Thomas Jefferson’s Stump off to fast start to junior season

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, October 15, 2018 | 8:03 PM

Thomas Jefferson notebook items:

• Junior quarterback Shane Stump connected on 47 of 74 passes for 1,054 yards and 14 touchdowns through six games, and averaged 22.4 yards per completion.

Stump’s favorite target is junior WR Dan Deabner, with 32 receptions for 818 yards and 12 scores, an average of 25.6 yards per catch.

The Jaguars’ leading rusher is senior RB Max Shaw, who accounted for 720 yards and 16 touchdowns on 68 carries, or 10.6 yards per rushing attempt.

TJ (6-0, 4-0) was sparked defensively by Shaw, Deabner, and junior linebackers James Martinis and Nathan Werderber.

• TJ grad Zane Zandier is a 6-foot-3, 235-pound sophomore linebacker on the Virginia football team.

Zandier made his first career start Sept. 15 against Ohio in Nashville and notched a game-high 10 tackles. He also recorded 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against the Bobcats.

A first-team all-state selection at wide receiver, Zandier caught 44 passes for 900 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior in 2016. He averaged 20.5 yards per reception, and made 46 tackles from his defense back position with one interception. He also returned 23 punts for 203 yards, and posted 209 kick return yards.

Zandier was rated a four-star recruit by ESPN.com.

• Five former members of the girls volleyball program are continuing their careers in college this season.

Allie Yurkovich is a 5-foot-7 senior libero/defensive specialist at Robert Morris, while Morgan Yurkovich is a 5-8 freshman setter at Pitt-Johnstown.

Rachel Stover is a 6-2 senior outside hitter at Cleveland State, Reis Zandier is a 5-4 sophomore defensive specialist at Youngstown State, and Natalie Miller is a 5-7 junior defensive specialist at Stockton, which is located in Galloway, N.J.

Zandier was redshirted in 2016 as a freshman at Youngstown State.

• Noah Pierce was a qualifier for the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf finals.

Pierce, a junior, qualified by shooting a 78 at the WPIAL semifinal Sept. 25 at Youghiogheny Country Club.

The WPIAL Class AAA boys golf finals were held Oct. 2 at prestigious Oakmont Country Club.

• A.J. Meshanko, a senior midfielder, scored twice to lead the boys soccer team to a 4-0 section win Oct. 2 at home against Gateway.

The game was called with 26 minutes remaining because of inclement weather.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

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