LHSAA State Championships Top Performers: St. Charles vs. Dunham

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayne Stein and the St. Charles coaches talk to their players about winning as a "skill" that can be sharpened and exercised. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And, for the second straight year, the Comets flexed their knack for critical plays in all three phases in clutch moments to win a state championship, this time turning a 10-point deficit to Dunham into a 32-28 victory in the Division-III select title game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/QJa6aM1aI_k","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"embed-handler","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/QJa6aM1aI_k </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='276371' first='Ayden' last='Authement'] (5-10, 160 ATH/QB | 2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior quarterback exemplified the "skill" of winning that the Comets often discuss en route to Outstanding Player honors. Authement completed 13 of his 18 pass attempts for 182 yards in the gritty, defensive battle, including the 2-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Monica and subsequent two-point conversion to Brandon Kragle to pull within three points in the fourth quarter. He also ran 17 times for 57 yards, including the acrobatic fourth-down conversion to keep the go-ahead drive alive and 3-yard touchdown to complete it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Davon Stirgus (5-9, 150 ATH | 2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior offensive weapon led the team in all-purpose yards with 139, including the 21-yard dash to the end zone for its first points. Stirgus rushed 14 times for 92 yards and the score, caught a 12-yard pass and four kickoffs 35 yards, including a 16-yarder in the third quarter to help set up one of the Comets' better starting field positions and an eventual field goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Hotard (6-0, 160 DB/K | 2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another senior was among the Comets' defensive leaders with five tackles, including three solo, and a pass breakup. But Hotard's most memorable and pivotal "winning" moment came with a fourth-quarter onside kickoff after the Authement-Monica score to snatch possession right back for the go-ahead drive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/C0m2SDrRXPw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"embed-handler","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/C0m2SDrRXPw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='166977' first='Jackson' last='House'] (6-0, 180 QB | 2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The transfer from Kansas made a major impact for the Tigers in his first year — like his father, LSU defensive coordinator Matt House. The younger House finished his season with an Outstanding Player performance with 202 yards and two touchdowns on 7-for-14 passing and another 102 yards and a score on 19 rushes. The Eastern Kentucky commitment passed for 1,951 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions in his lone season in Louisiana and rushed for 1,524 yards and 20 touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='361379' first='Colin' last='Boldt'] (6-1, 190 DB/ATH | 2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The hard-hitting Southeastern Louisiana commitment was a difference-maker in all three phases for Dunham. His 52-yard dash to the end zone scored the game's first points. He finished with 76 yards on seven carries for the game's third-highest rushing total and highest rushing average. Boldt also caught a 9-yard pass, returned a pair of kickoffs 19 yards and wrapped up seven tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='407686' first='Jac' last='Comeaux'] (6-1, 175 WR | 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior speedster caught a 62-yard touchdown from House late in the first quarter to push the Tigers back ahead. Comeaux finished with a game-high 159 yards on four receptions as, once again, Dunham's top deep threat to stretch the defense vertically. He finished the season as the team's top receiver with 37 catches for 1,069 yards and 13 scores. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->