By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

NEW ORLEANS — St. Charles Catholic coach Frank Monica sounded a bit weary after coaching his Comets against a second top 10-ranked Class 3A opponent in the past eight days. But he also sounded unmistakably proud.

St. Charles emerged with a 28-21 victory on the road against a revenge-minded De La Salle squad the Comets eliminated from the postseason a year ago.

Brady Becker’s 41-yard touchdown reception from Austin Weber proved the game-winner with 4:41 left in play, and the Comets defense made a stop on the Cavaliers’ ensuing drive to ice the victory.

While John Curtis was SCC’s greatest challenge physically, De La Salle stacked up as SCC’s toughest mentally. The Comets defeated the Cavaliers twice in lopsided wins a year ago, but returned a young core of talented players Monica knew would provide trouble for many this season.

“I felt all year long that this game would be a real program-tester for us,” Monica said. “Everyone knows about the mystique of Curtis, but when we saw this team, we knew they’d be a real threat. Coming on the road, and it coming a week after the Curtis game, those things didn’t help us.

“Our kids showed lots of resiliency. We got knocked around, and De La Salle controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides. But we responded.”

Cole Lewis was the bell cow for De La Salle, carrying the ball 27 times for 147 yards and three touchdowns.

Weber led the Comets (5-2, 1-1) in rushing and passing for the third straight week. He rushed 13 times for 93 yards and a touchdown, and completed 8 of 12 passes for 87 yards and a score. Becker caught five passes for 83 yards. Justin Loupe rushed for a touchdown, as well, for SCC.

After De La Salle recovered an early surprise onside kick, Lewis scored to put the Cavaliers ahead 7-0.

SCC answered via Loupe on the ground, his 7-yard touchdown tying things up.

Eric Lewis put St. Charles ahead for the first time on a 53-yard punt return.

Lewis and Weber traded scores after that, with Lewis scoring twice on runs of 4 and 8 yards, while Weber scored on a 4-yarder. That left the score tied at 21, setting up Weber and Becker’s go-ahead connection.

“(De La Salle) shrunk the game on us,” Monica said. “They gave us all we could handle. I’m just tickled to get out of there before the score changes.”