118 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
ANDREW VESSELS
Coach: Aaron Giorgi
2019 record: 3-7, 3-4
All-time record: 348-451-36
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 at Carmichaels* 7
9.18 at Avella* 7
9.25 Monessen* 7
10.2 Bentworth* 7
10.9 at California* 7
10.16 Mapletown* 7
10.23 West Greene* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Cole Jones
52-158, 779 yards, 6 TDs
Receiving Jonathan Wolfe
164-1,012 yards, 11 TDs
Rushing Cole Fowler
18-302 yards, 2 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• The last time
Jefferson-Morgan made the
playoffs, the Rockets went 7-3
and tied for second place in
the Tri-County South in 2012.
During their seven-year playoff
drought, there were three near
misses. They tied for the final
playoff spot in 2014 and were
a game out in ‘15 and ‘19.
• The key game for
Jefferson-Morgan last season
was a Week 3 matchup with
Monessen. The Greyhounds
won, 28-21, on a 38-yard
touchdown pass with 1:19 to
play. Monessen finished 4-3 in
the conference. Jefferson-Morgan
went 3-4.
• Coronavirus schedule
changes eliminated
Jefferson-Morgan’s Week
1 matchup with perennial
Class 2A power Washington.
It was converted to a
scrimmage.
• It’s been 46 years since
Jefferson-Morgan’s last
WPIAL championship, a 20-0
win over Midland in 1974.
Jefferson-Morgan also won the
year before, beating Western
Beaver, 35-6.
JEFFERSON-MORGAN
SHOWING SWAGGER
COLE JONES
by JONATHAN BOMBULIE
The Jefferson-Morgan football team has
some players who might turn some heads as
they step off the bus this season.
A pair of wide receivers who stand at least
6-foot-3. A 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield.
A 300-pound defensive tackle. These are
assets that most teams don’t have at the
Class A level.
It reminds coach Aaron Giorgi of the
2012 squad, which is significant because
that’s the last time the Rockets made the
playoffs.
“It’s a long time
coming for us,”
Giorgi said. “That
group in 2012 was
an intimidating
group as well. I
was there as an assistant.
That team
just had swagger.
They were intimidating
and they
were going to
punch you in the
mouth. I’m hoping
that’s where we’re getting to again.”
Some teams carrying a seven-year playoff
drought are building from the ground floor
but that doesn’t apply to the Rockets. They
have key players back at multiple positions
and have every reason to expect marked improvement
after going 3-7 a year ago.
That starts at quarterback, where Cole
Jones threw for 779 yards and six touchdowns
as a freshman last season.
“I’ve had kids play there before because
they were one of our better athletes or they
could throw the ball well or they were a
good game manager or they had the intelligence
to play there,” Giorgi said. “Cole Jones
plays quarterback. He understands the game.
That’s what he is. For the first time in a while,
we have a true quarterback there.”
Senior Jonathan Wolfe returns after running
for 1,012 yards and 11 touchdowns last
season.
Owen Maddish and Cole Fowler are the big
targets at wide receiver. The offensive line
will feature a trio of three-year starters. Andrew
Vessels is a big, quick defensive tackle.
“This year, more than any other year,
looking into the season, I’d say we have the
right pieces across the board,” Giorgi said.
“We have the right pieces offensively and
defensively.”
The Rockets also have the depth.
“Very pleased with numbers right now,”
Giorgi said. “We’re probably looking at somewhere
between 30 to 35 kids on the roster and
I have kids spread out to every position. All
the pieces are coming together for this year.”
With last year’s playoff teams, West Greene
and California, losing a lot to graduation, the
Tri-County South looks to be more wide open
TRI-COUNTY SOUTH • JEFFERSON-MORGAN
this season. The addition of Carmichaels adds
another contender.
“I don’t think there’s a frontrunner,” Giorgi
said. “Unlike years past when you had the Ben
Jacksons of the world you had to worry about.”
Giorgi thinks Jefferson-Morgan can contend
with any of those teams, and he doesn’t make
that prediction through rose-colored glasses.
If he didn’t think the Rockets were in the
conversation, he’d say so.
“There were some years where, yes, we were
just hanging on,” Giorgi said. “As a coach,
there was a realistic approach like, ‘OK, we’re
a two- or three-win team maybe.’ It’s just reality.
I would say, in the last couple years, we’re
inching closer. I’m excited about this year. The
hard effort from a lot of these kids coming up,
everything’s falling in place.”
“Cole Jones plays
quarterback. He
understands the
game. That’s what
he is. For the first
time in a while, we
have a true
quarterback there.”
AARON GIORGI
JEFFERSON-MORGAN COACH