Thomas Jefferson: WPIAL champions again

By ASHLEY CHASE

MVI Sports

Thomas Jefferson defended its WPIAL title Saturday afternoon, topping Aliquippa, 35-28, in an overtime thriller for the ages.

It’s the school’s 10th WPIAL championship and the ninth for head coach Bill Cherpak, surpassing Mt. Lebanon’s Bob Palko for most all-time.

The Jaguars returned just three starters from last year’s team, proving they didn’t need any further comparisons to the 2019 champs.

TJ’s fifth WPIAL title in the past six years didn’t come easy over the 17-time WPIAL champion Quips on Aliquippa’s first foray into Class 4A.

Both the offense and defense had to step up for the Jaguars to get past the comeback Quips.

A game that started with a scoreless first quarter and reached a 7-7 stalemate at halftime saw five touchdowns in a wild fourth quarter that set up the overtime heroics of Jake Pugh and McClain Flinn.

After Aliquippa tied the game at 14-14 early in the fourth quarter, Thomas Jefferson senior Ian Hansen returned the ensuing kickoff all the way to the 30-yard line to set up the Jaguars for a go-ahead score. 

After a sack and a scramble for a loss, the Jags were facing fourth down and 12 from the 32 when Pugh found Flinn on a 20-yard strike to keep the drive alive. Pugh had a 2-yard touchdown run two plays to put Thomas Jefferson ahead, 21-14. Flinn had a 20-yard TD catch in the  third quarter that gave TJ a 14-7 lead.

The Jags blocked a punt on Aliquippa’s next possession and scored two plays later. DeRon VanBibber had a 23-yard run and and followed with a 2-yard plunge into the end zone for a 28-14 advantage.

Aliquippa quickly answered when quarterback Vaughn Morris hit Tajier Thornton for a 27-yard touchdown to make it a one-possession game with 5:54 to play.

Two plays into Thomas Jefferson’s next possession, Pugh was picked off by Clark. Running back Vernon Redd finished off a 76-yard drive with a 14-yard TD run that tied the game with less than two minutes to play.

“That’s why, when we had the ball and were up seven, we’re trying to score,” Cherpak said. “We threw the ball, they picked it off and made a great play. We couldn’t just try to run out the clock against them. They’re too good.

“They came back and scored and I said OK, let’s finish now.”

TJ took the lead in overtime when Pugh scored on a 2-yard keeper.

The Jaguars wrapped up the title when Flinn intercepted Morris’ pass in the end zone.

“I was trying to take it back for seven, put a couple more points on the board but they just told me to get down,” Flinn said, trying to catch his breath after the win. “Best feeling in the world right now.”

To read the rest of the story, please subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.