Shaw joins elite running back lineage at Thomas Jefferson

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 15, 2018 | 3:27 PM

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Max Shaw has pinned down the starting running back job at Thomas Jefferson.

And early indications are that he has upheld the illustrious tradition at the position, joining the ranks of Justin Vigna, Quinton Hill, Austin Kemp, Jake Farrell, Ryan Ruffing, T.J. Matrascia, Brian Baldrige, Orlando Torres, Arthur James, Dan Giegerich, Nate Nix, Ryan Hicks, Jon Drager and Tom Jura in TJ football history.

“Max is a great player and leader for us, but he is an even better person,” coach Bill Cherpak said. “He has started the last couple years on defense but has also taken on the role of running back this season.

“He has done an excellent job. He is a shifty runner with deceiving speed. We are looking for great things from him this year.”

Through two games, the 6-foot, 190-pound Shaw had rushed for 276 yards and four touchdowns on just 19 carries as one of the Jaguars’ featured players on offense. He is averaging 14.5 yards per attempt.

He also ranked among the team leaders on defense with seven tackles along with a blocked punt.

“I’m striving to be one of the best runners and defensive players in the WPIAL and state,” Shaw said. “That’s how everyone on our team has been molded to think; always trying to be the best you can be.

“The season has been going pretty good for me, as well as the team. We’ve had a lot of younger players that have stepped up, and the chemistry is really starting to come together. Our line has been moving especially well the past couple weeks.”

Shaw, a two-sport standout, capped a sensational 2017-18 wrestling season with a third-place finish at 182 pounds at the PIAA and WPIAL Class AAA tournaments.

Shaw served as a team captain and finished 34-4 overall.

He suffered a fractured thumb in the semifinal round of last year’s WPIAL football playoffs, but returned to the mats and won his first 10 bouts. He ended up leading the Jaguars in technical falls.

“From a physical standpoint, wrestling gives a great sense of leverage when you’re latched onto a blocker in certain situations, as well as tackling,” Shaw said. “Mentally, I believe wrestling is the ultimate sport, and over the years it has offered me tons of valuable experiences that have helped me keep calm in big situations and be able to grind when things get tough.”

The TJ football team took a big step forward in its quest for another conference title, defeating rival Belle Vernon, 36-14, in a key Week 2 matchup.

“I am very pleased with where we are as a team right now,” Cherpak said. “We have gotten much better in a short amount of time since we started camp. We really played well at Belle Vernon. If we didn’t turn the ball over several times in the red zone, we would have scored at least three more times.

“We fought through some adversity with the turnovers, the weather and many of our kids cramping up in the second half. We need to just keep getting better every game and we will be in the position we want to be at the end.”

Shaw rushed for 150 yards and two scores on 14 carries against Belle Vernon, as the Jaguars ended up with 499 yards in total offense.

TJ junior QB Shane Stump passed for 201 yards and two touchdowns, with junior WR Dan Deabner catching five passes for 196 yards and two scores.

“That win at Belle Vernon was huge,” Shaw said. “It was a big-time game, and the fact it was so early in our schedule really shows us how we need to think and play if we want to be competing in November which is our ultimate goal.

“We have a lot of momentum now, and I feel that will help our overall energy for the rest of the year.”

Along with Shaw, the TJ defense has been sparked by junior WR/DB Dan Deabner, the team’s leading receiver; junior lineman Logan Danielson, sophomore linebacker Trevor Barrett, junior linebackers James Martinis and Nathan Werderber, freshman DB Ryan Sluk and sophomore DB DeRon VanBibber.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson