Four TJ players honored
Jaguars’ Cherpak 4A coach of year
Thomas Jefferson was the only WPIAL team to win a state championship this football season, and the Jaguars’ success helped bring honors to four of their players and their coach.
The Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State Teams for Class 6A, 4A and 2A were announced Saturday and four Thomas Jefferson players were selected to the 4A squad. Also, Thomas Jefferson’s Bill Cherpak was selected the state’s Class 4A coach of the year.
The Thomas Jefferson players selected were quarterback Shane Stump, receiver Dan Deabner, running back Dylan Mallozzi and defensive lineman Logan Danielson.
Stump and Deabner were the Post-Gazette coplayers of the year. Stump completed 130 of 223 passes for 2664 yards and 36 touchdowns. He threw only one interception and also rushed for 546 yards. Deabner caught 49 passes for 1,103 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. During their careers, Stump and Deabner hooked up for 44 touchdown passes. Mallozzi rushed for 1,921 rushing yards and Danielson was a solid defensive tackle. Those four players helped the Jaguars go 16-0 and outscore opponents, 739-69.
Cherpak was named coach of the year after winning his eighth WPIAL title, which ties Bob Palko for the most in league history. Cherpak also won his fourth PIAA title, which ties Tom Nola (Clairton) for the most among WPIAL coaches. Cherpak has been Thomas Jefferson’s coach for 25 seasons and his record of 274-46 places him fifth on the WPIAL all-time wins list.
Central Catholic also had four players selected to the Class 6A team. Two were defensive linemen — end A.J. Beatty and tackle Elliot Donald. Beatty has signed with the University of North Carolina. Donald is a junior who already has scholarship offers from Pitt, Penn State, Ohio State, LSU, Michigan and Michigan State, among others. The other two Central Catholic players selected were running back Eddy Tillman and kicker John Opalko.
Overall, the WPIAL had only six players make each of the Class 6A, 4A and 2A teams. Besides the Central Catholic players, the other two from the WPIAL to make the 6A team were Pine-Richland quarterback Cole Spencer and Seneca Valley offensive lineman Josh Kaltenberger (Purdue recruit).
In Class 4A, the two WPIAL players selected besides the Thomas Jefferson players were South Fayette quarterback Naman Alemada and Belle Vernon punter-kicker Cam Guess (walk-on at Pitt). One player from the City League made the 4A team — University Prep linebacker Michael Snowden (Akron recruit).
In Class 2A, Avonworth running back Jax Miller and offensive lineman Josh Elm made all-state while Avonworth’s Duke Johncour was the Class 2A coach of the year. Johncour guided the Antelopes to their first WPIAL title in 60 years. Washington, which lost to Avonworth in the WPIAL title game, had three players named allstate — quarterback Zack Swartz, receiver Zahmere Robinson and defensive lineman Zahki Marshall. The other WPIAL player to make the 2A team was Burgettstown kicker Seth Phillis.