Class 4A heavyweights to collide when Aliquippa meets Thomas Jefferson

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, November 7, 2024 | 6:36 PM

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Go back in time four years to when Thomas Jefferson and Aliquippa met in the 2020 WPIAL finals. It seemed then that a new rivalry was blossoming with the Quips’ arrival in Class 4A.

Yet, they haven’t met since.

“It’s been kind of surprising that we haven’t,” TJ coach Bill Cherpak said.

The two titans of 4A will get reacquainted this week in a WPIAL semifinal that understandably has a championship feel. No. 1 Thomas Jefferson (11-0) faces No. 4 Aliquippa (7-2) at 7 p.m. Friday at Chartiers Valley.

Combined, the teams have won seven of the past eight WPIAL 4A titles, including five in a row. Yet, the two ended up on the same side of the bracket this year.

“Everyone was expecting this game to be the WPIAL championship,” Aliquippa coach Vashawn Patrick said. “Instead, it’s the game before. But with coach Cherpak, you know they’re going to be well-coached and ready to go. So will we.”

Aliquippa owns a WPIAL-record 20 WPIAL titles. Thomas Jefferson has 10, including nine won during Cherpak’s three decades as coach.

The winner advances to the WPIAL finals Nov. 16 at Norwin. No. 3 McKeesport and No. 7 Mars meet in the other semifinal Friday.

The bracket started with only eight teams.

Three-time defending champion Aliquippa is trying to reach the WPIAL finals for the 17th year in a row. Patrick said there’s always pressure to maintain that streak.

“There is any time you’ve been somewhere 16 years in a row,” Patrick said. “I told this team at the beginning of the year, ‘You don’t want to be that team that doesn’t practice on Thanksgiving weekend.’ They know what’s at stake without adding too much pressure to them.”

Thomas Jefferson is coming off a 28-7 win over No. 8 West Allegheny. Sophomore running back Tyler Eber had 48 carries for 238 yards and two touchdowns.

Eber ranks seventh among WPIAL rushers with 1,574 yards and has 24 touchdowns. The Jaguars relied on a stout offensive line last week, at times running the ball on 10 or more consecutive plays.

“That’s our strong point,” Cherpak said. “We feel that’s an advantage for us, because most teams don’t see that. We run it straight at you.”

TJ quarterback Luke Kosko also threw for two touchdowns in the win over West Allegheny. Kosko, a Cincinnati baseball recruit, has passed for 1,565 yards and 19 touchdowns. Top receiver Brayden White has 11 TDs.

“Their strength is up front with that offensive line and running the ball,” Patrick said. “But they also protect the quarterback very well. … In this type of game, you’ve got to prepare for everything.”

Aliquippa defeated No. 5 Trinity, 34-14, in the quarterfinals. Penn State-bound senior Tiqwai “Tikey” Hayes returned from injury to rush for 176 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries.

Hayes, a career 6,000-yard rusher, has 933 yards and 14 touchdowns. He again showed the Quips’ big-play potential with a 51-yard run last week.

Junior quarterback Marques Council Jr. added two passing touchdowns, including a 48-yarder to Anthony Reddic Jr. It was Council’s fourth straight game with multiple touchdown passes.

“Your strength is running when you’ve got Tikey Hayes back there, but Marques threw some good balls last week,” Patrick said. “I think we’re balanced right now.”

Thomas Jefferson used a clock-control strategy to keep West Allegheny’s offense largely off the field last week. Cherpak said the Jaguars would prefer to use that offense-as-defense strategy again.

“We don’t want to give them 10 or 12 possessions and the opportunity to make big plays,” he said.

The teams needed overtime to decide their 2020 championship game. Thomas Jefferson ultimately won 35-28 and later won the state title too.

Throughout this season, there was feeling these two might finally meet again.

“We thought we would see TJ,” Patrick said. “I’m excited. The kids are excited. They’re really locked in, focused and ready to go.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Aliquippa, Thomas Jefferson