LAPLACE — The Saint Charles Catholic Comets stayed perfect in their home opener in a lopsided victory over the Vandebilt Catholic Terriers.

The Comets entered the game having scored 67 points, while holding their opponents winless. This game differed only in the fact the Comets junior varsity defense gave up the team’s first touchdown of the year with only a few minutes left go in the game to bring the final score to 41-7.

That puts the Comets at a combined point differential of 101 to 7 points through the first three games of the season.

St. Charles Catholic head coach Frank Monica said he was not upset by his third team defense giving up the Comets only only touchdown of the year.

“We were happy with the outcome and we got a chance to play a couple of kids and that helps your program out even though some of those kids played Wednesday in JV too,” Monica said. “Vandebilt, they kept playing until the very end. They worked real hard to get the score and I credit them for doing that.”

On offense the Comets were also near perfection.

The Comets first score of the game came off a 1-yard quarterback keeper by quarterback Patrick Ratliff. After a punt by Vandebilt, the Comets came right back down the field on their next possession when Justin Loupe broke off on a 46-yard run, followed by an 11-yard rushing touchdown by Tahj Smith.

While most well known for their aggressive rushing game, the Comets went into passing mode and wide receiver Brady Becker caught back-to-back touchdown passes to bring the score to 28-0 at half. Becker also recovered a fumble on the kickoff team that led to one of those scores.

Monica said his team got the passing game going after Vandebilt stacked its defensive players to try and defeat the run.

“We went into the ballgame feeling we couldn’t run into the middle a lot with these guys,” Monica said. “They were putting eight players in the box. We felt like we had to throw the ball to loosen them up a little bit, and I think we did that for the most part. We are not equipped to be pass happy, but we are the type of team that needs to mix it up a little bit.”

To begin the second half of play, Smith returned the kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown.

Ratliff added the Comets; last points of night on a 15-yard run to bring the score to 41-0.

Loupe was the Comets leading rusher with 74 yards off of 11 carries and Smith was right behind him with 58 yards off of 13 carries. Ratliff scored on his only two carries of the night and completed 5-of-6 passes for 45 yards and 1 touchdown. Lloyd Nash was 2-of-3 passing for 57 yards and 1 touchdown.

On defense, strong safety Justin Dubose had six tackles and one and half sacks. Free safety Eric Lewis picked up an interception, as did fellow defensive back Jacoby Johnson.

While pleased overall with his players’ performance agent Vandebilt, Monica said there is room for improvement.

“It is not the major issues, it is the things you need to adjust that could cost you in a close ballgame,” Monica said.

For instance, in the first half Lewis had a 71-yard punt rerun for a touchdown called back in addition to a 40-plus yard punt return due to penalties.

“Those are is things we need to do a better job of,” Monica said. “The kids see with that why special teams are very, very good and that is just crucial to our program and has been our lifeline for years.”