Aug 22, 2018 4 min read

The Charleroi High School football team made a huge leap forward in 2017.

The Cougars finished second in the WPIAL Class AA Century Conference behind eventual WPIAL champion Washington and qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2004.

Charleroi’s charge this season is to take the next step – overtake Washington in the conference and win the school’s first playoff game in 20 years.

The man directing that charge is Lance Getsy, who was hired in February to succeed Donnie Militzer as the Cougars’ head coach. Militzer resigned after rumors surfaced that his job was going to be opened.

Charleroi suffered a disappointing first-round playoff loss to Avonworth last November and it left a cloud over what had been a wonderful season for the Cougars.

Getsy brings to Charleroi an abundance of coaching experience, enthusiasm and an emphasis on discipline that could help the Cougars reach the next level.

“The expectations are to give 100 percent effort all the time,” said Getsy. “Once you do that individually, you get the outcomes you are looking for as a team.

“We are emphasizing winning every play, series of downs and every quarter. If you can achieve that, you will get the results you want and desire. Bring the work ethic. Winning will take care of itself.”

Getsy inherits 10 seniors, who all are expected to contribute in some manner.

While it is a transitional season for the Cougars, with the coaching change, schematic and philosophical changes and a focus on self- and team discipline, it doesn’t mean the winning or improvement has to stop.

These Cougars are built to be good.

Highlighting the returners is quarterback Geno Pellegrini (6-0, 165), receiver Dakota Romantino (5-11, 165), running backs Hunter Perry (5-10, 200) and Brayden Mihalcin (5-10, 175). All are seniors except Mihalcin, who is a junior.

The offensive line, which Getsy is counting on being a strength, returns four senior starters, including Colton Kisner, Ian Williams (5-10,205), Michael Polinsky (5-9, 205) and Jonathan Vargo.

“It’s a whole new system for the kids,” Getsy said. “It’s going to take some time. We have some very good receivers, running backs and an outstanding quarterback.

“The offensive line could be the strength of the team. Four of the five are returning starters. We have a couple sophomores, bigger kids, who will contribute. We’re going to have a nice rotation in there.

“I’ve always believed you win and lose football games up front,” the new coach added. “Those guys are the workhorses. They might not get their names in the newspaper but they are so important.”

Getsy said Perry, a 1,000-yard rusher last year, will be aided by the return of Mihalcin – who tore an anterior cruciate ligament in the season opener against Monessen and missed the remainder of the season.

He also pointed to junior Legend Davis (5-10, 185) as a player who has worked diligently to put himself in position to be a factor in the Charleroi passing game.

“He has stepped up in the offseason,” Getsy said.

While the Cougars were perceived as an offensive-minded team, Getsy insists it will be the defense that will shape the season.

“We’re putting a big emphasis on defense,” he added. “We’re going to show multiple fronts. We’ve put a big emphasis on kids buying into that. We’re going to let them run around and make plays.”

Junior Joey Caruso returns as the team’s placekicker. He also is competing to be the punter.

More than the schemes and the strategies, Getsy is striving for structure and discipline throughout the program.

“We just want to be well-rounded individuals, and the same as a program and team,” he said. “We want them to have that mentality.”

Charleroi opens the season on the road Friday at rival Monessen, then hosts Washington the next week in a conference showdown.

“We just want to get to the next level,” Getsy said. “You have to be able to deal with adversity to get over the top. Where I am coming from, we played games like Monessen and Washington each week. It’s exciting and it’s why you play.”