Everyone contributes as Charleroi remains undefeated
Charleroi vs. Frazier
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Charleroi’s Dakota Romantino scores the first touchdown of the game against Frazier Friday.
Charleroi’s Darius Cooper carries the flag onto the field for his team before the start of the game.
Charleroi’s Geno Pellegrini (1) and Colton Linn (2) bring down Frazier’s Julian Muccioli on a play
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Hunter Perry (23) is part of Charleroi’s high-powered offense that averages 59.3 points per game, which leads the WPIAL. Charleroi is at Beth-Center tonight in a key Interstate Conference game. The Bulldogs are battling injuries to two key offensive players.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Charleroi is looking for its first playoff victory in two decades when the Cougars play Riverside tonight.
CHARLEROI – Six different Charleroi Cougars scored Friday night and quarterback Geno Pellegrini showed why he is considered one of the best players in Class AA as he had six total touchdowns in Charleroi’s 56-7 Interstate Conference win over Frazier.
“Geno works so hard, so all of his hard work is paying off and I think he sees that,” said Charleroi coach Lance Getsy. “He is an intelligent football player and you have to be to play on this team.
“Having a guy like Geno makes things easy and I love his work ethic. He has so many weapons to throw to, but we are able to spread the ball around and Geno likes that.”
The Robert Morris commit completed 10 of 11 pass attempts for 211 yards and five scores and finished with 86 rushing yards and a score on seven carries.
However, he deflected all credit.
“The guys are making plays and the line is blocking well,” he said as six different Cougars scored touchdowns. “We are working hard as a team and will continue to do so so that we improve.”
Pellegrini hit Dakota Romantino with a 53-yard scoring strike on Charleroi’s first play of the game and the Cougars (2-0, 3-0) never looked back.
After Pellegrini scored from six yards to close the first-quarter scoring at 14-0, Frazier’s Julian Muccioli hit Kenny Fine with a 72-yard touchdown pass on a busted play.
Charleroi’s defense, which limited Frazier to 174 yards and six first downs on 44 plays, stifled the Commodores the rest of the night.
The Cougars exploded for 28 points in the second quarter as Pellegrini connected on two scoring passes to Hunter Perry, from 45 and 11 yards, and a 39-yard touchdown pass to Legend Davis.
Brayden Mihalcin scored Charleroi’s other touchdown of the quarter on a 35-yard run.
The Mercy Rule was in effect to start the second half and Pellegrini ended his night when he connected with Ethan Codeluppi on a six-yard strike before Mihalcin added a 15-yard touchdown run to close scoring.
Mihalcin finished with 112 yards on only seven carries.
Charleroi had 526 yards and 22 first downs on 52 plays. Romantino and Dom Pellegrini had interceptions for Charleroi while Jonathan Vargo forced a fumble to go with a sack while Colton Linn had a game-high 10 tackles.
The Cougars head to Carmichaels for a conference game Friday.
Pellegrini said the team will not look past Carmichaels with a huge first-place showdown at Beth-Center looming Sept. 28.
“We work hard every day and don’t underestimate any team we play,” he said. “We don’t look forward and we don’t look backwards.
“The leaders on the team, we will make sure Carmichaels has our complete focus.”