By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE  —  St. Charles Catholic coach Frank Monica seemed more encouraged by his team’s scrimmage performance against a talented University High team than he was after that matchup year ago, but the coach said his Comets still have plenty of work to do.

The U-High first team outscored the SCC first team 33-14 Thursday, the teams squaring off at St. Charles’ Thomas Dupuy Stadium.

“We played hard, but not very smart,” Monica said. “I thought at the beginning, we had good concentration, good intensity, but as the game went on, that waned for us.

“We had a lot of intensity and emotion, but when that subsides, it falls back on fundamentals. We need to do a better job on that end.”

University quarterback Manny Miles tossed three touchdown passes while tailbacks Nick Brousette and Dillon Moses combined to rush for 169 yards on 10 carries. The latter statline was highlighted by a 79-yard Brousette run. 

For the Comets, Patrick Ratliff played throughout the scrimmage at quarterback, filling in for starter Austin Weber, who missed the game with illness. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 150 yards and a score.

“He played well and took care of the ball,” Monica said. “I thought, as a whole, that was a positive, that we protected the football and didn’t have turnovers.”

Erron Lewis rushed 12 times for 48 yards. Brady Becker hauled in a touchdown pass and led SCC in receiving. 

The Comets second team outscored University 21-7.