Many happy returns for C-H
CHARLEROI – Chartiers-Houston remained unbeaten in Century Conference play Friday night and “returned” home after a 14-6 win at Charleroi.
“It wasn’t real pretty on our part, but it is a win,” said Chartiers-Houston coach Terry Fetsko. “We found a way to win and that is what is important.
“The defense played really well and made those two interception returns when we needed them.”
The Buccaneers took advantage of two interception returns for scores to take a 14-0 lead into the half and the Buccaneers never did find the end zone on offense.
With 3:48 to play in the first quarter, A.J. Myers intercepted a Geno Pellegrini pass and returned it 70 yards untouched to make the score 6-0.
Myers followed with a two-point conversion pass to Cody Scears to make the score 8-0.
Then, on the first play of the second quarter, Chartiers-Houston’s Spencer Terling intercepted Pellegrini and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to make the score 14-0.
Dremar Everette blocked a Buccaneers punt and Charleroi (0-4, 3-4) took over with a first-and-goal at the five with 5:27 to play in the second quarter, but Pellegrini threw his third interception of the half to halt the drive.
Charleroi coach Donnie Militzer was very up front about his team’s offensive struggles and defensive prowess.
“It was a great effort for the second straight week on defense and we are trying a lot of different things on offense,” he said. “We can’t get it going right now.
“That is one of the best games we have played defensively in a long time and (defensive coordinator) Chris Chunko did a good job tonight, but we just couldn’t pull it out.”
Neither team moved the ball well in the rain, although Charleroi was able to muster 92 yards on 32 plays in the first half while they limited the Buccaneers to 25 yards total offense on 20 plays.
Charleroi sophomore running back Hunter Perry led all offensive players in the first half with 51 yards on eight carries.
In the first half, Charleroi had three first downs while Chartiers-Houston was held without a first down.
Chartiers-Houston finally recorded its initial first down of the game with 4:23 to play in the third quarter and they finished with three, all on the same drive.
The Buccaneers almost had another pick-six with 10:06 to play, but Terling dropped a potential interception at the Charleroi 15-yard line.
The Cougars finally got on the board with 5:27 to play as Emery Anden, the fourth quarterback Charleroi played in the game, hit Dakota Romantino with a 49-yard touchdown pass. The ball was tipped and Romantino made the catch and scored.
“Dakota made a nice play to get us back in it,” Militzer said “We just couldn’t score after that.”
Charleroi went for two points after the TD but the play failed and the Cougars did not threaten again.
The Cougars finished with 139 yards while limiting the Bucs to 82 behind Jake Stefanick’s 10 tackles.
Terling led Chartiers-Houston on the ground with 50 yards on 15 carries. Perry finished with 51 yards for Charleroi, all in the first half.
T.J. Johnston was only one-of-11 passing for the Bucs.
Chartiers-Houston (5-0, 6-1) hosts Washington (6-0, 4-0) Friday and a win would clinch at least a share of the conference title for the Bucs.
“It is a big game for us and one of the biggest ones we have had at Chartiers in a long time,” Fetsko said. “We are excited but have to prepare well because they are a great team.”