Pellegrini throws 4 TD passes as Charleroi beats rival Monessen
Charleroi's Dakota Romantino turns and waves at Monessen's Darnel Howell while running into the end zone during the rivalry game in 2017.
Monessen’s Vaughn Taylor fumbles the ball in the first half of Friday’s game. Charleroi recovered the ball.
Charleroi’s Geno Pellegrini lunges over the goal line for a touchdown.
CHARLEROI – The largest crowd in the history of Myron Pottios Stadium witnessed one of the oldest rivalries in the WPIAL, and the home fans went home happy Friday night as Charleroi downed Monessen, 35-13, in a nonconference season opener, spoiling the debut of new Greyhounds head coach Mikey Blainefield..
“Our offense is explosive and we distribute the ball all around,” Charleroi coach Donnie Militzer said. “But I give Mikey and Monessen credit and he will get things going.
“But our line was the difference, and it feels good as we haven’t beaten Monessen like this in a long time.”
Blainefield with happy with his team’s never-give-up attitude.
“We had some drive killers that hurt us but the positive thing is that we played all the way through. In the past, some guys would have quit,” he said before turning his focus to what he believed was the difference in the game.
“We took more plays off. It wasn’t anything schematically, it was just effort.”
Charleroi finished with 559 yards on 62 plays while Monessen had 177 on 42 plays.
Charleroi quarterback Geno Pellegrini threw for 282 yards and four scores, and Hunter Perry (10 carries for 168 yards and one score) and Brayden Mihalcin (13 carries for 79 yards) set the tone on the ground as the Cougars finished with 277 rushing yards on 42 carries.
“This means the world as they are our biggest rivalry,” Pellegrini said. “We are glad that we got the win. I came into this game ready to play, and our offensive line got us all of our yards.”
“The line did a heck of a job. They made the biggest holes that I have seen in my life,” said Perry. “This gives us us some motivation and momentum.”
The Cougars scored first when Pellegrini hit Dakota Romantino with an 11-yard touchdown pass with 5:11 left in the first quarter. Joey Caruso’s extra point made the score 7-0.
Monessen seemed primed to tie the score after the first of several long kickoff returns, but the drive ended when Vaughn Taylor fumbled and Charleroi’s Ryan Workman recovered at the Cougars’ 24.
The Cougars wasted little time extending their lead to 14-0 when Pellegrini scored on a 10-yard run with 2:08 to play in the first quarter. The key play in the drive was a 50-yard pass from Pellegrini to Hunter Perry.
Monessen countered as Nate Simms returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and Cory Fleming’s extra point made the score 14-7.
Charleroi extended its lead back to 14 points with 5:04 left in the half on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Pellegrini to Travis Lytle.
The young Greyhounds fought and pulled to within 21-13 after a 65-yard kickoff return by Elijah Davis. Taylor made up for his earlier fumble when he scored from four yards.
Pellegrini threw his fourth touchdown of the half when he hit Romantino with a nine-yard strike on fourth down with 24 seconds left, and the Cougars took a 28-13 lead into the intermission. Pellegrini was eight of 12 for 224 yards in the half.
The Cougars secured the win when Hunter Perry went in from nine yards with 3:37 left.
Jake Stefanik and Dom Pellegrini each had 11 tackles for Charleroi. Lytle had an interception and a fumble recovery.
“This means the world to me and the other seniors because we can say that we never lost to Monessen,” said Stefanik. “It is a good start to our season and gives us confidence.”
Taylor looked good for Monessen with 71 yards and a score on 15 carries.
“We had a lot of young guys who got their first varsity experience,” Balinefield said. “They did a good job and we will improve.”