Bill Cherpak couldn’t help but let the thought cross his mind.
Even a coach 30 years into his tenure at Thomas Jefferson High School — with nine WPIAL championships, five PIAA titles and more than 300 career victories to his credit — felt a twinge of doubt Friday night with his team facing a 21-point deficit heading into the second half against neighboring rival McKeesport.
“At halftime I’m not even sure that I thought we could muster it up and come back and win the game,” Cherpak said. “I wanted us to compete and player better.”
The Jaguars did just that and then some.
Thomas Jefferson used a stifling second-half defensive performance, while sophomore running back Tyler Eber scored two touchdowns over the game’s final two quarters as the Jaguars earned a 34-31 overtime victory over the visiting Tigers.
Senior Luke Kosko scored the decisive touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to keep Thomas Jefferson (3-0) undefeated. McKeesport (0-3), meanwhile, dropped its second overtime decision in three weeks to remain winless.
“This is probably one of the biggest comeback wins we’ve ever had against a pretty good team,” Cherpak said. “McKeesport’s got some athletes. They’ve got some players.”
So, too, do the Jaguars.
Eber carried the ball 39 times for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He scored his team’s only first-half points with a 2-yard touchdown on the game’s 15-play, 75-yard opening drive before crossing the goal line on runs of 1 and 10 yards over the game’s final two quarters.
Kosko also completed 9-of-19 passes for 117 yards, one touchdown and one interception to go along with his game-winning score.
“He’s a workhorse and he just wants to keep going,” Cherpak said of Eber. “He’s in incredible shape. He’s just a machine, great attitude. He’s just a coach’s dream. He really is. He doesn’t realize how much the other players respect him for his work ethic and everything he does.
“He’s just that guy. He earns everything he gets. He was just awesome. He really was.”
In the first half, though, it appeared another sophomore would steal the Week 2 show.
McKeesport sophomore running Kemon Spell, a Penn State recruit, rushed for two first-half touchdowns on runs of 21 and 11 yards.
The Tigers took a 28-7 lead into the break after quarterback Brady Eastman scored on a 1-yard run and defensive back Anthony Cromerdie added a 38-yard interception return for a score, which was his team’s fourth unanswered touchdown of the first half.
“We made some crucial errors in the first half and McKeesport made some plays,” Cherpak said. “They’ve got some players, and their big players made some plays in the first half. We had a couple turnovers, we missed a sack, just little things we didn’t do. You know, 28-7 at half is not really ideal for us.”
Cherpak said his team was able to turn the game around in the second half by taking control in the trenches.
“We felt like we had an advantage on the lines, quite honestly, to be able to move the ball,” he said.
Eber opened the third-quarter scoring with a touchdown, which ended an eight-play drive that featured all running plays.
After Kosko connected with tight end Kooper Kamberis for a 31-yard touchdown pass, Eber tied the score with 2:24 left in regulation.
“To come back and win was just amazing,” Cherpak said. “To just persevere and keep fighting in that second half and keep fighting and fighting, eventually it paid off.”
BETHEL PARK’S OFFENSE REMAINS HOT
Bethel Park’s red-hot offense flirted with 50 points for the third week in a row as the undefeated Black Hawks (3-0) routed Armstrong, 46-7. Running back Ja Vaughn Moore carried the ball 19 times for 255 yards and 2 touchdowns to pace the offense. Black Hawks quarterback Tanner Pfeuffer also threw for 326 yards, four touchdowns and an interception against an overmatched Riverhawks (2-1) defense. Mitch Paschl caught five passes for 130 yards and 3 touchdowns from Pfeuffer, while Jack Bruckner had 5 receptions for 144 yards and a score.
NORTH ALLEGHENY HOLDS ON FOR WIN
Nick Humphries sealed North Allegheny’s 18-14 victory over Penn Hills with a late fourth-quarter interception in the end zone, as the Tigers (3-0) remained undefeated and the Indians fell to 0-3. Luke Rohan rushed for a game-high 72 yards, while Brady Brinkley added a 1-yard scoring run for his team’s lone touchdown. Tigers kicker Peter Notaro, an Alabama recruit, converted on field goals of 53, 52 and 30 yards. Penn Hills quarterback Devin Harris threw for 237 yards and a touchdown.
LATROBE GROUND GAME DOMINATES
Alex Tastch may be a Penn State linebacker recruit, but the Latrobe senior rushed for 251 yards and four touchdowns, while John Wetzel added 156 yards and a score on the ground, as the Wildcats knocked off Norwin, 42-28. Latrobe (3-0) jumped out to a 21-7 lead at half over Norwin (2-1) and never looked back. The Knights were paced offensively by quarterback Tristyn Tavares, who threw for 273 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Jake Knight caught 5 passes for 106 yards and a score.
PETERS TOWNSHIP ROUTS MT. LEBANON
Peters Township followed up a blowout of McKeesport a week ago with a rout of Mt. Lebanon (0-3) on the road as quarterback Nolan DiLucia threw for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the Indians to a 28-0 victory. Peters Township (3-0) receiver Nick McCullough caught 5 passes for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns.
SOUTH FAYETTE QUARTERBACK DOES IT ALL IN WIN
South Fayette quarterback Drew Welhorsky found the end zone with his arm and feet, as the Lions knocked off Class 6A Canon-McMillan, 13-10. Welhorsky completed 11-of-17 passes for 152 yards to lead the Lions (3-0), tossing a 32-yard scoring strike to Ben Cavenaugh, while also rushing for a 6-yard touchdown against the Big Macs (0-3).
BISHOP CANEVIN GETS FIRST VICTORY
Bishop Canevin rebounded from a loss to Seton LaSalle last week with a convincing 42-6 victory over Steel Valley. Quarterback Kole Olszewski threw for 133 yards and a touchdown to lead the Crusaders (1-1), while Myontae Mott rushed for 106 yards and three scores against the Ironmen (1-2). Steel Valley’s lone score came courtesy of a 26-yard touchdown pass from Donald Barksdale to Da’Ron Barksdale.
IMANI CHRISTIAN REMAINS UNDEFEATED
Imani Christian quarterback Steve Vandiver completed 9-of-21 passes for 171 yards and ran for 108 yards with three total touchdowns to lead the Saints to a 42-28 victory over Beaver. Imani (3-0) also got a major contribution from running back Gabe Jenkins, who rushed for 165 yards and a score. Beaver (2-1) quarterback Travis Clear threw for 300 yards with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
PUP BITES
- It was another week and another lengthy rain delay for Aliquippa, which overcame an early 14-point deficit to blow out Avonworth (1-1) and earn its first victory under coach Vashawn Patrick, 46-20. Penn State recruit and senior running back Tiquan “Tikey” Hayes rushed for three touchdowns to lead the Quips (1-0).
- Quarterback Kelly McCarthy connected with Josiah Mathias for an 83-yard touchdown and then found Johnell Edison for a 31-yard scoring strike as North Hills scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to edge Mars, 21-17. Julis Green also scored on a 6-yard run for the Indians (3-0). Planets (1-2) quarterback Luke Goodworth threw for 154 yards, a 31-yard touchdown pass to Mason Childress and two interceptions. Childress also kicked a 31-yard field goal.
- South Allegheny outscored Carlynton by 28 points in the first half before emerging with a 37-13 victory in Glassport. The Gladiators are 3-0 for the first time since 1977, while the Cougars fell to 2-1.
THREE STARS
*** Peter Notaro, North Allegheny. The Alabama recruit didn’t let a little wind and rain get in the way. He made field goals of 53 and 52 yards, and added a 30-yard kick for good measure, in the Tigers’ 18-14 win over Penn Hills.
** Armand Hill, West Mifflin. The Titans running back carried the ball 18 times for 171 yards and scored six of his team’s seven touchdowns in a 49-0 romp of Baldwin.
* Alex Tatsch, Latrobe. The Penn State linebacker recruit did his fair share of damage on offense, carrying the football 19 times for 251 yards and 4 touchdowns.
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
SCOREBOARD
Albert Gallatin 29, Connellsville 26
Avella 44, Springdale 0
Belle Vernon 23, Central Valley 17
Bethel Park 46, Armstrong 7
Bentworth 35, Charleroi 28
Bishop Canevin 42, Steel Valley 6
Butler 35, Meadville 11
Brentwood 21, Sto-Rox 14
Central Catholic 54, Woodland Hills 14
Chartiers-Houston 48, Mapletown 12
Chartiers Valley 62, Indiana 0
Deer Lakes 34, Derry 12
Ellwood City 28, Neshannock 21
Ellis School 7, Obama Academy 0
Elizabeth Forward 41, East Allegheny 14
Gateway 22, Plum 15
Greensburg Central Catholic 28, Apollo-Ridge 21
Greensburg Salem 50, Valley 14
Hempfield 31, Kiski 29
Hopewell 35, Ambridge 34
Jeannette 34, Ligonier Valley 27
Jefferson-Morgan 49, Burgettstown 14
Latrobe 42, Norwin 28
Leechburg 48, Serra Catholic 27
Montour 14, Trinity 7
Mt. Pleasant 23, Burrell 13
North Allegheny 18, Penn Hills 14
North Hills 21, Mars 17
Penn-Trafford 14, Moon 7
Peters Township 28, Mt. Lebanon 0
Ringgold 21, Yough 19
Southmoreland 49, Laurel Highlands 13
South Allegheny 37, Carlynton 13
South Fayette 13, Canon-McMillan 10
South Park 42, Keystone Oaks 6
Uniontown 34, Carrick 0
Upper St. Clair 45, Franklin Regional 7
Washington 36, Union 6
Waynesburg Central 28, California 18
West Allegheny 30, McGuffey 0
West Mifflin 49, Baldwin 0
John is a copy editor and page designer at the Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at jsanta@unionprogress.com.