TJ 27 vs. Selinsgrove 14

The PIAA football championships will be played in two weeks. But you might possibly look at tomorrow night's Thomas Jefferson-Selinsgrove game as the Class AAA title game.Both teams are 13-0 and square off in a showdown between the top two teams in the Post-Gazette's PIAA Class AAA rankings. Thomas Jefferson is No. 1 and Selinsgrove No. 2.

The Harrisburg Patriot-News, the Pennsylvania Football News and Pasportsfever.com also compile state rankings. All three have Thomas Jefferson No. 1 and Selinsgrove No. 2.

So when the Jaguars and Seals get together for a quarterfinal game tomorrow at Altoona's Mansion Park Stadium (7 p.m. kickoff), is the PIAA championship on the line?

"I think they're as good as anyone we've played in the WPIAL," Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Cherpak said. "Would they have the same record if they played in the WPIAL week in and week out? I don't know. But they're definitely as good as anyone we've played."

Selinsgrove and Thomas Jefferson are two of only 12 undefeated teams remaining in the state. Their statistics are similar. Selinsgrove has the No. 9 offense (38.5 points per game) in the state and the No. 4 defense (5.8 ppg). Thomas Jefferson is No. 12 in offense (37.1) and defense (6.8).

Selinsgrove has two 1,000-yard rushers in tailback Matt Cook (1,356 yards) and fullback Tony Troutman (1,092 yards). Troutman is the brother of former Pitt basketball player Chevy Troutman.

Selinsgrove quarterback Eric Deckard has completed 99 of 193 passes for 1,617 yards.

Thomas Jefferson features quarterback Dom DeCicco, a Pitt recruit who has accounted for 29 touchdowns this season. DeCicco has thrown 16 passes for scores and run for 13.

Selinsgrove is a District 4 school in Snyder County, along the Susquehanna River between Harrisburg and Williamsport. But Thomas Jefferson is familiar with Selinsgrove. The two met in the quarterfinals two years and Thomas Jefferson needed overtime to pull out a 20-14 win.

Memories of that game have caught Thomas Jefferson's attention.

"They're better than two years ago," Cherpak said. "They match up well with us. They're running game is very, very good."

Here is a look at the other PIAA quarterfinal games involving WPIAL and City League teams