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.

The Magical Season of 1980. “Bap" declared this to be his final season as the head coach of TJ. He was now 60 years old and had suffered a heart attack the previous season, when there was a teacher’s strike, and his staff was pressured not to work. He did win his 200th game of his career versus Steel Valley in week 9.

During the 1980 season, only a 10-7 loss to Belle Vernon spoiled a perfect record. Though the Jaguars finished second in the conference due to the defeat versus the Leopards, the playoffs beckoned. The next two games brought victories in a 14-7 struggle against East Allegheny and a 34-6 smashing of North Catholic. The highlight of the East Allegheny game was the long catch and run for a TD by Billy Edmonds, and Pedro Bowman’s big run up the middle for the final TD.

The celebration in the locker room was riotous!

The Jaguars played with an emotion that could not be matched in the WPIAL championship, as they dismantled the #3 team in the state, Aliquippa and their 225 lbs. per man offensive line.  Bap Manzini was quoted after the game in his simple, but eloquent way, "Beautiful..... Beautiful...  Who would have believed this?"  The Jaguars won the contest 28-6, ending the coach's head coaching storied career on a "beautiful" note.

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Photos Click Here

Commissioners are seated:  Cyril Wecht, Tom Foerester, William Hunt.  Bap Manzini holding football with Foerester.  The back row is Pedro Bowman, Chuck Pukansky, Phil Reynolds, Foster Rutter--Superintendent of Schools, James Roberts--TJ Principal, Darnell Stone, Kevin Russell, and Bill Weir--TJ Athletic Director

**Please add to the story by emailing pictures, stats, videos, and stories to thomasjeffersonhistory@gmail.com

Coaching Staff:

Bap Manzini- Head Coach

George Wilson- Assistant Coach

John Yogan-Assistant Coach

John Mitruski-Assistant Coach

Phil Reynolds-Assistant Coach

Rick Moser-Assistant Coach

Articles:

Stats:

Points scored per game:  24.6

Points allowed per game:  9.3

Rushing Yards (TD's):

Pedro Bowman:  1,495 (16)

Darnell Stone:  1,153 (18)

Jeff Callahan:  ??(1)

Kevin Russell:  (4)

Receptions/yards (TD's):

Pedro Bowman:  (1)

Rich Deonavich: (2)

Jeff Barrett:  (1)

Milke McCormick:  (3)

Bill Edmonds:  (1)

Passing Yards/ Completions-Attempts (TD's):

Kevin Russell:  (5)

Darnell Stone:  (2)

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School Records:

Rushing yards career:   -Darnell Stone

    Previous Record:   (Rick Leaman-1975)

Rushing TD's career:   38-Darnell Stone

    Previous Record:   (Rick Leaman-1975)

Rushing yards season:  1,495-Pedro Bowman

    Previous Record:  1,352 (Jim Giansante-1977)