Behind standout running back, sturdy offensive line, Thomas Jefferson out to defend title

By: Ray Fisher
Monday, August 11, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Aug. 22. Due to production schedule conflicts, the Laurel Highlands and Ringgold previews will be published later in the month.

Thomas Jefferson has racked up 10 WPIAL championships during the Bill Cherpak era as coach.

All of the titles have been won since 2004, including last year’s 28-7 victory over McKeesport in the championship game at Norwin.

“It was an amazing day at Norwin Stadium,” Cherpak said. “We had a great week of preparation and it showed throughout the game. It was truly a team effort. The offense, defense and special teams were all great.”

Cherpak, now in his 31st year as the Jaguars’ head coach, said the 2024 season was one of his most enjoyable.

“It was an amazing year. It goes by fast,” he said “It is a memory the kids will have for a lifetime.”

The Jaguars’ highly respected field boss is now the all-time leader among WPIAL coaches with his 10 championships. And he ranks 12th in the state with a 323-58 career record.

TJ moved into a tie for third all-time with its 11th WPIAL football title, sharing the spot with New Castle. The Jaguars also were WPIAL champions in 1980, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.

TJ was led by a highly decorated group of high-profile players last year but, as is the Jaguars’ way, still has a talented group of returning starters both offensively and defensively.

Tyler Eber was a workhorse in the offensive backfield as a sophomore running back in 2024, rushing for 2,276 yards on 420 carries for an average of 5.4 yards per carry and 30 touchdowns.

“I knew that our O-line and tight ends were going to be pretty good last season with several returners, especially Shep Turk, so we did have high expectations for our running game,” Cherpak said. “We had a lot of confidence in Tyler and expected him to do very well, but I don’t think anyone envisioned Tyler to have the breakout year that he did. I wasn’t surprised, though, because he is dedicated and works as hard as anyone.”

Eber rambled for 158 yards on 33 carries and scored twice in the WPIAL championship game. Earlier in the playoffs, he broke the team record for carries in a game with 48 for 238 yards and two scores against West Allegheny. The previous record was 44 set by TJ multi-record holder Brian Baldrige versus Strong Vincent in 2008.

Eber also shattered Baldrige’s rushing record for number of carries in a season (291) with his 420 rushing attempts.

He’s looking for similar results this fall.

“My expectations are very high, as always,” Eber said. “I hold myself to a very high standard in everything I do. I expect to improve in every facet of my game.

“But my team always comes first. Our expectation is the same as always, to win WPIAL and states. That being said, we don’t just expect it’s going to happen. We are working to make the expectations into reality.”

To the delight of the TJ coaching staff, Eber has grown from a 5-foot-10, 170-pound sophomore to a 5-11, 185-pound junior. And he says he hasn’t lost any of his speed in the process.

“I worked largely on improving myself as an athlete in the offseason,” Eber said. “I’m the most conditioned I’ve ever been in my life. I’m much faster and much bigger. My cuts and running-back mechanics are also much cleaner.

“I’m working on making more splash plays along with my favorite type of play, ground and pound. I love nothing more than being the workhorse.”

Cherpak has noticed Eber’s growth and development since last season.

“He has taken on a leadership role that will be very important,” Cherpak said. “He definitely leads by example.”

Other returning starters on offense consist of Kane Eggerton (WR), Dom Volomino (TE), Zane Sable (C), Dom Metz (RG) and Beckett Everley (RT) — all juniors.

“Our strength is once again the same as TJ football should be — physicality and relentlessness,” Eber said. “This is shown firsthand with our dominant run game, O-line and our super physical defense.

“We lost very good guys on our O-line, obviously Shep (Pitt recruit Shep Turk). But our line this year will be unbelievable. I have nothing but trust and faith in them. This line might be one of the best high school groups in a long time.”

Eggerton was one of the many underclassmen who secured starting roles last year.

“My immediate reaction was pure joy and happiness that all the work we put in had paid off,” Eggerton said following the WPIAL final. “I was just so proud. When you put a team that is willing to work as hard as needed — with the best coaching staff in the state — it is a formula for success.”

The Jaguars will have a new face at quarterback to replace the graduated Luke Kosko, a Cincinnatti baseball recruit. Senior Jeff Raible and sophomore Harrison Kolling have been battling it out for the starting QB job.

“I am confident in both of them as a starter,” Cherpak said. “We will need to find someone to replace the production of (WR) Brayden White. He was a special player and definitely one of the best I have ever coached. It may take more than one to fill his shoes.

“We have a lot of experience returning but will also have several new starters at key positions. Those things will play out and that will determine the strength of this team.”

There is a small legion of players returning on the other side of the line led by senior linebacker Zach Villa, who racked up 82 tackles (56 unassisted) in 2024 and was credited with a game-high 13 stops versus McKeesport in the WPIAL championship clash.

Villa is joined on defense by seniors Emmett Forte (LB) and Jarrett Becoate (DB), along with juniors Deacon Kamberis (DT), Eggerton (LB) and Luccas Patterson (DE).

“Nate Costa and Dom Volomino were both starters on defense during the season. Both suffered injuries and missed significant weeks,” Cherpak said. “Nate actually missed the entire season after being injured in Week 2. Dom was injured in Week 3 and missed approximately six weeks. They will be returning, as well.

“The defense should be a strong point for us. Replacing the leadership and high level of play from Matt Martinis will be a big key to our defense. He was a coach on the field. That will be one of the main focuses for the defense throughout training camp and the preseason.”

TJ is aiming for a 12th district title this season. The Jaguars have been able to repeat as WPIAL champions five times in the past.

“The expectations here never change,” Cherpak said. “We expect to compete for conference, WPIAL and state championships. Those benchmarks have been set here long ago.”

The Jaguars also want to add a sixth state championship, something they haven’t done in five years.

“Our goal here is to win every year. That is the standard,” Eber said. “We may have won the WPIAL crown, but we fell short of a state championship. I think it’s fair to say the whole team has a chip on its shoulder.”

The diligent running back appears to be the epitome of what a TJ football player represents.

“I love TJ football. I live it, and I will do anything for this program and this team,” Eber said. “To be a TJ football player, it’s truly something special. To me, it means to be relentless, tough and hardworking.

“But at the core, it means winning games by simply out-gritting teams; it’s a war of attrition for every team that plays us. And we will not lose a war of attrition.”

The Jaguars ended their WPIAL schedule a year ago with a 13-0 record. They finished 14-1 overall after falling to Lampeter-Strasburg, 20-16, in the PIAA semifinals.

TJ defeated West Allegheny, 28-7, and Aliquippa, 38-21, in the first two rounds of the district playoffs.

Thomas Jefferson

Coach: Bill Cherpak

2024 record: 14-1, 5-0 in Class 4A Big Six Conference

All-time record: 520-214-7

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 Baldwin, 7

8.29 Central Valley, 7

9.5 at McKeesport, 7

9.12 at Avonworth, 7

9.19 West Mifflin, 7

9.26 at Belle Vernon*, 7

10.3 at Trinity*, 7

10.10 Ringgold*, 7

10.17 at Chartiers Valley*, 7

10.24 Laurel Highlands*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Luke Kosko*

112-189, 1,991 yards, 24 TDs

Rushing: Tyler Eber

420-2,276 yards, 30 TDs

Receiving: Brayden White*

68-1,287 yards, 15 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Matt Martinis, a senior linebacker at TJ in 2024, won the prestigious Breisinger Award following the season. Martinis led the defense with 95 tackles with 64 unassisted. He played outside linebacker as a sophomore, inside linebacker as a junior and a hybrid position as a senior. He led the team in tackles all three years.

• The Jaguars won the Big Six Conference championship in 2024 with a 5-0 record and the WPIAL Class 4A title with a 13-0 mark. TJ defeated Belle Vernon, Trinity, Ringgold (via forfeit), Chartiers Valley and Laurel Highlands by a 168-35 overall margin in conference play.

• Cherpak ranks third in WPIAL history in career wins behind Jim Render (406) and Joe Hamilton (342) and ahead of George Novak (306).

• Eber, Sable and Metz were first team all-conference selections last year. Everley, Eggerton, Patterson and Villa were named to the second team.

• TJ improved from eight to nine to 14 victories over the past three seasons, winning 31 of 39 games, two conference titles and last year’s district championship.

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