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Focused, energetic Charleroi looking to turn tide against Wash High

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Charleroi quarterback Geno Pellegrini is hoping to help the Cougars break their losing streak against Washington.

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Washington’s Isaiah Schoonmaker is looking to give Charleroi fits once again in the Prexies’ season opener tonight.

One person’s job has been much simpler during recent meetings between the Washington and Charleroi high school football teams: the scoreboard operator.

There was a running clock, caused by the Mercy Rule, in many of those matchups.

Charleroi head coach Donnie Militzer and the Cougars are determined not to give the clock operator or the Prexies another easy night when the teams meet 7 p.m. tonight at Wash High Stadium in the Century Conference opener for both teams.

“We’re really focused but energetic,” Militzer said. “We believe that we can compete. (Washington) has gotten the best of this entire conference the past couple of years, not just us. They are the program that sits atop. You strive to be like them.”

The Prexies, who haven’t lost in the regular season since Oct. 11, 2013, have won each of the last five games against Charleroi by at least 37 points.

Wash High head coach Mike Bosnic, who opted for a scrimmage last week rather than a Week Zero game, said this Charleroi team is much different than past versions of the Cougars.

“They are very much improved,” Bosnic said after watching film of the Cougars’ 35-13 victory over Monessen last Friday. “We noticed in the game film that they are definitely a big-play team. (Quarterback Geno Pellegrini) is a terrific player and had a lot of big plays. He had four touchdowns. It was very impressive.”

Charleroi has stressed eliminating big plays on special teams. That’s a part of the game that haunted the Cougars against the Prexies last season. Special-teams breakdowns also hurt Charleroi against Monessen as the Greyhounds returned a kickoff 94 yards for a score and had its other touchdown set up by a 65-yard kickoff return.

“We really tried cleaning that up this week,” Militzer said. “You look at where you are kicking the ball. You try and tweak the personnel. But I’m looking at it this way: if we’re kicking off a lot it means we are scoring a lot.”

Washington’s biggest struggle when they’ve been tested in recent seasons has been defending an opponent’s strong passing attack.

The way Charleroi can give the Prexies fits is with the throwing arm of Pellegrini, who passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns against Monessen.

“Against Wash High, you have to be able to throw the football,” Militzer said. “The teams that have given them trouble are the teams that have been able to throw. Passing has just been a part of our offense. Geno is able to make checks and do things at the line of scrimmage that most kids can’t do. That’s where we’ve seen the progression. They know, whether it’s the quarterback or receivers, what to look for when they go to the line.”

What the Cougars have to show is an ability to stop the Wash High offense. The Prexies had 209 rushing yards in last year’s game against Charleroi, out gaining the Cougars 321-62 in total offense.

“We lost some playmakers and good football players,” Bosnic said. “Every year is different and every group of talent dictates a little bit of your system. That’s a big challenge is coming up with your identity. With this group, we are athletic and have skill players who can take the ball the whole way.”

One player Charleroi is going to get a heavy dose of is multi-positional senior Isaiah Schoonmaker.

Schoonmaker, who lined up at running back, wide receiver and tight end in the Prexies’ offense last year, will get the ball more often this season, wherever he plays.

“It’s something that we haven’t really had,” Schoonmaker said of difficult regular season games since his freshman year. “There have been a couple of hard games. To come out with a tough game will really see what we’re up to. (Charleroi) said they are coming out and want to beat us by 20. Let’s see if they really come out and beat us by 20.”

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