TJ 57 vs  Belle Vernon 20

Published: Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 9:01 p.m.

Updated: Wednesday, October 10, 2012

The Belle Vernon football team certainly doesn’t have history on its side.

The Leopards (2-4, 2-3) host undefeated Thomas Jefferson (6-0, 5-0) in a key Big Nine Conference game Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The home team, which ended a four-game losing streak with a 26-17 win at Trinity last week, have dropped 11 in a row to the Jaguars dating back to 2001.

After a season-opening victory at Uniontown, Belle Vernon fell to West Mifflin, Ringgold and Elizabeth Forward in conference action, and Franklin Regional in a nonconference test, prior to last week’s results.

Thomas Jefferson has won its last four games by scores of 55-0, 40-7, 50-0 and 45-6 against the likes of Hollidaysburg, in a nonconference matchup, Trinity, Albert Gallatin and Laurel Highlands.

On the season, the Jaguars own a lofty 42 points per game scoring average, and a 7.7 ppg defensive average.

Belle Vernon is averaging 16 ppg and allowing an average of 30.3 ppg.

One of team strengths for Belle Vernon is its offensive line. All five of last year’s starters returned in 2012, including Division I prospect Dorian Johnson, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound senior.

Collin Woss, a 6-4, 290-pound senior, also has a leading role on the lines.

Belle Vernon’s main offensive linchpins are sophomores — quarterback Travis Snyder and running back Anthony Levis.

Cory Urlacher, a senior linebacker, is a team leader on defense.

Snyder passed for 170 yards and two touchdowns, and also scored once, last week. He has thrown for 573 yards and seven touchdowns on the year.

Snyder’s favorite targets are Adam Ferita and Matt McCloskey, both senior wide receivers. Ferita leads the team in scoring with five touchdowns.

Levis rambled for 245 yards on 36 carries against Trinity, padding his 2012 rushing total to 713 yards — an average of 118.9 yards per game.

Belle Vernon trailed early, 10-0, and by a 17-13 score at halftime against Trinity, before rallying with 13 unanswered second-half points.

Thomas Jefferson held 14-0 and 38-0 leads after the first and second quarters last week, as junior running back Jake Farrell scored three times and senior wideout Zach Schademan scored twice.

Farrell reached the end zone on runs of 47, 11 and 5 yards en route to a 106-yard rushing performance on just 11 carries.

Schademan, one of the leading receivers in Western Pennsylvania, had touchdown catches of 37 and 25 yards. He has reeled in 28 passes for 570 yards and a WPIAL-best 13 touchdowns this season.

Schademan has tied the team record for touchdown catches in one season, matching the mark set by Dan Virgin in 2008.

Senior quarterback Joe Carroll hit on 7 of 16 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns versus Laurel Highlands.

On the season, Carroll has connected on 56 of 99 passes for 1,114 yards and a WPIAL-leading 23 touchdowns.

The Jaguars were sparked defensively last week by senior linebacker Colton Booher and junior lineman Matt Nagy, who both were credited with a safety.

Chase Winovich, a junior linebacker, led the team with five tackles and two fumble recoveries; while Russell Siess, a sophomore defensive end, registered four unassisted tackles; and Dalton Dietrich, a junior cornerback, had an interception.

TJ belted Belle Vernon last season, 40-7, behind running back Ryan Ruffing’s 175 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

The Jaguars are seeking their 70th win in their past 72 conference games.