Cougars clinch third place with 63-0 victory
FALLOWFIELD TWP. — Charleroi clinched third place in the Century Conference Friday night with a 63-0 win over Brownsville on Senior Night.
Heading into the game, Charleroi coach Lance Getsy was hoping to score quick, and his team did just that.
“When we score fast out of the gate, we can start imposing our will on teams,” he said. “Our defense played well and while we didn’t get to sustain any drives, we did score quick.
“We always want to send the seniors off on the right foot and I am happy for them.”
Brownsville coach Scott Fichter was impressed with Charleroi.
“Charleroi played great tonight,” praised Fichter. “Kudos to them.”
Charleroi quarterback Alex Conrad paced the offense with 183 total yards, three passing touchdowns and a 56-yard interception return for a score.
“We have confidence in Alex,” Getsy said. “He did exactly what we wanted.”
The Cougars (5-2, 6-3) scored on their first offensive play of the game and never looked back.
After Charleroi defensive tackle Joshua Rodenbaugh recovered a Brownsville fumble on the opening drive at the Brownsville 28, Conrad hit Dom Pellegrini on a 33-yard touchdown pass with 10:15 to go in the first quarter.
Conrad found Legend Davis on a six-yard scoring strike on Charleroi’s next drive with 23 seconds left in the opening quarter.
The Cougars pulled away in the second quarter with four scores as Conrad returned an interception for a touchdown and connected with Davis for a 66-yard touchdown pass, and Brayden Mihalcin rushed for a pair of scores.
Mihalcin ran for another touchdown, Evan McGuire had a 7-yard scoring run, and Davis returned a punt 55 yards in the second half.
Charleroi had 279 yards of offense on only 24 plays and 14 first downs in the game, while Brownsville had 80 yards on 39 plays and was limited to three first downs.
Pellegrini made school history in the third quarter when he assisted on a tackle of Brownsville’s Dan Grant. With the tackle, Pellegrini broke Errict Tedrow’s record of 311 and now has 313 for his career.
“To me, it means everything to the team because without them, this record wouldn’t have happened,” said Pellegrini. “All of the hard work has paid off and this is for the team.”
“Dom has a defensive mentality,” said Getsy. “He understands what we are trying to do and congratulations to him.”
Prior to the game, Getsy was at East Allegheny’s Senior Night where his daughter is a senior. East Allegheny officials honored her first so he could get to the Charleroi game for the Cougars’ Senior Night.
“I appreciate them doing that,” he said. “It was a classy move.”
Dan Grant led Brownsville with 76 yards rushing on 26 carries.
Charleroi is at Apollo-Ridge Friday in a non-conference game, while Brownsville closes its season at home against Carmichaels in a conference game.