1990's

(Click on year to view more information)

1990 The Jack Garrity Era Begins: The 1990 season marks the first year for Head Coach Jack Garrity, and his first season as a head coach in his career after a long career as an assistant at former rival Steel Valley. Getting off to a late start implementing the rigid off season regimen Garrity and his coaching staff require, and the lack of seniors on the team made for a tough start. There were some bright spots with quarterback Gabe Galioto and running back Jeff Van Bibber.  The team finished 2-8, but the record does not accurately portray how well this team performed.


1991 Jaguar Machine Roars Again, Perfect 10-0!: In Jack Garrity's second year he guided the "Jaguar Machine", as he affectionately named the team, to a perfect 10-0 regular season that no one predicted. They would end the season losing in the second round of the WPIAL playoffs, thus proving the Jaguars "Are for Real". They were the Big 7 Conference Champions.  The team was led by a strong senior class who each played a vital role for the team.  The 1991 season rejuvenated an ailing atmosphere around the football program. 


1992 Jaguars Get Ever so Close, Make it to Semi-Finals:  The team finished 9-1 in the regular season, winning the Big 7 Conference, before losing to the eventual WPIAL Champions, Blackhawk Cougars, in the semi-finals.  The semi-final match-up may have been one of the greatest games played  in Thomas Jefferson's storied history.  The game saw a comeback from TJ, after being down 28-7 at the end of the third quarter, to gain the lead at 28-29 with only minutes left.  The season saw Keith Miller set numerous records in the rushing and scoring categories, and the stellar play of Matt Dorsey, Matt Mclelland, and Kirk Cappezzuto on defense.

 

1993 Jaguars Fall Short of Playoffs, Garrity Era Ends: 

In surprising fashion, the end of the Jack Garrity era came sooner than expected.  In his final year he led the Jaguars to a 7-3 finish in a tough Big 8 Conference that saw 6 teams finish .500 or better, as the school and community watched a terrific era end.  The team was led by three year starting quarterback Brandon Adams and wide receiver Tom Alexander who rewrote the history books in the passing department.  The team also saw standouts in another three year starter Aaron Brettshneider and Leo Giel.

 

1994 Jaguars Under New Coach Phil Reynolds: Under new head coach Phil Reynolds the Jaguars finished out of the playoffs , but fought hard throughout the year.  Finishing at a disappointing 2-8.  The season did have its bright spot with the high scoring affair versus Elizabeth Forward, and a 7-6 late game loss to #1 McGuffey in game nine of the season showed the determination of the team.  The team was led by Brett Adams, Jeremy Maxa, Mike Yablonsky, and Jonathan Roesch.

 

1995 Bill Cherpak Returns to Thomas Jefferson, Jaguars Win Conference: 

First year head coach Bill Cherpak returned to the team after spending a season as an assistant coach under mentor and long-time friend George Novak at Woodland Hills High School.  As he was picking up where Jack Garrity left off, Coach Cherpak took a 2-8 team in '94, and guided the 1995 squad to an 8-3 record and a Big Eight Conference Championship.  The team exemplified the Jaguar tradition, and returned the conference crown to its rightful place. This would mark a successful beginning to head coach Bill Cherpak's place in TJ history.

 

1996 Jaguars Keep Rolling, Win Conference, Advance to WPIAL Semifinals: 

The '96 Jaguar squad compiled a 9-2 overall record with both losses coming from the Belle Vernon Leopards in the first and last games of the season. TJ won another Big Eight Conference championship and earned their second straight playoff berth.  The season was concluded in the semi-final round of the playoffs against the Leopards in a game played at California University of Pennsylvania in front of more than 5000 enthusiastic spectators. And although "all things must pass" the TJ Jaguars football program had staked it's claim as "one of the Best" and began a stretch of winning seasons that had only just begun.

 

1997 Jaguars Make Playoffs, Overcome Great Obstacles: 

The Jaguars were young, unsettled at quarterback, and had a rash of injuries to key players, but what this team did have was the heart and desire of a champion.  They overachieved in every sense of the word, and may have been head coach Bill Cherpak and his staff's greatest coaching job.  The team finished in second place in the conference, won a playoff game, and nearly made it to the semifinals of the AAA playoffs.

 

1998  Jaguars Keystone Conference Champs, Make it to Semi-Finals: 

The 1998 Jaguars were primed and ready to make a dent in the WPIAL AAA race, receiving a #3 ranking in the WPIAL.  Returning many of their skill positions, including Brian Dawson at quarterback, they were able to tie Belle Vernon for the Keystone Conference Crown and secure a bye in the first week of the playoffs.  They beat Valley in a rematch in the quarterfinals, but ended up losing to a tough Blackhawk team in the semi-finals.

 

1999 Jaguars Take Another Trip to WPIAL Semi-Finals: 

The Jaguars in 1999 were another terrific coaching job by Bill Cherpak and his staff.  The team overachieved in the eyes of the coach, finishing second in the conference and earned a trip to the semifinals for the second straight year before losing to West Allegheny.  The team was led offensively by the passing of Steve Scott and the receiving of Mike Virgin who broke many of the schools's passing records.  The offensive line was led by Tyler Reed, and consisted of Tom Chapman, Jesse Salinger, Brandon D'Alessandro, and Matt Rehak.  Believe it, or not they averaged 267 pounds across the front line!