Thomas Jefferson lights up scoreboard, gets ‘back to its old school ways’

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, October 27, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Two key members of the Thomas Jefferson football team eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark offensively in the team’s 27-7 victory Oct. 4 against Trinity.

Senior quarterback Luke Kosko completed 10 of 15 passes for 192 yards and one touchdown, giving him 1,170 passing yards for the season.

Tyler Eber, a sophomore running back, powered his way to 146 yards on 38 carries and scored three times, boosting his season rushing totals to 1,037 yards and 15 touchdowns.

“I feel our team has really brought that old school TJ football back this season,” Eber said, “that being having a hard-nosed, tough team with a great running game and a defense that no team can run on.

“The expectations for the (playoffs) are the same as every season for us. We play disciplined and go all the way and win WPIALs and states.”

After a forfeit victory over Ringgold, the Jaguars rolled past Chartiers Valley, 49-7, on Oct. 18.

Going into the regular-season finale Oct. 25 against Laurel Highlands, Kosko had connected on 76 of 122 passes for 1,362 yards and 14 touchdowns with just three interceptions.

Eber rushed for 152 yards and five touchdowns on just 13 carries against Chartiers Valley, giving him 1,189 yards and 20 touchdowns for the season.

Kosko threw for 192 yards and a touchdown to Eber against the Colts.

“Playing in that game was a lot of fun to just go out there and dominate with my guys,” he said. “First, the offensive line as a unit played super great. Every single one of them had a great game.

“I feel that was a good game for me to showcase my speed in space. My game this season has been all about hitting the hole hard and getting the hard yards. It’s fun to get out in space a bit. I also feel having a game like that is good, but what I really care about is doing that against the teams we will face in the playoffs. I’m really looking forward to those games.”

Eber was averaging 5.58 yards per carry. He aims to finish the year with 2,000 yards in the rushing department along with 25 touchdowns.

“But the team always comes first and I’m not too worried with my personal goals,” he said. “Everyone is going to see that TJ football is back to its old school ways this season, and in the upcoming years.”

Eber said the Jaguars’ toughest opponent during the regular season was their newest rival, McKeesport.

“I give a lot of respect to the teams we’ve played, but our toughest game was definitely against McKeesport,” Eber said. “Not only were they a good team, but we just did not play well, in general, in the first half.

“We had to turn things around greatly in order to win that one, and we did that in the overtime win.”

Kosko’s favorite target this season has been senior WR Brayden White with 41 receptions for 762 yards and seven scores.

Others in the receiving corps include sophomore WR Kane Eggerton (13-243, 4 TDs), Eber (11-204), senior WR Gavin Miller, senior TE Kooper Kamberis, senior TE Ben Cleary, senior WR Nathan Farison and senior RB Matt Martinis.

Eber’s 204 receiving yards gave him close to 1,400 yards in total offense.

He’s attained his rushing yardage behind the blocking of seniors Shep Turk (T) and Luke Janosko (G), juniors Zane Sable (C) and Dom Metz (G) and sophomore Beckett Everley (T), as well as Kamberis and junior Dom Volomino at tight end.

“The season is going great,” said the 6-foot-5, 290-pound Turk, a Pitt recruit. “We have to keep doing what we’re doing — dominating.”

With one regular-season game remaining, TJ was 9-0 and clinched at least a tie for first place in the Class 4A Big Six Conference with a 4-0 record.

The Jaguars were averaging 35.7 points per game and allowing 10.8 on defense.

Martinis was the team’s leading tackler from his middle linebacker position. Other defensive stalwarts included junior LB Zach Villa, Eggerton (LB/DB), junior DB Jarrett Becoate, DE Kooper Kamberis and sophomore DL Deacon Kamberis.

Sam Wessel, a junior goalkeeper on the TJ boys soccer team, was successful on 42 PAT kicks for the Jaguars.

“It has been a great and enjoyable year so far,” coach Bill Cherpak said. “I am not really sure what the expectations were at the beginning of the year because we had such a tough schedule to start the season but being 9-0 has definitely met or exceeded those expectations. The team has continued to get better each week, and everyone is making a contribution.”

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