Comets defeat Riverside Rebels 24-7

The Comets survived a slow start and sluggish first half performance and went on to dominate the second half in a 24-7 win over Riverside Friday night in Reserve. The Comets outscored the Rebels 17-0 in the second half after the first half ended in a 7-7 deadlock.

The two teams came out with lot of emotion that lead to early mistakes on both sides. The Rebels fumbled the opening kickoff which was recovered by Kyle Faucheux of the Comets. On the Comets first play the Comets fumbled and recovered. But on second down a lateral pass was blocked and recovered by the Rebels.

Riverside would control the ball for over 6 minutes driving to the Comet 5 yard line before the Comet defense stiffened forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down. The Comets would take over and move the ball to midfield where Jonathana Cancienne would take off on a run all the way to the Rebel 9 yard line. But a quesionable holding call negated the play and the Comets would eventually punt to the Rebels.

The Rebels were able to move the ball down the field and score their only touchdown of the game on a 1 yard run by Jared Ceasar. The PAT was good and with a little over 9 minutes remaining in the second quarter the Rebels lead 7-0.

The Comets took over deep in Rebel territory late in the second quarter. Jonathan Cancienne carried 4 straight times moving the ball to the 4 yard line. Facing 3rd and goal at the six yard line quarterback Philip Sutton connected with Chase Fletcher on a short screen pass. Fletcher powered his way into the endzone. Chris Ilski's PAT tied the game at 7.

The Rebels would threaten to score midway through the third quarter driving to the Comets 11 yard line. The drive was aided by 30 yard of penalities against the Comets. But the Comet defense rose up and held the Rebels out of the endzone. On 4th down on the Comets 13 yard line defensive back Kyle Faucheux picked a Rebel pass at the 2 and returned it to the 14.

The Comets would respond with a 6 play 86 yard drive all of them runs by Jonathan Cancienne. Canciienne who ended with over 200 yards rushing gashed the Rebels defense with runs of 33, 18 and 25 before scoring on a 1 yard run. Islki's PAT put the Comets on top 14-7 with a little over 1 minute left in the 3rd quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Comets. After forcing the Rebels to three and out on their next possession, the Comets moved the ball all the way to the Rebels 12 yard line where Chris Ilski kicked a 29 yard field goal to give the Comets a 17-7 lead.

Folowing a short Rebel punt on their next possession, Cancienne scored the game's final touchdown on a 28 yard run.

Michael Macaluso intercepted a Rebel pass with one minute left in the game and the Comets killed the remaining time on the clock.

The win sets up another huge game for the Comets as they host the fast and powerful St. James Wildcats Friday night in LaPlace. The two teams have had some highly competitive and exciting games the last few years. Last year St. James won the regular season game 20-12. But two weeks later the Comets eliminated the Wildcats from the playoffs in a 21-19 thriller in St james. The Comets went on all the way to the 2-A state championship.