TJ’s dynamic duo leading the way
If you were to write a book about this season’s Thomas Jefferson football team, Shane Stump and Dan Deabner would be talked about quite a bit.
The two juniors would actually be mentioned on the same page frequently because, well, they always seem to be on the same page.
Stump and Deabner have developed into one of the best quarterback-wide receivers duos in the WPIAL and are a big reason why Thomas Jefferson is 5-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class 4A.
Due to lopsided scores, the two often only play the first half of games — the game against Belle Vernon being the lone exception — but that hasn’t stopped them from producing excellent numbers. Stump (6 feet 1, 200 pounds) has completed 35 of 54 passes for 849 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has been intercepted only once. Most of those completions have gone to Deabner and many on long passes. Deabner (6-0, 190 pounds) has 25 catches for 671 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The two have been teammates since seventh grade and it shows, according to coach Bill Cherpak.
“They have a natural chemistry from working together so much, and they have really just continued that,” Cherpak said. “They work well together. It’s a good combination. But quite honestly, it’s what we expected.”
Deabner has gone over 100 yards receiving in each of the past four games and has at least two touchdown receptions in all but one game. The two were starters on last year’s team that won a WPIAL championship, the school’s third in a row.
Stump and Deabner are already on the radar of college coaches. Stump visited Michigan State last weekend.
“He can make all the throws,” Cherpak said. “He has developed a nice touch. That’s key for him. He used to throw the ball as hard as he could. Stats don’t really mean a ton, but if Shane played the whole game more than once, he’d be up there with [the WPIAL passing leaders].”
Belle Vernon
The WPIAL’s leading rusher in the largest three classes hails from Belle Vernon.
Mason Pascoe isn’t very big — a muscular 5 feet 7, 170 pounds — but the shifty senior is putting up big numbers for Belle Vernon (4-1), which is once again one of the top teams in Class 4A.
Pascoe has rushed for 990 yards and 13 touchdowns. He ran for 257 yards and four touchdowns in last Friday’s 48-14 win against Greensburg Salem. Pascoe showed off his big-play ability, scoring on runs of 48, 70 and 48 yards. He’s averaging 10.8 yards on 91 carries.
“He’s been the key,” said Belle Vernon coach Matt Humbert. “It all starts with the kids blocking for him. It’s a good, cohesive unit. The thing about Mason is his topend speed is bar none. If he can get past the first and second level, there’s not a safety in our conference that can catch him.”
How good is Pascoe? Consider this: Over the years, few players have reached 100 yards rushing against Thomas Jefferson. Pascoe blitzed the Jaguars for 263 yards and two scores. Thomas Jefferson won that game, 36-14.
Pascoe will try to make a run at the school rushing record of 2,151 yards set by Nick Kalcevic in 1999.
Mars
Mars received a boost before the season when senior Andrew Recchia, one of the top basketball players in the WPIAL, decided to join the football team for the first time. It turns out Recchia (60, 172) is a natural. A wide receiver, Recchia reeled in his team-best fourth touchdown reception in last Saturday’s 21-12 win at Shaler.
“He enjoys playing football,” Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. “It’s something different for him to do. He’s a good athlete. He’s adapted to football very well. I think he still wants to play basketball in college without a doubt, but he’s helped our team tremendously.”
As a junior, Recchia was the starting point guard on a Mars team that won the school’s first WPIAL championship and advanced to the PIAA championship. He scored a team-high 14 points against Franklin Regional in the WPIAL final.
He said it
Bill Cherpak moved into 10th place on the WPIAL’s alltime list for coaching wins last week. In 24 seasons, he has a record of 250-47. When told by a reporter of his accomplishment, Cherpak didn’t seem too enthused about it.
“I didn’t realize that,” he said. “I’m not into that type of stuff. That and $2 will get me a cup of coffee.”