After big win, TJ tries to avoid letdown
John Manion was asked what impresses him most about Thomas Jefferson? Lampeter-Strasburg’s coach answered the question with another question.
“Honestly, what doesn’t impress you?” Manion said.
Lampeter-Strasburg (11-3) plays Thomas Jefferson (14-0) in the PIAA Class 4A semifinals Friday at Hollidaysburg High School. Lampeter-Strasburg, a District 3 team near Lancaster, has picked a good time to get hot. After losing three of five games near the end of the season, the Pioneers have won four in a row and averaged 31 points in that time. They are certainly peaking.
But now they face a team that just might be at the peak of Class 4A teams in Pennsylvania. Thomas Jefferson is that good. And Manion knows what his team faces in only the second state semifinal appearance in school history.
“Outside of our tight community, I don’t know anybody that would pick us to win,” Manion said. “I’m sure the consensus out there in the state is that we’re the underdog.”
Thomas Jefferson, fresh off a win against Erie Cathedral Prep, a three-time defending PIAA champion, has been impressive on offensive and defensive all season. The defense has only allowed 60 points, second-fewest in the state (Southern Columbia has allowed 48). Thomas Jefferson is averaging 46.3 points, thirdbest in the state.
“They’ve only given up double digits in points twice,” Manion said. “They have size and athleticism along the line. Their quarterback is solid. Their defense is aggressive. They play tight man-to-man across the board. They do a lot of good things.”
But Lampeter-Strasburg also has been doing good things lately. The Pioneers have overcome some injuries to key players. Standout quarterback Sean McTaggart was lost in the first game of the season with an injury.
But Conner Nolt has come on and thrown for 1,709 yards and 16 touchdowns. Bryan McKim leads in rushing with 1,204 yards on 149 carries. Alex Knapp has 709 on 78 attempts.
“We’ve been overcoming a lot as a group and we feel like we’re starting to peak,” Manion said. “It took us a while to get together with all that was going on. This team is starting to believe in themselves. The competition we beat throughout the year wasn’t as impressive as what has come recently. We lost a couple close ones in the regular season.
Now we’re starting to figure things out and battle through the tough games.”
Last Friday’s PIAA quarterfinal game against Erie Cathedral Prep was really Thomas Jefferson’s first tough game of the season. Before the 28-13 victory, Thomas Jefferson defeated every opponent by at least 25 points.
But could this be a trap game for Thomas Jefferson? First came winning the WPIAL title. Then a week later came a victory against a Cathedral Prep team that the Jaguars had been eyeing all season. Cathedral Prep had defeated Thomas Jefferson in the PIAA quarterfinals three of the past four seasons.
Could there be a letdown after the Cathedral Prep game? The Jaguars are bigger than the Pioneers and probably have more overall talent. The Jaguars certainly seem like the favorite.
“It’s always a question of how Thomas Jefferson is going to play once they get in the playoffs,” Thomas Jefferson quarterback Shane Stump said. “In years past, you can feel when some players are lacking on the team. But this whole group is so solid. I think this whole team is so focused on the state championship. We’ll prepare like heck no matter who we’re playing.”