Country Day scores 11 points late to claim 1-point win over SCC
Published 8:48 pm Friday, September 21, 2018
- Taylor Miller, No. 14, and Justin Dumas, No. 1, look to the sideline for instruction during the Comets' game against Country Day in Metairie.
METAIRIE — The passing connection between quarterback Justin Dumas and wide receiver Taylor Miller was one of the few positive things going for the St. Charles Catholic offense Friday in Metairie.
Naturally, the Comets went back to it when they needed a drive to set up a possible game-winning field goal.
With less than 30 seconds remaining in SCC’s battle against Country Day, coaches called it up again, getting a completion inside the 30 yardline, but a hard tackle and tough luck fumble was quickly covered up by Christian Becnel, sealing the Cajuns’ 11-10 victory.
“That’s a good football team and they beat us today,” a clearly frustrated SCC football coach Frank Monica said minutes after the game ended. “We’ve got all the makings of a losing football team right now: too many mistakes, turnovers, the offense doesn’t know their assignments. We’re not a good football team right now.”
The frustration and disappointment was clear on all Comets’ coaches and players when the game ended. It wasn’t because they’re bad; it was because a winnable football game was lost.
Cajuns defenders Buckner Heebe and Christian Becnel get up to celebrate after recovering a fumble late in the fourth quarter.
St. Charles Catholic (2-2) led throughout the contest, going up early when Dumas connected with Miller on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 4:02 remaining in the first quarter.
The first half ended 7-0 in SCC’s favor and kicked up to 10-0, when senior Cameron Fabre connected on a 24-yard field goal with 7:43 left in the third quarter.
It was the first time all season Country Day went scoreless in a half.
Those remained the only points of the game until 4:47 to go in the fourth quarter, when Country Day (4-0) notched the scoreboard with a successful field goal of its own.
SCC failed to take much time off the clock on its ensuing possession, giving the ball quickly back to a hungry Cajuns offense led by playmaker Justin Ibieta.
The junior quickly connected on a 71-yard catch and run, setting up the pivotal (game-tying?) score with 2:05 remaining.
SCC’s defense, which includes Aaron Johnson, from left, Jordan Brown, Eli Ory, Mason Narcisse, Nicholas Lorio and Samuel Joyce, held the Cajuns to 11 points in Metairie.
Instead of overtime, the Cajuns elected to go for a two-point conversation, which resulted in a successful conversion that was greatly aided by questionable calls on the SCC defense.
Country Day was up 11-10.
Still, the Comets (2-2) had their chance.
A misdirection Dumas-to-Joseph Chiarella pass got SCC cooking, followed by a Dumas scramble that was extended with a Cajuns late hit. Unfortunately for St. Charles Catholic fans, the unlucky turnover with only 21 seconds on the clock at the 21-yardline of Country Day ended a hard-fought game.
Comets running back Joseph Chiarella looks for running room.
