1975
Jaguars on the Prowl
The 1975 Jaguars finished 7-2 under head coach Bap Manzini, narrowly missing the conference crown due to a few early season losses to Monessen and Charleroi. The team would rebound behind one of the best defensive efforts in TJ history (5.1 ppg).
TJ lost to the Greyhounds 8-7 in a game that was played over two evenings because of lightning and thunderstorms. Monesson coach Joe Gladys ran a reverse pass on the goal line for a 2-point conversion to win the game!
Coaching Staff:
Bap Manzini- Head Coach
Jim Currie- Assistant Coach
Jim Hoffman-Assistant Coach
Ron Campbell-Assistant Coach
Tim Lee-Assistant Coach
John Rapchak-Assistant Coach
The support of TJ's "12th Man" rallied Bap's boys back into action. Shaken by three heartbreaking injuries to senior linemen Ted Lipnicky, Roy Virgin, and Tom Buches, the defense became questionable. Despite the stats, indicating TJ's superiority over Monessen in every way, the rivals were one point victors. Along with the Charleroi upset, the team felt all hope was lost.
However, on the Friday that followed, the student body performed a
pep rally the likes of which has never seen before in the school's history. With the seniors leading the cheers, the gymnasium trembled. The "12th Man" literally brought life back into the Jaguars by proving the loyalty anf love for the team. That night TJ stomped West Mifflin North 16-0. In the games that followed, TJ showed their potential by yielding only 28 points in the next 7 games. Ending the season with a 14-8 victory over Ringold insured a second place standing.
TJ's teamwork, a unifying force with the "12th Man", stunned the WPIAL and the Big Ten Conference.
Stats:
Points scored per game: 24.9
Points allowed per game: 5.1
Rushing Yards (TD's):
Rick Leaman: 1,248
Receptions/yards (TD's):
Tony Persichetti:
Joe Giansante:
Passing Yards/ Completions-Attempts (TD's):
Tony Ricciardulli
**Please add to the story by emailing pictures, stats, videos, and stories to thomasjeffersonhistory@gmail.com
School Records:
Rushing yards single season: 1,248-Rick Leaman
Previous record:
Rushing Yards Career: -Rick Leaman
Previous record:
Career Rushing TD: -Rick Leaman
Previous record:
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Season:
TJ 7 vs. Monessen 8 (Pictures, articles, video)
TJ 8 vs. Charleroi 16 (Pictures, articles, video)
TJ 16 vs. West Mifflin North 0 (Pictures, articles, video)
TJ 21 vs. South Allegheny 6 (Pictures, articles, video)
TJ 41 vs. Elizabeth Forward 8 (Pictures, articles, video)
TJ 47 vs. Laurel Highlands 0 (Pictures, articles, video)
TJ 34 vs. Belle Vernon 6 (Pictures, articles, video)
TJ 31 vs. Brownsville 0 (Pictures, articles, video)
TJ 14 vs. Ringold 8 (Pictures, articles, video)
**Please add to the story by emailing pictures, stats, videos, and stories to thomasjeffersonhistory@gmail.com
Roster:
Seniors:
Tom DavisAlan Farly
Bob Guido
Jack Hemp
Ted Lipnicky
Dana Mikell
Mark Pastore
Mark Schaffer
Roy Virgin
Bob Seleski
Craig Smith
Juniors:
Dave Guba
Dennis Ray
Jesse Cramer
Paul Lawson
Davin Olsen
Frank Werling
Jerry Crist
Pat Butler
Joel Schaffer
Tim Toomey
Jack Burgess
Jim Hupp
John Hupp
Lou Wickas
Mike Madar
Eric Mikoliet
Steve Kelly
Sophomores:
Jim Giansante
Bill Krahe
Mike Thomas
Dan Micheal
Tim Buches
Dale Yogan
Mark Sweeney
Scott Breisinger
Dave Galyias
**Please add to the story by emailing pictures, stats, videos, and stories to thomasjeffersonhistory@gmail.com
