St. Charles Catholic downs Notre Dame again to reach semifinals

Lewis Cook is one of the greatest coaches in Louisiana prep football history.

A book has been written about Cook, who is one of just three coaches in state history with over 400 career wins.

While Cook is that guy, Wayne Stein is on the fast track to be that guy with state titles in each of his first two seasons.

The unbeaten Comets have a real shot at a third straight championship.

The top-seed fought off Notre Dame 31-21 in Laplace Friday night in the Select Division III quarterfinals.

It is the fourth straight year that the Comets have knocked out the Pios in the playoffs.

Speaking on The Three Tailgaters Show on NASH ICON 106.1 FM Saturday morning, Comets coach Wayne Stein spoke of the familiarity of the two programs.

“Our kids and their kids are a lot alike,” Stein said. “We’re not excited about playing them but there is so much respect between the two programs. It was a typical St. Charles Catholic game with Notre Dame. Both sides have seen it all from each other.”

Jeremiah Wills paced the St. Charles Catholic attack, rushing 18 times for 137 yards. Brady St. Pierre completed 8-of-13 passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns.

The Comets held Notre Dame to just 69 yards rushing and 185 total yards. St. Charles Catholic overcame 10 penalties for 120 yards.

St. Charles Catholic got on the board first as St. Pierre connected with Brandon Kragle on a 21-yard touchdown pass to give the Comets a 7-0 lead with seven minutes to play in the opening quarter.

Notre Dame stormed back, tying the game on a 3-yard run by Jackson Casanova to make it 7-7.

Casanova capped another scoring drive with a 2-yard touchdown to give the Pios a 14-7 lead.

St. Charles Catholic got even on a 10-yard scoring toss from St. Pierre to Kragle to make it 14-14 in the second quarter and the Comets took the lead when St. Pierre rolled right and hit Daniel Joseph on an 18-yard touchdown pass and it was 21-14 Comets at halftime.

Kaden Foster came up with the typical St. Charles Catholic big play in the kicking game, returning a punt 48 yards for a touchdown to lengthen the lead to 28-14 with 7:22 to play in the third quarter.

“We had a punt blocked and that was not good and Kaden got it back for us with his return,” Stein said. “That was a big moment in the game.”

Notre Dame (9-4) fought back in the fourth quarter with Faust hitting Luke Simon with a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-21 with 7:20 to play in the game.

Tyler Milioto put the game away with a 19-yard field goal with 4:19 to play in the game as the Comets defense held the rest of the way.

Parker Faust completed 12-of-20 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown with an interception for the Pios.

St. Charles Catholic (12-0) will host No. 4 seed University Lab in the semifinals. The Cubs (11-1) routed No. 21 Lake Charles College Prep 45-13.

The Comets have scrimmaged the Cubs annually since 2012.

“Not to be arrogant but this is where we expected to be,” Stein said. “We’re lights out on defense, solid on special teams and solid on offense.

“It’s going to be a challenge facing U-High. We see them annually in our scrimmage. Each side knows exactly who they are. It is a scrimmage that makes you accelerate your preparation. Now, we play for real. Coach Andy Martin does a phenomenal job.”