TJ 35 vs West Mifflin 0

Thomas Jefferson wins 7th straight in rout of West Mifflin

It's not often that No. 7 Thomas Jefferson finishes in third place in its conference.

Regardless, the Jaguars (7-2, 7-2 Big 10) are riding as high as any team with seven straight wins after Friday night's 35-0 victory at No. 8 West Mifflin (6-3, 6-3).

Thomas Jefferson was up 28-0 at the half. Quinton Hill ran for two touchdowns, and quarterback Bobby Kelley threw two touchdowns to Zane Zandier for the Jaguars.

“I think we are playing as well as anyone in the WPIAL right now,” said Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Cherpak, whose team is unbeaten since starting 0-2 after losses to Ringgold and Belle Vernon.

“You want to be playing your best and be healthy this time of year, and for the most part, we are doing that. We will see where we are in the playoffs and go from there.”

A size advantage up front on both sides of the ball that kept the Jaguars in control.

TJ had 287 of its 347 total yards come on the ground as the offensive line opened big holes.

Defensively, the Jaguars held West Mifflin's rushing attack to 39 yards, and 58 yards overall.

“They did exactly what they always do, and we couldn't move them,” West Mifflin coach Ray Braszo said. “It was as simple as that. We always have a problem with their size.

“My guys just couldn't block them. We couldn't stop them on defense. You lose the battle up front, and that happens.”

Tailback Hill finished with 150 yards on 22 carries. He scored from 14 yards out late in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. His 10-yard run capped a 10-play drive for a 14-0 lead at 9:47 of the second.

Fullback Braden Pahanish rushed for 108 yards on 13 carries. He scored from 10 yards to put TJ up 21-0 midway through the second.

Kelley threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Zane Zandier with 10 seconds left in the half. Kelley hooked up with Zandier on a 12-yard score on the first possession of the third quarter, and finished 5 of 7 passing for 60 yards.

Kelley missed the first two games because of illness, but continues to add the passing game into the attack.

“We controlled the line of scrimmage and wore them down,” Cherpak said. “Our backs got into a four-quarter game, which is how it will be in the playoffs. And Kelley continues to develop week by week in the passing game.”

TJ's defense came up with five sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and forced seven punts.

“We need that from the defense,” Cherpak said. “We need our defense to set up our offense and give us the short field. The defense was great again.”

“We try to mix it up with some passes, but you have to be able to run the ball,” said Braszo. “They are a very good team.”

As a third-place team, the Jaguars like their chances.

We've been seeded everywhere,” said Cherpak. “We've been No. 1 twice and didn't win it. We've been six, eight. It doesn't matter where you fall, to have an opportunity to be in there, that's what you want.”

West Mifflin enters the playoffs in fourth place out of the Big 10.

“I'm happy that we've made the playoffs,” Braszo said. “We easily could not have been in if we didn't win some tough games. We won the games we needed to win.”