Brezinski’s 98-yard return key to C-H win
HOUSTON – Nathan Brezinski returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter as Chartiers-Houston held off visiting Burgettstown 19-11 in a Class A Black Hills Conference game Friday night.
Brezinski’s return gave Chartiers-Houston (1-1, 3-2) a 19-3 lead with 10:52 remaining in the game and enough wiggle room to hold off a late comeback attempt by the Blue Devils.
Chartiers-Houston forged a 12-0 lead in the game’s first 8:05. Freshman running back Dominic Andreolli capped a nine-play drive with a one-yard plunge off right tackle midway through the quarter. The Bucs’ extra-point attempt failed.
C-H converted two fourth downs on the scoring drive.
On Burgettstown’s initial play from scrimmage following the C-H touchdown, the Blue Devils fumbled and the Bucs recovered at the 38. Andreolli capped the ensuing drive with another one-yard TD run, also off right tackle. The two-point conversion run was stopped and C-H led 12-0.
Burgettstown, which did not generate a first down in the first quarter, embarked on a 57-yard drive that reached the C-H 18-yard line in the second quarter. The Blue Devils had to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Colton County that made it 12-3 late in the first half. County had a long catch-and-run on a screen pass during the scoring drive.
C-H took the second-half kickoff and embarked on a 15-play drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock but the Bucs turned the ball over on downs.
Burgettstown then went on a long drive and was in scoring position when Brezinski stepped in front of a pass and returned it down the sideline for the game-changing touchdown.
Burgettstown (0-2, 1-3) then went 67 yards in seven plays, getting a 20-yard TD run by Brady Rightweiser and a two-point conversion run by Travis Coles.
Burgettstown’s final possession was cut short by an interception by the Bucs’ Teegan Bogden with 1:13 remaining.