special ceremony at the SCC fieldhouse, capping a highly memorable run with the Comets as a kicker, punter and offensive lineman. 

“I’ve worked for this moment for five years,” said Juneau, a three-year starter for Monica’s Comets, after signing. “Today was just icing on the cake.”

Monica called Juneau the Comets top offensive lineman, high praise when considering St. Charles’ offensive strength was a dominating run game. Juneau’s line paved the way for 40 rushing touchdowns in 2013. 

“We played him at guard, but also at tackle and center over his time here,” said Monica. “He might have been the lightest tackle in our league, but we needed him there. He was a relentless blocker. He’s got great feet … really, he’s a tremendous athlete. He could get out and run.”

But while the senior excelled at guard last season — he’s also played tackle and center in his Comets career — he earned his scholarship, and statewide accolades, as a kicking specialist, a role he will fill at Louisiana College in both placekicking and punting capacities. 

Juneau is a two-time Louisiana Sports Writers All-State team selection, pulling off a rare feat in that he was chosen once as a place kicker and once as a punter, the latter honor coming during a senior year that saw him boom punts at an average of 44 yards per kick. 

“Those are two completely different things. It’s hard to do both, and he excelled,” said Monica. 

He also played in the 2013 Louisiana High School Coaches Association’s All-Star game.

But ask Juneau what his most memorable moment at SCC was, and he won’t hesitate.

“That Parkview Baptist kick. Definitely,” he said. 

That kick, a 21-yard field goal with four seconds remaining, propelled St. Charles past Parkview Baptist in the Class 3A state semifinals in 2011, en route to the school’s first-ever football state championship. Juneau also made a key kick in the state championship game, one in which the Comets needed every point, a 9-8 thriller against Amite. 

“To be honest, I never really felt pressure or worry,” said Juneau. “I just remember them as joyous moments.”

Juneau plans to enter into pre-medical studies at Louisiana College, a school that he said stood out to him because of the people entrenched there.

“I felt welcomed, like I could establish a loving relationship with everyone there,” he said. “I really liked the way it felt like a family atmosphere already. I made my decision on the drive home.”

Monica pointed out that Juneau was the team’s  leading tackler on kickoff coverage.

“He has the mentality to play defense. We just always needed him on the offensive line … He’s got the mental toughness and work ethic, both academically and athletically, to be a big success. We know he’ll be a tremendous ambassador for St. Charles Catholic.”