1996
Win Conference, Advance to Semi's
After a stellar first year as new head coach, Bill Cherpak began his second season with a multi-talented, competitive and experienced senior group of scholar athletes.
The offense was led by a talented runner in Jeff Bono and a superb offensive line which consisted of Tom Tuladziek, Jason Cowan, Rob Perkins, TJ Srsic, and George Richardson. The passing game was a great complement to the running game with quarterback Jake Schneider and receivers Mike Harrison and Tim Seimon.
Defensively they were as tough as ever led by Rob Perkins and Clint Baldwin, and had 10 straight games of holding opponents under 10 points. Their 7.6 points allowed per game is one the best in school history.
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 this year 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 its claim as "one of the Best" and inaugurated a stretch of winning seasons that had only just begun.
Season:
TJ 13 vs. Belle Vernon 21: Video and articles
TJ 25 vs. South Park 0: Video and articles
TJ 47 vs. KO 6: Video and articles
TJ 35 vs. Char Valley 7: Video and articles
TJ 29 vs. Peters 7: Video and articles
TJ 28 vs. Waynesburg 7: Video and articles
TJ 9 vs. Steel Valley 6: Video and articles
TJ 28 vs. McGuffey 6: Video and articles
TJ 32 vs. West Mifflin 6:Video and articles
Playoffs:
TJ 6 vs. Moon 0: Video and articles
TJ 14 vs. Belle Vernon 26: Video and articles
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Roster:
Seniors
Matt Harrison
Mike Harrison
Scott Schlutz
Chris Mikolaj
Jim McConeghy
Rob DeCostro
Jason Cowan
Marty Fabian
Charlie Sable
Jake Richter
Kevin King
Glenn Bootay
Andy Fennell
Jason Cowan
Tim Seimon
Greg Geis
Jason Grimes
Juniors:
Tom Campedel
Jake Schneider
Matt Virgin
Sean Malley
Clint Baldwin
Tom Tuladziek
George Richardson
Dave Yanief
Mike Frankert
Chuck Correll
Sophomores:
Brian Dawson
Kasey Kartman
Ryan Kenney
Tom Bost
Ben Hritz
Mike Mitruski
Mike Jura
Brian Owens
John Sedor
Brian Coleman
Mike Tomich
Joe Wagner
Gary Pritchard
Matt Cornacchion
Videos:
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**Please add to the story by emailing pictures, stats, videos, and stories to thomasjeffersonhistory@gmail.com
Coaching Staff:
Bill Cherpak-Head Coach
Frank Brettshneider- Offensive Coordinator-Lines
George Wilson- Defensive Coordinator-LB's/WR's
John Yogan- DB's/ RB's
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Stats:
Points scored per game: 22.2
Points allowed per game: 7.6
Rushing Yards (TD's):
Jeff Bono: 1,367 (16)
Matt Harrison: 574 (3)
Jake Schneider: (5)
Receptions/yards (TD's):
Tim Siemon: (2)
Mike Harrison: (6)
Matt Harrison: (1)
Passing Yards/ Completions-Attempts (TD's):
Jake Schneider: 1,090/62-135 (7)
Jeff Bono: (2)
**Please add to the story by emailing pictures, stats, videos, and stories to thomasjeffersonhistory@gmail.com
School Record:
Rushing Yards Single Game: 246-Jeff Bono (Char Valley)
Previous record: 226 (Jeff Bono 1995)
Receptions Game: 8- Mike Harrison (Belle Vernon)
Previous record: 7 (Tom Alexander 1993)