Fisher’s files: Shaw a catalyst for TJ defense

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, October 6, 2017 | 11:00 PM

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Notebook items from around South Hills football:

• Thomas Jefferson allowed only 14 points by the halfway point of the season.

None were surrendered by the first-string players, one of whom is junior Max Shaw, a 6-foot, 185-pound linebacker.

New to the starting lineup this season, Shaw has been a catalyst on defense for the Jaguars.

Through five games, Shaw was the team's leading tackler. He also had three interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown.

“Max has been improving every game,” coach Bill Cherpak said. “He has a difficult task of playing both inside and outside linebacker depending on the offensive system we play (against). He has done a great job of adjusting and playing both positions.”

Other leading tacklers at TJ include sophomore James Martinis and senior Sean Bell, both linebackers, and senior linemen Logan Burnsworth and Noah Palmer, who is a Pitt recruit.

Shaw and senior defensive back Nick Urbanowicz shared the team lead in interceptions with three apiece.

Seniors Jared Collington, Garret Fairman and Chris Gooch, and sophomore Bowen Dame also have picked off passes for the Jaguars. Collington scored once via an interception return.

• There have been 22 starting quarterbacks during Cherpak's reign as coach at Thomas Jefferson:

Mark Proud (1995), Jake Schneider (1996), Brian Dawson (1997-98), Steve Scott (1999), Ben Schaulis (2000), Matt Flaus (2001), Pete Winovich (2001-03), Boo Dawson (2004), Kevin Franz (2005), Dom DeCicco (2006), Tyler Wehner (2007-08), Zach DeCicco (2007), Sam Johnston (2009), Ryan Krause (2010), Dom Presto (2010-11), Joe Carroll (2012), Christian Breisinger (2013), Chase Winovich (2013), Julian Metro (2014-15), Austin Kemp (2014), Bobby Kelley (2015-16) and Shane Stump (2017).

• Seton LaSalle graduates Tom Rizza, Ricky Mellick and Bill O'Malley are teammates at Duquesne. Rizza and Mellick are junior defensive backs, and O'Malley is a freshman tight end.

Three former Seton LaSalle players are teammates at Waynesburg: J.T. Colosimo, a senior offensive lineman; Tyler Perone, a sophomore quarterback; and John Terry, a freshman offensive lineman.

Other Seton LaSalle graduates continuing their football careers in college include Luke Blahut, a freshman offensive lineman at IUP; Danzel McKinley-Lewis, a sophomore wide receiver at Toledo; Christian Weyrich, a freshman defensive lineman at The Citadel; Nolan Abbiatici, a freshman linebacker at Mount Union; and Paris Ford, a freshman defensive back at Pitt.

• There are three sets of brothers on the Brentwood football team: seniors Austin Veatch (WR/DB), Grant Davis (OL/DL) and John Gomez (WR/DB); and sophomores Matthew Veatch (OL/DL), Aiden Davis (RB/DB) and Eddie Gomez (RB/DB).

Two other team members, junior Jared Thomas (WR/DB) and sophomore Ian Thomas (RB/LB), are not related.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson