High school football notebook: TJ defense shutting out opponents

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 | 5:36 PM

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Thomas Jefferson could win most weeks with only a safety from its defense.

So far, only one team has scored against the Jaguars, a last-minute touchdown in Week 1 when their starting defense was on the sideline. Combine that with three consecutive shutouts, and opposing teams are averaging just 1.75 points.

TJ has won 55-7, 35-0, 48-0 and 69-0, a four-game start more dominant than even a year ago when coach Bill Cherpak's team won the WPIAL Class 4A title. In fact, the Jaguars' defense has scored more touchdowns (two) than it's allowed (one).

But with such large leads, it becomes the junior varsity's responsibility to finish the second half of the shutouts.

“Our varsity doesn't let the JV forget it, either,” Cherpak said. “It's important to those kids. They work hard all week.”

But Thomas Jefferson isn't the only stingy defense in the WPIAL this season. Five others allow less than a touchdown per week: South Fayette at 6.6 points, Penn-Trafford 6.2, Washington 3.8, Burgettstown 2.3 and Aliquippa 2.0.

Those six teams combined are 26-0.

The only team to reach the end zone against Thomas Jefferson was Uniontown, which threw a 59-yard touchdown on the last play of the game. TJ already led 55-0 in that Week 1 win, but that touchdown still hurt, Cherpak said.

“It's tough to get a shutout, and our younger kids know that,” Cherpak said.

Nobody has reached the end zone against Aliquippa's defense. The Quips have allowed just 10 points, all during a 30-10 victory over Beaver in Week 2. Beaver returned an interception for a touchdown and kicked a field goal.

Consider, by Week 5 last season, Aliquippa already had allowed 72 points. These Quips might not allow that many all season.

Burgettstown also is off to a much better start. The team has allowed just nine points (one touchdown and one field goal) under third-year coach Mark Druga. The team started 2-2 a year ago with 64 points allowed.

Senior outside linebacker Jarred John already has two defensive touchdowns in Burgettstown's 3-4 scheme.

“I know that the teams we played right now are not the best, however, our defense has been outstanding barring any team,” said Druga, who has his brother, Rich, coordinate the team's blitzing defense.

Washington has outscored teams 142-0 in the first three quarters. That total includes an 89-yard interception-return touchdown by Ronnie Paith last week.

Thomas Jefferson's defense reached the end zone twice last week when Jared Collington and Max Shaw each returned interceptions for touchdowns.

Streak reaches 52

Altoona's Bishop Guilfoyle kept Pennsylvania's longest winning alive with a 24-21 victory last week over Forest Hills.

Guilfoyle has won 52 consecutive, which ranks as the third-longest active streak in the nation, according USA Today. Kimberly (Wisc.) owns the longest at 62. Soldotna (Alaska) is second at 58.

Bishop Guilfoyle (5-0) has won three consecutive PIAA Class A titles, twice defeating Clairton in Hershey.

Football co-op

Students at Lincoln Park will play football for nearby Western Beaver next season. The WPIAL granted the Beaver County schools a cooperative sponsorship that also includes shared baseball and softball teams.

TV timeout

WPNT-22 will televise the Class 6A Northern Seven matchup between No. 2-ranked Central Catholic (4-1, 3-0) and No. 1 Pine-Richland (5-0, 2-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Woodland Hills (2-3, 2-1) at Hampton (2-3, 2-1), a Class 5A Allegheny Nine matchup Friday, will be available to Xfinity customers this weekend via on-demand.

And, the Triblive High School Sports Network will livestream the matchup of unbeatens between Gateway and Penn-Trafford at 7:30 p.m. at tribhssn.triblive.com.

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Aliquippa, Burgettstown, Lincoln Park, Thomas Jefferson