Former Brentwood Dukes teammates Donnelly, Karfelt to reunite on field at Geneva

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 30, 2018 | 4:36 PM

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One is a three-sport standout athlete at Brentwood.

The other is a versatile dual-sport athlete at Steel Valley.

Their common link? They are best friends.

And in the not-too-distant future, they will be teammates — and roommates — in the Geneva College football program.

Brendan Donnelly, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound wide receiver/defensive back at Brentwood, and Trey Karfelt, a 5-11, 200-pound quarterback at Steel Valley, recently committed to continue their football careers at Geneva.

Donnelly, recruited by the Golden Tornadoes as a defensive back, plans to major in sports management with a minor in pre-law. He also considered attending Oberlin, St. Vincent and Marietta.

“There were a lot of things that led me to Geneva,” Donnelly said, “such as, my best friend is going with me and he and I will be rooming together. It had a big influence on my decision. The coaches made me feel at home and were there for me from the first time I met with them. The campus is really nice in my opinion; it's not too big, which I like. And I also already knew a few other people who went there.

“I have pretty high expectations for myself and set high goals. I plan on working my way onto varsity or the starting lineup, and feel like I have a good chance to achieve it. I was recruited (for) defensive back, mainly free safety, but I can also play strong safety and cornerback.”

Karfelt, who was recruited as a quarterback and also considered going to Grove City or Westminster, plans to major in biology and pre-physical therapy in college.

“Geneva has a great coaching staff,” Karfelt said. “They are cool, funny guys. They have a sense of humor, as I do, too. What led me to Geneva is definitely the coaches. The campus is nice; it's close together, and they have Sheetz right down the street which is a great bonus.

“I did consider (other colleges), but Geneva won me over. And our friendship definitely weighed in our decisions; we visited up there together. My expectations are to learn (Geneva's) style of football and playbook, and compete and win the starting job.”

At Brentwood, Donnelly is a two-year letterman in football and baseball, and a four-year letterman in the swimming and diving program. Following the 2017 football season, he was voted to the the Cover Three Athletics all-conference team as a defensive back.

“My favorite memory from my football career at Brentwood is definitely being able to play with and against all my close friends,” Donnelly said. “High school football is unlike anything you will ever experience in your life.”

Along with playing football for two years at Steel Valley, Karfelt is a three-year letterman in baseball.

He served as a captain on the WPIAL Class 2A runner-up Steel Valley football team last season, but suffered a partial MCL tear/sprain in the first month of the season and didn't return to the lineup until later in the year. The Ironmen ended up 10-2 overall.

“I came back against Serra Catholic, but I played defense only (at safety/outside linebacker),” Karfelt said, “until the WPIAL semifinal.”

Karfelt was a backup quarterback on the Ironmen's 2016 WPIAL and PIAA championship football team that finished 15-0. He said that season was the highlight of his high school football career; a personal favorite memory was his performance against Valley when he passed for 300-plus yards and four touchdowns.

Donnelly and Karfelt, whose fastest 40 times are 4.64 and 4.8 respectively, actually started hanging out together and became best of friends back in their junior high school days.

“Brendan and I really became friends when we played football together for the Brentwood Dukes,” Karfelt said, “and I had the majority of my classes with him in eighth grade. He's basically another brother to me; I don't see him as a friend — he's family to me.”

Competing as teammates in the Brentwood Dukes program provided lasting memories for both.

“The whole football team would hang out together,” Donnelly said, “and Trey and I just started hanging out more on our own. We'd stay at each other's house for a weekend or like three days. He'd stay at my house a week straight sometimes.”

Although Brentwood and Steel Valley were members of the same football conference the past two years, they are in two different school districts.

“It was tough to see each other,” Karfelt said, “but we did whenever we possibly could. We tried to fit times where we could hang out around our schedule, which was tight with football and baseball.”

Steel Valley defeated Brentwood by 56-0 and 62-29 scores on the gridiron the past two years.

“It was a struggle playing them because in my junior season they were the best team in the country,” Donnelly said. “It was definitely a better game the second year, even though the score didn't show that. We were only down by a touchdown at halftime.”

Said Karfelt, “When I played against (Brentwood) my senior year, I probably played my hardest. It was like brothers getting in a fight around the house; it was all fun and games.”

Geneva is located in Beaver Falls and is a member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference. The Golden Tornadoes finished 3-7 overall last season.

Next fall, Donnelly and Karfelt will join two other Brentwood products in the Geneva football program — OL Jordan Karafa-Jackson and RB Matt Rohe. Both currently are freshmen.

Greg Perdziola, Brentwood's defensive coordinator, said Donnelly's work capacity is what sets him apart and will become visible quickly once he arrives on the Geneva campus.

“Brendan has a tremendous work ethic,” Perdziola said. “Since his freshman year, he has been one of our hardest workers. His work ethic is one of the main reasons he developed into a top defensive back and wide receiver as a senior.

“He has decent size, good speed and likes to hit, and Brendan is very coachable. He does everything you ask and gives you 110 percent. I am confident Brendan will have success at Geneva due to his work ethic and desire.”

Donnelly enjoyed a successful career in the pool at Brentwood. He was a qualifier for the WPIAL finals in both swimming and diving in his sophomore and senior seasons.

“I feel I had a pretty solid swimming and diving career,” Donnelly said.

Donnelly and Karfelt, both outfielders, now are gearing for the high school baseball season.

Karfelt also is a pitcher for the Ironmen, who have won two consecutive section titles and twice advanced to the WPIAL semifinal round.

“Our early goal is to win it all,” Karfelt said. “We came up short last year; we want to bounce back and win it all.”

Donnelly and the Spartans have made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals the past two seasons.

“I feel we have a good shot to make the playoffs and compete for the section title,” Donnelly said. “We have a good all-around team and definitely have the talent to make it far this year.”

Brentwood and Steel Valley split decisions on the diamond the past two seasons.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Brentwood, Steel Valley