THURSDAY FOOTBALL, Sept. 6

Higgins vs. St. Charles @ Memtsas, 6:30 p.m.
Wayne Meyers knew immediately how to answer the question he was asked − what does Higgins need to do to stop St. Charles?

Without hesitation, and with a slight laugh, Meyers answered.

“The big key is going to be we need to cut down on our mistakes, our turnovers,” the Higgins head coach said.

Indeed, to have any chance against St. Charles, which beat South Lafourche 30-6 a week ago, the Hurricanes will need to hold onto the ball. Higgins turned it over four times in a 20-6 loss to Lutcher, one an interception, the rest fumbles.

The only thing Meyers knew to do this week to correct the troublesome problems was to go back to basics. “We just keep practicing on taking care of the ball,” he said.

It’s not going to be easy against St. Charles. Comets running back Jonathan Cancienne passed the century mark on the ground and scored two touchdowns.

“He’s their weapon,” Meyers said. “About 1,500 yards last year. You know he’s their man. He’s good.”

More worrisome for Meyers, though, should be that St. Charles forced four turnovers in its win over South Lafourche.

“St. Charles is a well-disciplined team,” Meyers said. “They’re not going to make any mistakes, as far as mental mistakes. They might make them, but they’re very few.”

Higgins can’t afford to make many mistakes of its own. That might be the one positive − if you want to call it that − thing the Hurricanes learned a week ago in the loss.

“We learned we can’t make mistakes,” Meyers said. “You play good teams and you make mistakes, the other team makes the plays. When you play good teams, you can’t make mistakes and expect to be in the game with them.”