Quicker Cougars counting on better defense
Cougars coach Donnie Militzer expects Trey Douyon to be a key contributor on offense.
Brock Shannon rushed for 701 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago.
John Arnold, a 6-9 senior, moved from tight end to tackle to bolster the offensive line.
CHARLEROI – When the players on the Charleroi High School football team lined up to do sprints during camp, each time the whistle blew they shouted one word.
Playoffs.
A spot in the WPIAL Class AA playoffs would be most welcome for the Cougars and second-year head coach Donnie Militzer as Charleroi hasn’t qualified for the postseason in 11 years.
”That’s the only goal,” said Militzer. “We want to play in November. That’s something our kids, especially the seniors, are focused on.”
Year 1 under Militzer didn’t start well for the Cougars as they lost their first seven games en route to a 2-8 season. But the Cougars won two of their final three games, which gave them a better feeling heading into this season.
”Confidence-wise, finishing strong last year was huge,” said Militzer. “When you go back and look at the film, even when we lost, we were often in games. We don’t feel we are that far off from being a good football team. But obviously, when you win a couple to close the season, it carries over into the offseason and the next year.”
One thing that wasn’t a problem for the Cougars last season was scoring. They averaged 19.3 points per game, sixth-best in the nine-team Class AA Interstate Conference, and set a couple school passing records in the process. This year, Militzer believes the points total can increase, especially with the Cougars’ team speed.
In primarily a passing offense, the Cougars will try to run the ball more. Senior Brock Shannon will be the feature back after rushing for 701 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
In Militzer’s offense, that is a good number.
”Last year, we really relied on the pass,” said Militzer. “Even in a passing offense, Brock had a big year. Even in my offenses at Gateway, I never had a rusher over 250 yards. So for him to gain the yards he did when we threw the ball as much as we did shows what kind of runner he is.”
Joining Shannon in the backfield will be speedsters Trey Douyon, Sammy Pager, Jimmy Smith and Errict Tedrow, Emery Anden and others will play a big role in the passing game.
”Our team speed is better than it was last season,” Militzer said. “Our receiving core is very solid and we will rely on the speed we have. We might run the ball a bit more this year but we want to get our playmakers the ball.”
That role of quarterback was still up for grabs in camp as Militzer looked for a quarterback to replace Matt Carr, who passed for 1,635 yards and 15 touchdowns. A pair of sophomores, Ryan Workman and George Lukach, gets the first shots at winning the job.
Charleroi also will run the Wildcat with either Pager or Smith taking shotgun snaps, but Militzer is looking for one of his quarterbacks to win the job.
”It’s an open competition,” said Militzer. “We are looking for either Ryan or George to help facilitate throwing the ball down the field.”
On the line, the Cougars get a boost from 6-9 John Arnold making the switch from tight end to tackle.
”We are thin in numbers on the line, but we are bigger,” said Militzer. “John decided to move to tackle to help the team. We feel good about the first group.”
More questions rise on defense, where the Cougars struggled a season ago. Charleroi gave up 38.2 points per game and if the Cougars are to meet their goal of making the postseason, they must be significantly better at stopping the opposition.
”We are looking for intensity,” added Militzer. “The past five seasons we have given up between 30 and 40 points per game. You aren’t going to win football games that way. We are trying to improve as a defensive football team. That’s the main focus.”
Arnold and Brian Eckels will help anchor the defensive line and the linebacker corps should be much improved. Tedrow moves to inside linebacker from the outside and Dom Santini should give the Cougars a pair of physical linebackers who can get to the football.
The strength of the defense could be in the secondary, where they can use their speed. That unit will feature Douyon, who could be one of the better cornerbacks in the conference.
”Trey is a kid that we feel can take half the field away and can neutralize the other team’s top receiver,” said Militzer. “The players have bought into what Militzer and his staff are teaching and have the same goal.
”We want to make the playoffs,” said Shannon. “It will give us and the players coming behind us a big boost. We want to put some pride back into our town. I have been waiting a long time to win. Hopefully, this is the year.”