Stump set for 2nd season leading Thomas Jefferson offense under center

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, August 3, 2018 | 10:39 PM

It’s a good bet the Thomas Jefferson offense won’t be stumped this season.

Not with talented junior Shane Stump back at quarterback.

“Shane has become one of the leaders of our team,” coach Bill Cherpak said. “He works hard in everything he does and has become an all-around complete quarterback. There isn’t anything he can’t do as a quarterback. He is very athletic and has one of the strongest arms I have seen on a high school quarterback. He is an accurate thrower that can make every throw, and he makes great decisions.

“He did a great job as a sophomore managing the offense, but this year I am looking to him to make plays and be the go-to guy. We plan on throwing the ball more this season to take advantage of his big-play capability. He is one of the best players on our team, and it is a huge advantage that he will touch the ball every play. I am really excited to watch him continue to grow and flourish as one of the top quarterbacks in the state.”

Stump (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) led the Jaguars to their third consecutive WPIAL championship in 2017, accounting for 1,729 yards and 30 touchdowns.

He connected on 84 of 179 passes for 1,608 yards and 24 touchdowns, and tacked on 121 yards and six scores on 44 carries.

Expect more of the same in 2018, he said.

“Our team expectations are always the same,” Stump said. “We play to win, but this year’s schedule starts off pretty tough with Ringgold and Belle Vernon as our first two games.

“Right now, we’re just focused on what’s up next. We’re preparing for camp, finishing up our summer workouts. We have a lot of work to do before even thinking about another ring.”

The Jaguars participated in seven-on-seven tournaments at West Virginia and Youngstown State and posted an undefeated record at Youngstown State.

“We played well and improved on some things,” Stump said. “Youngstown was more of a pool-play type of event. There was no bracket play.”

Stump, 16, is a second-year starter and third-year letterman for the Jaguars. He began his football career at age 5 — not as a quarterback but as a lineman in the TJ Youth Football program.

“I was a linemen for most of my youth league,” Stump said. “I started playing quarterback in sixth grade. My youth coach, Dean Mallozzi, saw I could throw the ball pretty far so he switched me from tight end to quarterback.”

Stump has joined an impressive list of TJ student-athletes who have manned the quarterback position during the Cherpak era: Bobby Kelley (2015, 2016), Julian Metro (2014, 2015), Austin Kemp (2014), Christian Breisinger (2013), Chase Winovich (2013), Joe Carroll (2012), Dom Presto (2010, 2011), Ryan Krause (2010), Sam Johnston (2009), Tyler Wehner (2007, 2008), Zach DeCicco (2007), Dom DeCicco (2006), Kevin Franz (2005), Brad Dawson (2004), Pete Winovich (2001, 2002, 2003), Matt Flaus (2001), Ben Schaulis (2000), Steve Scott (1999), Brian Dawson (1997, 1998), Jake Schneider (1996) and Mark Proud (1995).

Next year, Stump will join Pete Winovich as the only three-year starters at quarterback during the Cherpak regime.

“Thomas Jefferson football is such a huge part of my life,” Stump said. “The relationships I’ve made with my coaches and teammates over the past two years are unbreakable.

“I’m extremely excited for what’s to come in the last two seasons of high school football I have left.”

Cherpak and assistant Anthony Battaglini coach the quarterbacks.

“Coach Cherpak and coach Battaglini are the main coaches for me and the quarterbacks out in practice,” Stump said. “They get us to where we need to be mentally and physically.”

Along with owning a strong throwing arm, Stump is athletic. He also was a member of the TJ boys basketball team last winter, as were fellow gridders James Martinis, Dan Deabner and Jake Pugh.

“We’re coming off a disappointing (hoops) season and hoping to improve with a lot of young guys stepping up and filling in the missing pieces,” he said.

On the gridiron, Stump has a modest goal for the 2018 season.

“My only goal is the do everything I can to help the team win no matter what it is,” he said.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson