Sep 11, 2018 3 min read

It’s either hit or be hit.

That’s how Charleroi junior running back Brayden Mihalcin’s father described the game of football to him since he started playing 12 years ago.

For most of that time, Mihalcin has done the hitting. That was until the game hit back during last year’s Week Zero rivalry against Monessen.

“I came through the hole in the third quarter and got hit. I felt my knee pop as it swung up in the air,” Mihalcin vividly remembers. “I went to the sideline, got it wrapped and went back into the game. A couple plays later, I ran through another hole and my knee just gave out.”

The following week resulted in two visits to two separate doctors, a pair of MRIs and one detrimental outcome. Mihalcin suffered a torn ACL and LCL that required season-ending knee surgery Sept. 11, 2017.

“For the most part, I knew what I was in for,” Mihalcin said. “The hardest part wasn’t the surgery. It wasn’t the therapy because I wanted to get back on the field so bad. The hardest part was watching my teammates, who I go out and battle with every week. It wasn’t something I’ve ever had to do before. I’ve never had to sit out a game.”

He watched as Charleroi put together one of its best seasons in program history, winning eight straight games en route to a home playoff game and a 9-2 record.

The six-month recovery with a focus to return to the football field reached its conclusion when Mihalcin was cleared to return to football-related activities March 13, enough time to be fully ready for his junior season.

Ready he was.

In the Cougars’ opening game against Washington, Mihalcin had 168 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 22 carries in the process of running over several Wash High defenders.

“Other than being a big relief, it was such a long time coming that I really couldn’t feel anything else,” Mihalcin said about playing his first game in over a year.

“I was so excited to finally get back. The what ifs are always going to be in the back of my mind, but you can’t go out there and play scared. I am a physical runner. My main goal is to get downhill and get yards.”

Yards haven’t been at a premium for Mihalcin, who then carried 14 times for 206 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Riverview Saturday afternoon. He is averaging more than 10 yards per carry through the first two games, which has helped balance the offense for Charleroi.

“I really can’t say it’s been me,” Mihalcin said. “I have to give it to the whole team. I have so much support from the people around me. Everybody has helped. Everybody has studied tape. Everybody has blocked. We are all working toward the same goals.”

And unlike when he used caution immediately after being able to remove the bulky brace, hesitation might be the last term anybody would use to describe his running style.

“If you can’t go around somebody you go through them,” he said.