LAPLACE — Friday’s Division II second-round state playoff battle between St. Charles Catholic and St. Louis Catholic pits a rested Comets squad against a hot Saints team.

St. Louis (4-7) scored 16 unanswered points over the final two quarters last week to top E.D. White 22-21.

Saints quarterback Bailey Hardy passed for 256 yards, two touchdowns and also ran for a score.

SCC coach Frank Monica said the Saints bring an explosive offense to LaPlace for the 7 p.m. Friday game.

Monica noted Hardy throws deep balls and bubble screens with equal precision to go along with a multiple run/pass option strikes.

“They will use the field vertically and horizontally,” Monica said. “What’s deceiving about them is their record. They have played a tough schedule. We are not going to be the best team they have played, and they are telling their kids that too. They play extremely hard. They certainly will have our attention.”

SCC (8-2) enters the game with quarterback Lloyd Nash under center. The senior started his first game at quarterback in Week 10 since an early-season injury in Week 1.

Monica said Nash’s presence alone is a lift, despite the layoff’s rust factor.

“His command of the offense certainly helps us,” Monica said. “There is nothing like experience. This is basically his third year under center, and the kids respond to that kind of thing. We can actually get back to running our old offense again.”

The Saints, winners of two of their last three games, average 24 points a game on offense. Their defense has been suspect at time, giving up more than 35 points a game since October and only once this season holding an opponent under 20.

Conversely, the SCC defense has been a calling card all season, producing five shutouts and holding opponents to 12 points or less on three other occasions.