Nov 9, 2018 4 min read

By Rob Burchianti

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

CORAOPOLIS – Charleroi outscored Mohawk 35-0 in the second half to turn a six-point deficit into a 42-13 victory in Friday night’s WPIAL Class AA quarterfinal game at Moon High School’s Tiger Stadium.

Hunter Perry put an early fumble behind him and scored four of the Cougars’ five second-half touchdowns and rushed for 107 yards to help fourth-seeded Charleroi advance to next week’s semifinals against South Side Beaver, which upset top-seeded Shady Side Academy in the quarterfinals.

The Cougars (10-1) were down 13-7 at halftime but first-year Charleroi coach Lance Getsy knew his team could play much better and told them so.

“I told them to play our game,” Getsy said. “I thought they out-hit us and out-tackled us in the first half and in the second half I thought those roles were reversed. I always tell them the team that out-hits and out-tackles wins.”

The Cougars took the lead for good on the third play of the third quarter when Geno Pellegrini hit Perry with a swing pass and the fleet-footed senior race down the left sideline for a 65-yard touchdown. Joe Caruso, who was six for six on extra-point kicks, made it 14-13.

Charleroi struck again with a two-play drive on its next possession as Perry pulled in a 10-yard pass from Pellegrini then ran 22 yards for a touchdown for a 21-13 lead.

Pellegrini scored on a five-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter and Perry added a one-yard plunge with 9:31 left and the Cougars were rolliing, 35-13. Perry capped the game’s scoring with a six-yard TD run with 1:31 remaining.

Pellegrini, who connected on just two of 11 passes for 26 yards in the first half, heated up in the second half on a cold night and wound up completing seven of 18 passes for 167 yards.

“Geno’s a fighter,” Getsy said. “I have no worries when he misses a couple passes.”

Braydon Cameron ran for 123 yards for the fifth-seeded Warriors (9-3).

Charleroi dominated a scoreless first quarter. The Cougars moved the ball into Mohawk territory on each of its first three possessions but failed to score with the deepest penetration ending at the Warriors 11 on their first drive when Perry lost a handoff from Pellegrini with Mohawk recovering.

The Cougars defense allowed just one first down in the opening quarter and also forced a fumble that was recovered by Dom Pellegrini.

Charleroi finally broke through early in the second quarter, taking advantage of a short field after Brian Cline’s 26-yard punt was returned eight yards by Legend Davis to the Mohawk 35.

Perry’s 16-yard run set up Geno Pellegrini’s nine-yard touchdown run through the middle of the Warriors’ defense. Joe Caruso’s extra-point kick made it 7-0.

Mohawk answered quickly. Nick Wheeler found Dmitry Pendro open deep down the right sideline for a 65-yard gain on third and 18 to the Cougars 16. Cameron covered that in two runs, the second from five yards out for the score. Dylan Lloyd’s extra point was wide, leaving the Warriors down 7-6 with 8:44 left in the half.

Charleroi approached midfield on its next possession thanks to a 20-yard pass from Pellegrini to Dakota Romantino. The Cougars gambled on fourth and two from their own 48 but Pellegrini’s pass was incomplete.

Mohawk took over and went on a seven-play touchdown drive capped by Wheeler’s 13-yard run to take the lead, 13-7, as Lloyd converted the extra point. Cameronn sparked the march with three runs for 16 yards and a 15-yard reception.

The Warriors carried that advantage into halftime, but that just set the stage for the Cougars’ impressive final two quarters.