Finest 50 at 50
Meet 50 of the greatest athletes ever to play varsity football at Thomas Jefferson High School
by Ray Fisher Staff Writer
September 18, 2008
Thomas Jefferson High School is celebrating its 50th year of varsity football competition during the 2008-09 school year.
Thomas Jefferson's varsity football program has grown from a 2-7 start in 1959 to a state power during the past five decades.
The Jaguars have gained national prominence through their high-powered winning tradition, with four WPIAL championships, two state crowns and 17 conference titles in school history.
Through 49 seasons, TJ's overall record stood at 332-181-7 on the gridiron. The Jaguars have had eight head coaches in school history -- Art Connors (1959-62), Jerry Urda (1962-64), Bap Manzini (1965-1980), Phil Reynolds (1981-83 and 1994), George Wilson (1984-85), Bill Englert (1986-89), Jack Garrity (1990-93) and Bill Cherpak (1995-2008).
Last season, TJ was the first team in state history to win the PIAA Class AAA championship with a 16-0 overall record.
To celebrate the 50th season of the Thomas Jefferson High School varsity football program, the South Hills Record has facilitated the selection of a "Finest Fifty at 50" at TJ -- honoring the top 50 football players in school history.
Every effort was made to develop it as an objective listing as possible, with the focus of the team being an athlete's varsity football career at Thomas Jefferson.
Voting for the Finest Fifty at 50, heavily focused toward the more recent era, was developed in several ways.
Nominations were collected from former and current TJ football coaches, former and current teachers at TJ and former players, as well as former and current members of the school district administration, WPIAL and TJ game officials, long-time members of Jaguar Nation, TJ Football Boosters members and community residents.
Ballots also were collected from write-in voting and e-mail voting by the public.
One note: Players were considered strictly from the 1965 to 2007 seasons.
The Jaguars were 16-39-1 from 1959 to 1964 --the pre-Bap Manzini years. The 1960 squad, however, went 7-1-1 and finished second in the West Penn Conference.
The Jaguars defeated Snowden, West Mifflin North, South Fayette, Wilmerding, Bethel Park, Monongahela and North Hills, tied Brentwood and lost to Elizabeth Forward that season.
Noteworthy players in that era included the likes of: John Kosar (QB), Bob Horn (QB), Mike Foreman (HB), Jack Gillen (HB), Jeff Getty (HB), Larry Kalcevic (HB), Carmen Sporio (FB), Bob Castagna (OL/DL), Milan Vucin (OG), Sam Brnilovich (OG), Bill Griffiths (OG), Dennis Brain (OT), Dale Saller (C), John Magiske (DT), Frank Johnson (RB), Jay Weber (OL/DL), Les George (E), Wayne Janczewski (OL/DL), Ron Karloski (OL/DL), Benny Bowman (RB), Jim Ashman (QB) and Dick Stoops (C).
The TJ football success story was launched during the Manzini coaching era from 1965 to 1980, when the Jaguars compiled a 119-36-1 overall record and captured their first WPIAL football championship (in 1980).
A little drumroll, please...
Herewith are what are dubbed as the "Finest Fifty at 50" football players in TJ school history. The names are listed with the year of their high school graduating class.
Cramer was a quarterback/safety in high school and continued his career at Ohio State and Pitt. He was a starting linebacker on the 1976 national championship team at Pitt.
Bowman was a fullback/nose guard in high school and rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a senior in 1980. He was a four-year starter and record-breaking running back at Duquesne.
Drager was tight end/defensive end in high school. He scored a school-record 12 touchdowns as a senior in 2006 and was a Big 33 Classic and all-state selection. He was a Defensve End and  tight end at Virginia Tech.
Reed was a four-year starter at offensive tackle/defensive tackle in high school and was a Big 33 Classic, all-state and All-American selection. He continued his career at Penn State and with the Chicago Bears.
Drager was a running back/defensive back in high school and an all-state selection. He scored 40 touchdowns and rushed for 2,094 yards during his senior season in 2002. He continued his career at Kent State.
DeCicco was a wide receiver, quarterback, defensive back and kick returner in high school and accounted for 2,196 offensive yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior in 2006. He is the only player in TJ history to pass and run for 1,000 yards in a season. He was a Big 33 Classic and all-state selection. He played defensive back at Pitt and Linebacker in the NFL for various teams.
Dawson was a quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback in high school. He passed for a school-record 2,365 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior in 2004 and was a Big 33 Classic and all-state selection. He was a sophomore quarterback at Waynesburg, after transferring from California (Pa.).
Giansante was a running back/defensive back in high school. He scored 26 touchdowns and rushed for 1,352 yards as a senior in 1977, breaking the TJ and Big 10 Conference record (held by "Deacon" Dan Towler), and was a Big 33 Classic selection. He was recruited by Michigan and Arkansas but after injuries ended up playing at California (Pa.).
Harchar was a three-year starter at fullback, tight end and linebacker in high school and was a Big 33 Classic and Parade All-American selection. He continued his career at Notre Dame.
Stone was a running back/defensive back in high school and was a 1,000-yard rusher for three consecutive seasons. He continued his career as a running back/ fullback at Pitt.
Grant was an offensive/defensive tackle in high school and continued his career at Tampa before transfering to Mississippi, where he started as an offensive guard. He is currently a TJ assistant football coach.
Nix was a four-year starter at offensive/defensive tackle in high school and was a conference MVP, Big 33 Classic and all-state selection. He also was named to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was an offensive lineman at Pitt and Oakland Raiders in the NFL.
Russell was the starting quarterback back on the 1980 WPIAL championship team in high school and a four-year starter during a record-breaking career at quarterback at California (Pa.).
Kolodziej was a four-year starter as an offensive lineman/linebacker in high school and was an all-state selection. He suffered a serious knee injury in the 2003 WPIAL playoffs. He is currently is a junior starting nose tackle at Bucknell.
Dawson was a two-year starter at quarterback in high school and passed for 1,513 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior in 1998. He was a four-year starter at quarterback during a record-breaking career at Washington & Jefferson.
Yogan was a wide receiver/defensive back in high school and continued his career at Indiana State. He was a long time  TJ assistant football coach.
Cherish was a wide receiver/defensive back in high school and continued his career at West Virginia and Washington & Jefferson, where he was a Division III All-American.
Buches was an offensive/defensive tackle in high school and continued his career as a long snapper specialist at Notre Dame.
Cecconi was a running back/defensive back and Big 33 Classic selection in high school. He continued his career at Pitt as a tailback/defensive back.
DeCicco was a wide receiver, quarterback, defensive back and linebacker in high school and an all-state selection. He stepped in at quarterback in the ninth game of the 2007 season and led the Jaguars to WPIAL and PIAA championships. He was a defensive back at Slippery Rock.
Nix was a fullback/linebacker in high school, 1,000-yard rusher and Big 33 Classic and all-state selection. He played linebacker at Pitt.
Thomas was a running back/defensive back in high school and accounted for 24 touchdowns during his senior season in 1967. He was recruited by Nebraska.
Buches was an offensive tackle/nose guard in high school and an All-American selection. He was offered and accepted a full scholarship to Michigan, but was critically injured in an auto accident and never played football again.
Potts was a quarterback/defensive back in high school and continued his career as a safety at William & Mary.
  Â
Starrett was a wide receiver, running back, defensive back and kick returner in high school and continued his career at Princeton.
Winovich was a quarterback and linebacker in high school, breaking several school records including passing yardage (412 yards) for one game, career passing yards (4,421) and career TD passes (44) and was an all-state selection. He was a TE/FB/ILB at Bowling Green.
Bonno was a running back, wide receiver and defensive back in high school and a 1,000-yard rusher during his senior season in 1996. He continued his career at Washington & Jefferson.
Gomolak was a tight end/safety in high school and continued his career at Virginia. He tried out for the Steelers as a free agent tight end.
McCafferty was a wide receiver/defensive back in high school and caught 64 passes for 1,313 yards during his senior season in 2003. He continued his career at Washington & Jefferson and is currently a TJ assistant football coach.
Crisp was a wide receiver/defensive back in high school and continued his career at Georgia.
McCormick was a wide receiver/safety in high school and played at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and at Pitt as a defensive back.
Brown was a tight end/defensive end in high school and a Division III All-American selection at Clarion. He set new school records for receptions and yardage in 1988.
Adams was a three-year starter at quarterback in high school, passing for more than 3,700 career yards, and 40 touchdowns through the air. He continued his career at Duquesne and then Thiel College
Persichetti was a tight end/defensive end in high school and continued his career at Indiana (Bloomington).
Wildman was a wide receiver/cornerback in high school and an all-state selection. He is currently a freshman cornerback at Robert Morris.
Giansante was a wide receiver/defensive back in high school and continued his career at Carnegie Mellon.
Miller was a running back/wide receiver/kick returner in high school. He rushed for 1,528 yards and scored 29 touchdowns as a senior in 1992, breaking Jim Giansante's season rushing record. He was a three-year starter at Washington & Jefferson.
Lacoma was a fullback/linebacker in high school and continued his career at Clarion. He enlisted with the U.S. Army and became a Green Berets officer.
Maxa played center, offensive tackle and inside linebacker in high school and started at defensive end at Akron.
Virgin was a split end/kicking specialist in high school. He was a 1,000-yard receiver as a senior in 1999, breaking several school records, and an all-state selection. He continued his career at Washington & Jefferson.
Zampatti was a three-year starter as an offensive/defensive tackle in high school. He is currently a starting offensive tackle at Washington & Jefferson.
Browne was a kicking specialist/ wide receiver in high school and was an all-state selection in soccer. He is the only athlete in TJ history to play on a state title team in football and soccer. He continued his soccer career at Duquene.
Stoffel was a fullback/linebacker in high school and continued his career at Indiana (Pa.) University.
Garchak was an offensive/defensive tackle in high school and later became a barge operator.
Kreider was an offensive lineman/ linebacker in high school and started at linebacker at Bucknell.
Alexander was a wide receiver/defensive back in high school and a three-year starter at split end at Westminster. Established many receiving marks for the school.
Pavlik was an offensive/defensive tackle in high school and continued his career at Louisville.
Mitruski was a running back/defensive back in high school and continued his career at Bethany. He is currently a TJ assistant football coach.
Srsic was an offensive/defensive lineman in high school and continued his career at Washington & Jefferson. He was a Division III All-American and is currently a TJ assistant football coach.
Giegerich was a three-year starter at running back/linebacker in high school, rushing for 2,403 yards and scoring 44 touchdowns. He was a linebacker at Gannon.
The 2008 season is actually the 50th year of varsity football at Thomas Jefferson High School.
Since the season has not been completed, members of the current TJ football team were not considered as possible Finest Fifty at 50 selections.
However, special recognition is reserved at this time for seniors who would be worthy candidates for the Finest Fifty at 50 team, including Brock DeCicco (TE/DE), Pat Eger (OL/DL), Rob McCall (OL/DL) and Brian Baldrige (RB).
The following players who were considered as candidates in the Finest Fifty voting are cited as honorable mention selections:
Tim Andrews, Kit Baldwin, John Barrett, Albie Breisinger, Aaron Brettschneider, Jon Browne, Mark Brubaker, Howard Cantees, Kirk Cappezutto, Howard Cochran, Jon Consoli, Mike Costolo, Jesse Cramer, Dave Davis, Mark Eckley, Bill Edmonds, Bryan Englert, Alan "Fuzzy" Fedela, Wayne Fisher, Mike Frankert, Wayne Fussaro, Dave Galyias, Tom Giegerich, Leo Giel, Jim Griffiths, Brian Haberstock, "Butch" Hines, Eric Holzworth, Denny Jacobs, Tom Jenkins, Tom Jura, Tom LaFrankie, Rick Leaman, Matt McClelland, Ryan Monahan, Rob Morini, Mark Onaitis, Pat Oster, Rob Perkins, Mark Proud, Chuck Pukansky, Gary Reed, Mike Rehak, Tony Ricciardulli, Fred Schademan, Jake Schneider, Steven Scott, Heath Siemon, Justin Siemon, Steve Snavely, Jeff Steltzer, Brett Stoffel, Mike Thomas, Orlando Torres, Tom Tuladzieck, Matt Virgin, Don Withers, Tom Yaksick, Tim Yanik, Dale Yogan.
*source South Hills Record http://www.yoursouthhills.com
