1980's
(Click on year to view more information, please note year is football season not graduation)
1980 "The Magical Season" Jaguars Win the WPIAL: The 1980 Jaguars accomplished a feat no other team in school history had done previously by winning the WPIAL Championship over a heavily favored Aliquippa team. The game would also signify the end of the very successful Bap Manzini era at Thomas Jefferson High School. During the 1980 season, only a 10-7 loss to Belle Vernon spoiled a perfect record as the Jaguars finished second in the conference due to the defeat. The leaders included; Darnell Stone, Pedro Bowman, Kevin Russell, Chuck Pukansky, Bob Garchek, Gary Natter, Billy Edmonds, and Bill McCormick. And, the team had a deep group of talented football players that all contributed tremendously.
1981 Win Conference Under New Coach Reynolds: Coming off winning the WPIAL title and losing a coaching legend in Bap Manzini, the jury was out on which direction the Jaguars would continue in. The 1981 Jaguars and new head coach Phil Reynolds became the judge and jury, and left no doubt that the TJ tradition would continue. The team returned just one starter in Jeff Callahan and three other lettermen, but the the cupboard was not bare.
1982 Jaguars Lose a Few Disappointing Games, Finish Out of the Playoffs: The Jaguars in 1982 returned 11 lettermen, and the expectations of another playoff season to match the previous year's achievement was within their goals. However, the team did not achieve these goals, but they still managed a respectable finish at 6-3-1. The team consisted of standouts Bill Stoffell, Ed Hannon, Bill Dosey, and Ted Hinsman.
1983 Phil Reynolds Era Ends, Jaguars Limp to Finish Line: The 1983 campaign would be head coach Phil Reynolds last season on the job, as the Jaguars limped to a dismal 0-9-1 record. There were a few bright spots, as junior quarterback Mark Brubaker established a few school records in the passing department with his main target Rick Miller.
1984 George Wilson Takes the Reins, Finishes at 5-5: Coming off a winless season, the 1985 season began with long time assistant George Wilson taking over the team. The season began with a huge win over formidable Mount Pleasant, as the Jaguars finished at a much improved 5-5. The Jaguars played tough, taking the momentum from the Mount Pleasant game and looking to restore the TJ tradition.
1985 Showing Spirit and Resolve the Jaguars Fight On: In George Wilson's second and final year as the head coach of Thomas Jefferson, the Jaguars did not give up despite a string of losses. The team was lead by by captains Mike Van Bibber, Daryl Unrath, Joe Guddenburr, and Eric Holzworth. They would finish a disappointing 1-9. The season cannot be measure in wins, but the true determination of the individual players themselves. Players like Jeff Hannon who played most of the season with a blood clot in his abdomen, would not quit until the doctors disallowed him from participating. Coach Wilson would resign following the season.
1986 Bill Englert is the New Man in Charge: Head Coach Bill Englert begins his tenure as head coach of Thomas Jefferson after coming over from Peters Township with an impressive resume as a coach and player, and had a senior oriented team waiting for him. The team battled hard while learning a new system that had previously been unchanged for twenty years. The season started out with a murderer's row of opponents that had been title contenders for the past few years, and they began the season at 0-4-1. However, this did not deter their efforts as they won the next two contests with tough defense behind Erik Holzworth and the hard running of Brian Haberstock.
1987 Injuries, Injuries, and More Injuries... Jaguars Have Tough Year: The 1987 team endured a long season as injuries and defections took its toll. The team did have some standouts in quarterback John Tighe, and a defense that played hard behind Ryan Brain. The team was undersized as it went up against the heavyweights in WPIAL AAA football, but displayed the Jaguar tenacity and spirit throughout the year even as the losses mounted up.
1988 Jaguars Move by Air, Much Improved:
In head coach Bill Englert's third year as the head man at TJ, he guided the Jaguars to an improved 4-5-1 record behind the passing tandem of Mark Onaitis and Tim Brown, and the running of Shawn Denne and Matt Haberstock. Defensively they were led by Don Turek. The season was a roller coaster ride with many great moments and some not so great. The Jaguars were mathematically alive for the playoffs until the last game of the season where the 21-21 tie versus Chartiers Valley ended any playoff aspirations.
1989 TJ Has Tough Year, Head Coach Bill Englert Resigns:
Coming off the heels of a much improved season the 1989 Jaguars and head coach Bill Englert were looking to take the next step and challenge for the conference crown. However, the team took a step backward and ended the season at 2-8. The team had a nice nucleus of seniors and a few experienced juniors returning. Their first win came in week four versus Elizabeth Forward, and their second win came a few weeks later against Uniontown. Though the wins did not come in bunches, the team pushed on and displayed toughness in the face of defeat.