Pirate Football Senior Simon Woolridge recently met with family, coaches and school administrators to accept and sign a letter of intent to attend and play college football at Olivet Nazarene University in northern Illinois next year.  Woolridge played three years of varsity Pirate Football, finishing with 146 career tackles, 83 of which were recorded as solo tackles.  Woolridge additionally finished with six career sacks while also adding an interception and two conversion receptions his senior year of play.  Woolridge plans to pursue a nursing degree at Olivet Nazarene while playing NAIA football.  During the signing, Simon offered advice to younger football players coming up; in that concentrating on strength and conditioning is very important when interested in playing football after high school.  Additionally, Woolridge credited the relationships he built on his team; as well as, family and friends which made the different for him personally when striving to achieve goals.  Joining Simon during his signing, and as shown above left to right are his parents Marty and Susan Woolridge, sister Sienna Woolridge; and Charlestown High School Head Football Coach Jason Hawkins (right rear) and Atheltic Director Chad Gilbert (left rear).

Charlestown Pirate Football Senior standouts Brendan Lawler and Shane Phillips gathered with family and Charlestown High School Administrators Wednesday to officially announce their intent to accept preferred offers from the University of Indianapolis Football program.  Indianapolis Greyhound football program has dominated their Division II athletic conference (GLIAC) over the past six years, winning it outright four times with a overall record of 30-1.  Brendan Lawler, as starting quarterback for the Pirates over the past two seasons; compiled 2,193 passing yards (including 26 touchdowns), and 1,698 rushing yards (including 19 more touchdowns) while leading the offense to a 16-5 overall record since 2015.  Shane Phillips, after two years on the Pirate Defensive Line, moved to the Offensive Line at the center position for the Pirates during his Senior season.  While in the trenches, Phillips still recorded 30 tackles (15 of those Solo Tackles), two sacks and a very memorable fumble recovery at Silver Creek in 2015.

Shown above with Lawler (left seated) are his parents Brad Lawler and Cassondra Ross; and Phillips (right seated) parents Annette and Chris Phillips, grandmother Sonja Kendrick, and brother Austin Phillips.  Charlestown HS Principal Mark Laughner, Athletic Director Chad Gilbert, and Head Football Coach Jason Hawkins (left to right standing rear-center) all attended the announcement in support of Lawler and Phillips.

Lawler and Phillips both commented on the academic benefits at the University of Indianapolis; including high graduation rates, internships, and job placement, as being very attractive to them….besides having a winning football program.  Lawler offered this advise to student athletes coming up behind him, “Don’t take anything for granted and cherish every moment (of high school)”.  Lawler further noted his appreciation to the support and drive of his parents, coaches, family and friends as key motivators during his high school career.

Phillips’ advice to upcoming student athletes wanting to play at the next level was:  “talk to everyone you can (get advice and guidance), use it toward personal goals.”  Phillips also obviously appreciates the family and friends support he has had during high school.

Pirate Nation congratulates “Pirates for Life” Brendan Lawler and Shane Phillips on moving forward with academic and athletic plans at the college level.  Best of luck after high school, academically and athletically.

Don’t miss your opportunity to pick-up Pirate Football merchandise for sectional football play!!  The Pirate Football program will be selling your favorite Charlestown Football t-shirt, starting at just $5.00 each, or other items including a ball cap or visor.  Youth medium and large are available along with adults sizes small through 4X; however some styles and sizes are limited in quantities, so don’t waste time.

Football Merchandise sales will be conducted this Friday, October 21st, from 2:00-5:00 pm in the parking lot between the Charlestown Papa John’s restaurant and the former Western Auto Store on Market Street (Hwy #3).  Due to IHSAA post season rules regarding the sale of team spirit merchandise, sales are required to held off school grounds; and can not be sold at the game Friday night.  Pirate Football will open sectional play Friday night in the Bone Yard hosting North Harrison, kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

The WLKY Channel 32 Sports crew will visit Charlestown High School Tuesday to recognize the Pirate Football team as their High School Team of the Week once again.  The Pirates are 8-1, averaging over 47 points per game, and begin Class 3A Sectional #31 play this Friday when they host the North Harrison Cougars.  Kick off Friday is at 7:00 pm, in the Bone Yard.  Congratulations to the Pirates and good luck in the State Tournament.

The IHSAA conducted its blind draw to determine the Sectional first round match-ups in the annual Indiana HS Football State Tournament Sunday evening.  The Charlestown Pirates (6-1) will host North Harrison (5-2) in the lower bracket, to open Class 3A Sectional #31 play on Friday, October 21st at 7:00 PM (EDT).  The remaining Sectional #31 pairings include Brown County (1-6) at Brownstown Central (6-1) and Salem (4-3) at Corydon Central (3-4) in the upper half of the bracket; and in the lower half of the bracket, Heritage Hills (5-2) at Southridge (7-0).

For more information on the State Class 3A Football Tournament CLICK HERE; or for more information Pirate Football, go to www.PiratePride.BLUE/Football.  For complete live coverage of Pirate Football in the 2016 State Tourney, follow Charlestown Pirate Pride Sports on Twitter at @CPPSB.

Pirate Football had to come from behind in the second half; after trailing hosts Salem 24-22 at the half, to defeat the Lions 36-31 in conference play.  The game played back and forth, neither team able to successfully stop the offense of the other.  Pirate penalties and turnovers  kept Salem in the game until the Charlestown defense flexed in the fourth quarter for two huge game saving stops.  The Pirates were led offensively by Anthony Malone, who finished the game with three touchdowns on 23 carries totaling 227 yards.  Malone was named the Coyle Chevy, Buick, GMC, and Coyle Nissan Offensive Player of the Game.  Brendan Lawler threw two touchdowns to Mitch Wurtsmith; finishing with 164 passing yards.  The Pirates finished the game with another game with more than five hundred (509) yards of total offense; out gaining the Lions by 112 yards.  Dakota Porter led the Pirates in tackles was named the Coyle Chevy, Buick, GMC and Coyle Nissan Defensive Player of the Game.  Charlestown continues conference play next Friday at Corydon.