Former Little Jaguars champions bolster TJ football team

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 29, 2017 | 11:00 PM

The Thomas Jefferson Little Jaguars won the Big Dog Bowl in the winter of 2010.

The local 10U youth football squad, which traveled across the country to Redlands, Calif, defeated the Glendale Bandits, 21-6.

The Little Jaguars were invited to the bowl game after going undefeated to win the 2009 championship in the 10-year-old division of the South Suburban Youth Football League.

The team's memorable trip was sponsored by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Several players on that Little Jaguars championship team were instrumental in the success of the Thomas Jefferson football team over the past two seasons, when the Jaguars won back-to-back WPIAL titles at Heinz Field.

Devin Danielson, Chris Farrell, Jake Giegerich, Bobby Kelley, Jonathan Muehlbauer, Jimbo Nassida, Luke Petruzzi, A.J. Putignano, Dom Serapiglia, Justin Vigna and Zane Zandier all competed for the Little Jaguars back in 2009-10.

Some still are members of the Thomas Jefferson football program this year.

Danielson (OL/DL) and Farrell (TE/DE) are seniors on the 2017 team at TJ; Serapiglia (OL/DL) and Vigna (RB/DB) are juniors.

“I was the starting guard, and Devin was the center (in 2009-10),” Serapiglia said. “My dad was actually the one who got in contact with Big Ben. First, we got pictures taken with him wearing his Super Bowl Xl ring. Then, Big Ben paid for our team to go to California. We gave Ben the trophy we won, and he still has it in the Steelers' trophy case in the locker room where the players keep their things.

“It was such a great experience to be able to go to California and play (in the Big Dog Bowl). Not many people have the opportunity to do that, and it is a memory that will last a lifetime.”

The Big Dog Bowl was hosted by renowned rapper Snoop Dogg, an avid Steelers fan.

“My favorite memory from when I was out in California was playing with all my friends that I grew up with,” Vigna said. “And when we won the Big Dog Bowl, the moment couldn't have been more awesome — especially seeing the expression on Snoop Dogg's face at the end of the game; it was priceless.”

Giegerich (TE/DE), Kelley (QB/DB), Muehlbauer (WR/DB), Nassida (OL/DL), Petruzzi (RB/LB), Putignano (OL/DL) and Zandier (WR/DB) were seniors at Thomas Jefferson last year.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson