Charleroi’s big night stuns Burgettstown
Charleroi’s Travis Lytle beats Burgettstown’s Ryan Lounder to the goal line Friday night to score a third-quarter touchdown.
Charleroi’s Dakota Romantino rolls heels over head Friday night to catch a pass from quarterback Geno Pellegrini against Burgettstown.
Burgettstown’s Seth Phillis reacts after throwing an interception Friday night against Charleroi.
Charleroi’s Geno Pellegrini scores a third-quarter touchdown Friday night against Burgettstown.
Burgettstown’s Ryan Lounder attempts to evade the tackle of Charleroi’s Hunter Perry (23) and Ryan Workman (8) Friday night.
Burgettstown’s Ryan Lounder (9) celebrates a second-quarter touchdown with teammates Friday night during their game against Charleroi
Burgettstown’s Seth Phillis (23) and Jacob Schrockman tackle Charleroi’s Dakota Romantino during the second quarter Friday night.
Burgettstown’s Cyle Conley carries the ball past Charleroi’s Jake Stefanick in the third quarter Friday night.
Charleroi’s Dakota Romantino beats Burgettstown’s Seth Phillis for a catch Friday night.
CHARLEROI – Charleroi picked up a huge Century Conference win Friday night as it knocked off previously undefeated Burgettstown, 37-14.
Geno Pellegrini completed 15 of 23 passes for 369 yards and five touchdowns to pace the Cougars (4-1, 7-1). He also set Charleroi’s record for career passing yards.
“My name is in the record book but it is about my teammates as well,” said the humble Pellegrini. “I can’t even talk right now because I am so happy that we won this game.”
Charleroi coach Donnie Militzer talked about Pellegrini’s performance and the play of his team in its biggest win of the season.
“That’s a big one and a great team effort by everybody,” he said. “Geno runs the show, but it’s not just him without the line up front and the guys making plays downfield.
“We made some adjustments and Jake (Stefanick) and Dom (Pellegrini) did a nice job in the middle and Cam Carter was phenomenal.”
Burgettstown coach Mark Druga said the Blue Devils (5-1, 6-1) had trouble with Charleroi’s aggressive defense.
“I think the difference was when they made adjustments before halftime and started blitzing,” he said. “They had a really nice plan to neutralize our run game.
“Then when we blitzed, we had pressure on them but Pellegrini hit some nice passes.
“We have to go back to the drawing board.”
The Burgettstown loss spoils what would have been a battle of unbeatens next weekend when Century Conference leader Washington plays at Burgettstown.
Pellegrini connected with Dakota Romantino on three of his scoring strikes, and Romantino finished with seven receptions for 248 yards and in the process broke the school record for career receiving yards.
“I feel blessed and it is the best feeling in the world,” Romantino said. “For us to play good and to break the record, it is amazing.”
After both teams punted on their initial drives, Charleroi went 60 yards in eight plays with Pellegrini hitting Travis Lytle on a one-yard touchdown pass. Joey Caruso’s extra point made the score 7-0.
Burgettstown answered when Ryan Lounder, who rushed for 180 yards on 28 carries, raced 40 yards to score with 1:38 left in the first quarter. Seth Phillis’ conversion made it 7-7.
Charleroi countered with Pellegrini hitting Romantino with a 79-yard scoring strike, and it was on the play that Romantino broke the school record for receiving yards. Caruso’s extra point went wide right, and Charleroi held a 13-7 lead going into the second quarter.
Lounder scored on a one-yard run with 9:29 to go in the half, and the extra point by Phillis gave Burgettstown a 14-13 lead.
Pellegrini and Lounder continued to put up the yards, the former through the air and the latter on the ground, but it was a Romantino interception at the Charleroi 17-yard line with 1:40 left in the half that gave the Cougars a chance to grab the halftime lead.
Charleroi went 83 yards on seven plays as Pellegrini hit Lytle with a 20-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-10 with 27 seconds remaining in the half as the Cougars took a 19-14 lead into halftime.
In the first half, Pellegrini was 12 of 12 for 256 yards and three scores while Lounder had 177 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
Burgettstown turned the ball over on downs to start the second half and Charleroi took over at its 35. Pellegrini hit Romantino with a 43-yard pass, and then the junior quarterback broke four tackles on a 22-yard touchdown scramble to give the Cougars a 25-14 lead with 5:13 left in the third quarter.
Pellegrini connected with Romantino for two more touchdowns, the first from 42 yards and the second from 28.
Not lost in the offensive explosion for Charleroi was senior linebacker Jake Stefanick who finished with a game-high 16 tackles as well as a sack and now has 93 tackles on the season.
“We had to read our keys and follow the guards as they took us to the play,” said Stefanick. “We did what they taught us to do, and we have to get ready for Beth-Center.”
Charleroi hosts Beth-Center Friday in what is the biggest game ever at Myron Pottios Stadium.
“The seven wins is the most since 1998 and that was the last time to host a playoff game,” Militzer said. “The guys know that if we win next week, we will host a playoff game.”
A win would give the Cougars the inside track at second place.
Charleroi finished with 440 yards to Burgettstown’s 279 … Romantino had an interception and Phillis had one for Burgettstown … Dom Pellegrini had two sacks and a fumble recovery.