Thomas Jefferson rolls past Kiski Area in WPIAL Class 4A playoffs

By: Adam Brewer
Friday, November 3, 2023 | 10:34 PM

Previous Next

After an early season loss to Trinity, Thomas Jefferson had a quick response, defeating its next two opponents by a 132-0 margin.

The Jaguars ended the regular season with a Big Seven Conference setback to McKeesport, and veteran coach Bill Cherpak was hoping for the same type of response.

No. 6 Thomas Jefferson didn’t disappoint in its WPIAL Class 4A first round contest against visiting No. 11 Kiski Area on Friday, as the Jaguars presented a lethal passing attack in a 57-13 victory.

“We executed very well, especially on offense tonight,” Cherpak said. “The effort and the intensity was there for us. It doesn’t matter who we have at quarterback, we like to spread the ball around and really put pressure on the defense. You can’t focus on one receiver. Our pass protection was really good.”

This was the second-ever meeting between the two teams, the first a 16-8 win for Kiski in the 1971 WPIAL championship game.

The Jaguars (9-2) improved to 22-3 in their past 25 WPIAL playoff games and picked up the program’s 70th postseason win. TJ travels to No. 3 Montour (9-1) next Friday in the quarterfinals.

“Montour is so explosive, and they hit so many big plays,” Cherpak said. “You have to slow them down and try to contain them. I think we are going to have to score on offense and control the flow of the game. Their defense is good, too. It should be an interesting matchup.”

The playoff defeat was the 12th in a row for the Cavaliers (5-6). Their last playoff triumph was in 1990 against Armstrong Central.

“I love this group,” Kiski coach Sam Albert said. “We started the season at 1-4, and these kids could have quit. They took it to heart and believe in the program. We just ran into a very good TJ team. I have faced Cherpak a couple of times, and his teams are always well-coached.”

TJ went up 7-0 two plays into the game when Sean Sullivan hauled in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Brody Evans.

“We were practicing that play a lot this week,” Sullivan said. “It was a simple post, and I just had to beat one guy. As soon as I lined up, I knew it would be open and I could score. Brody put it right on the money and I was running into the end zone.”

The Jaguars doubled their lead to 14-0 on their third drive when Luke Kosko found Sullivan for a 31-yard scoring strike with 3:03 left in the opening quarter.

“Sean always wants the ball in his hands,” Cherpak said. “If we need something, we look to him. He wants to make those plays, and he is always in my ear on the sidelines about how he is open and he can beat his guy in coverage.”

Kiski’s offense showed life on its next drive, as Carson Heinle hit Brennan Moore on a wheel route for a 58-yard gain. Four plays later, on fourth-and-15, Heinle threw an 18-yard scoring dart to Terry Martin with 1:59 remaining in the first. The Cavaliers missed the extra point and trailed 14-6.

Two plays into the second stanza, Kosko threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Brayden White for a 21-6 advantage. Kiski’s defense had no answer for the home team’s aerial attack, it didn’t matter which quarterback was under center or who that said signal collar was throwing to.

After an Elias Lippincott 6-yard touchdown made it 28-6, the Jaguars’ defense made a stop on fourth down near midfield on an incomplete pass by Heinle.

Evans took over the offense on TJ’s next possession, as the senior led a five-play, 62-yard drive that culminated with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Sullivan.

Just before halftime, the Jaguars’ offense had one more potent play for six as Evans hooked up with Miller for a 52-yard catch-and-run.

TJ led 42-6 at halftime and outgained the visitors by a 402-174 margin in the first half.

With the mercy rule in effect, the Cavs’ opening drive of the second half ended abruptly when Jason Salman recorded an interception and returned it 24 yards to the 41-yard line. The pick was Salman’s eighth of the season.

“We had to eliminate the quarterback runs and scrambles,” Cherpak said. “We stayed in our rush lanes and was able to contain him. We had a spy on him the whole game, and I thought we just won at the line of scrimmage. Our front seven was stout and I thought our secondary made plays.”

On the ensuing drive for the home team, Gavin Miller ran for a 19-yard touchdown. Things continued to be on TJ’s side on the extra point try, as a low snap resulted in a two-point conversion run by Dominic Volomino.

The Jaguars’ defense got into the scoring when Kane Eggerton tallied a 52-yard pick six for a 57-6 lead.

Kiski posted the final score in the fourth quarter when Heinle connected with Isaiah Gonzalez from 32-yards. Heinle finished 9-of-29 for 213 yards, and Gonzalez made three receptions for 61 yards.

“We just could not keep up with their offense,” Albert said. “We knew TJ can throw, and we just don’t have enough coverage people. They have four really good options to throw to. You can try to throw some zone or bracket them, but then that opens up the passes to the running backs.”

Evans finished with 219 yards on 9-of-14 passing and three touchdowns, while Kosko was 5-for-5 for 113 yards and two scores. Sullivan finished with five catches for 142 yards and three scores.

“The game plan was to throw the ball,” Sullivan said. “I have a lot of confidence in both quarterbacks. I have a good connection with both. I always believe that if I can get the ball than I can score.”

White ended his night with three receptions for 105 yards, while Miller was TJ’s leading rusher with 66 yards on six carries. TJ totaled 461 yards of total offense.

Tags: Kiski Area, Thomas Jefferson