93.7 The Fan High School Football Preview 2016 Class 4A: Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Big Nine Conference
Bill Cherpak has built the Jaguars into one of the premier programs in the state of Pennsylvania and there are no signs that it going to regress any time soon.
The Jaguars enter the season the favorites in Class AAAA, which is a position Cherpak is familiar with as he has led the team to five WPIAL titles, three PIAA titles and 224 wins in his 21 seasons on the sideline.
And while the names of the players have changed, but Cherpak has remained and the former Pitt lineman not surprisingly has yet another team built around a stout offensive front.
The scary thing for Thomas Jefferson's opponents is that the Jaguars return seven starters on offense and five defense from a team that went 11-3 and won the WPIAL Class AAA title.
The offensive line will be anchored by massive tackle AJ Putignano and Devin Danielson and rugged tight end Jake Giegerich, who also doubles as a linebacker.
Wide receiver/defensive back Zane Zandier is the team's top player and most dynamic playmaker and that's evidenced in the fact that he holds scholarship offers from Virginia, West Virginia, Syracuse, Cincinnati and Toledo.
Zandier was the favorite target of senior quarterback Bob Kelley last year and that will likely be the case again this year but the Jaguars have other weapons, including speedy receiver Jon Muehlbauer and running back Quinton Hill.
Thomas Jefferson has been a fixture in the WPIAL championship game under Cherpak and given what the Jaguars have returning, there is no reason to believe they won't be back again this November.
