LAPLACE — To celebrate homecoming Friday night, St. Charles Catholic football coach Frank Monica urged students and fans to attend the game against Donaldsonville.

And while the Comets were happy to celebrate a 35-12 victory over the visiting Tigers, not everything was golden.

Having already lost starting quarterback Lloyd Nash to a broken collarbone and linebacker Dellary Oubre to a torn ACL, St. Charles lost running back Joe Chiarella to an apparent broken ankle early in the second quarter.

The running back, who missed much of last season to a similar injury, was hurt as he was tackled in the end zone after scoring his second touchdown of the night, a 12-yard run that put the Comets ahead 21-0 early in the second quarter.

Fortunately for the Comets, they seem to have a deep bench this season with several players able to step up.

Nine different ball carriers helped the Comets rush for 191 yards, four players scored rushing touchdowns and two kickers added extra points.

While Sutton Bourgeois started for the Comets last week, this week it was Justin Dumas who got the nod. He completed only two passes but effectively directed the offense, which finished with 228 yards.

Narquez Jones started the scoring with a 4-yard run less than four minutes into the game, capping a 9-play, 87-yard drive.

The Comets led 14-0 with 2:49 remaining in the first after Chiarella scored his first touchdown on a 2-yard run.

Noah Bork scored his first career touchdown late in the second quarter on a 2-yard run and Trey Joseph added a 6-yard run in the third quarter.

The Comets’ defense, which posted three shutouts going into Friday’s game and had given up all of 35 points, allowed the Tigers only two scores, one following a muffed punt.

Donaldsonville managed only 96 yards on the ground, most of it from quarterback Jaylin Williams, who finished with 62 yards. He also was 14 of 24 for 178 yards passing with one touchdown and one interception.

Jemon Pleasant scored for the Tigers with 5:33 remaining in the second quarter, but the 2-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Donaldsonville trailing 21-6.

Williams connected with Ladarius Jackson on a 6-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to cap the scoring.

But neither team ever was able to get into any kind of real rhythm, Friday. That’s largely because of a slew of penalty flags thrown on both squads. The two teams combined for 31 penalties for 281 yards, not counting a few more that offset. At one point Donaldsonville had three separate penalties marked against them, which gave St. Charles a first-and-goal at the 6. Joseph scored on the next play.

The Tigers (5-2, 1-2) had 19 penalties for 134 yards; St. Charles had 12 for 147, including eight of 15-yards.

West St. John – 53, Covenant Christian – 7

West St. John High followed up back-to-back 60-point performances with a 50-spot, throttling Covenant Christian 53-7 on homecoming in Edgard.

The Rams — improving to 5-2, 2-0 in District — started slow leading by five points after one quarter before blowing things away with a 20-point second quarter.

Niko Davis scored four touchdowns, one on defense, while Kylan Davis continued to blossom as a rusher, scoring three touchdowns.

East St. John – 36, Terrebonne – 28

The Wildcats hit the road and conquered the trip, topping Terrebonne 36-28.

East St. John High (4-3, 3-1) was especially strong in the second half, scoring 24 points and holding the Tigers to seven points.

ESJH’s dangerous duo of quarterback Duke Crosby and wide receiver Javon Antonio continued to thrive, connecting on a 30-yard score halfway through the first quarter.

Crosby then hooked up with Hoxie Brown III for a short score in the second quarter.

Crosby finished the night with five touchdowns through the air, three of which went to Antonio.

As has been the case lately, the Wildcats also scored a defensive touchdown to help secure the win.

Riverside – 31, Newman – 30

Riverside Academy scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to tie its road contest 24-24 at Newman and force overtime.

The Greenies (7-0) got the ball first in the extra frame, scoring a touchdown and tacking on an extra point to put Newman up 31-24.

The Rebels (1-4) gamely answered with a touchdown of their own, but couldn’t add on, losing a heartbreaker in New Orleans, 31-30.

Jordan Loving, who threw for 327 yards with a touchdown and interception, led Riverside on offense.

Louis Cheneau was the Rebels’ top rusher, using eight carries to gain 67 yards. He also scored two touchdowns, including a 10-yarder in overtime.

Kash Foley caught 10 passes for 168 yards, and Jeremiah Bigham hauled in seven grabs for 142 yards.