Offensive linemen key to success for top-ranked Thomas Jefferson

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, October 19, 2018 | 1:30 PM

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Thomas Jefferson’s high-powered football team is scoring close to 50 points per game and averaging 414 yards offensively.

The undefeated Jaguars, who improved to 7-0, 5-0 with their 48-0 Big Eight Conference win Oct. 12 at Laurel Highlands, have amassed 2,900 yards and 49 touchdowns on offense this season. They have eclipsed 60 and 50 points once, 40 points four times, and socked Belle Vernon, 36-14, in a key early season conference game.

TJ ranks among the top offensive and defensive teams in the WPIAL, averaging 49.1 points offensively and allowing 6.9 points defensively, is ranked No. 1 in Class 5A by the Tribune-Review and holds the top spot in the conference.

The linchpins on offense — junior QB Shane Stump, junior WR Dan Deabner and senior RB Max Shaw — are having sensational seasons.

And so have the guys on the offensive line, who provide the blocking and open the holes for the skill position players.

TJ’s high-octane offensive attack is propelled by center Dom Serapiglia, guards Darius Barrett and Logan Danielson and tackles Mike Huber and Mac Duda. Mike Stanosko stepped in for Barrett when he missed some games because of an injury.

Pat Oster, who excelled as a lineman at Thomas Jefferson and Slippery Rock, coaches the TJ players who battle in the trenches.

“The offensive line has really started to come together the past few games,” Oster said. “They continue to work on becoming more physical and staying on their blocks to the whistle.

“Dom Serapiglia is a three-year starter at center. That is a very physical position, and he plays extremely hard. His experience has helped him make a lot of the line calls and to be a leader. Darius Barrett is explosive off the ball and brings a lot of energy to the team. Mike Janosko did a great job filling in at left tackle and will continue to rotate. Logan Danielson, Mike Huber and Mac Duda have a lot of ability and get better with every game.”

Serapiglia (6-foot-2, 295 pounds), Barrett (5-10, 295) and Janosko (6-4, 295) are seniors and Danielson (6-1, 255), Huber (6-0, 290) and Duda (6-4, 275) are juniors.

Serapiglia has been starting at center since his sophomore season. As a freshman, he was the long snapper. Danielson and Duda are second-year starters on the line.

“We’ve been playing pretty solid up front, and we’ve been getting better each week,” Serapiglia said. “We are just so much bigger and way more aggressive then the other teams we’ve played. We can’t get complacent, and we need to keep building on each week.”

Serapiglia has been receiving recruiting interest on a national and local level. He attended camps for offensive linemen at Pitt, Youngstown State and New Hampshire in the offseason.

“I have a lot of FCS schools and some FBS schools looking at me,” Serapiglia said, “but right now my main focus is winning games and getting to play in December.

“All the recruiting will happen on its own. The focus right now is the success of the team, securing our fourth straight WPIAL title and making it to Hershey in December.”

Barrett is a newcomer to the team. He attended Kiski Prep and Valley and was a starter in football at both schools before transferring to TJ this year.

“The offensive and the defensive lines have been dominant all season,” said TJ coach Bill Cherpak, a former standout lineman at Steel Valley and Pitt. “Dom Serapiglia is the leader. Mike Huber has been very versatile in starting at both tackle and guard. Our tight end is James Martinis. He blocks much of the time with the offensive line.

“That unit has been the cornerstone of our team. They make everything go, from running the ball to having protection to throw the ball.”

The average weight of the players on the Jaguars’ offensive line hovers around the 283-pound mark.

“They all have excellent size and are very strong and athletic,” Cherpak said. “You have a chance to win every game if you can control the line of scrimmage, and we have been able to do that convincingly.”

On the ground, TJ has amassed 1,662 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Shaw has rushed for 720 yards and 16 touchdowns. He averages 120 yards rushing per game and 10.6 yards per attempt.

“We have a great back in Max Shaw,” Serapiglia said. “He can do it all, and he has great vision. He can hit all the holes, and he just does his thing. He is definitely a huge part of our success.”

Stump has passed for 1,194 yards and 17 touchdowns with only two interceptions this season. He averages 170.6 yards passing per game and 22.5 yards per completion.

Deabner has 37 receptions for 947 yards and 15 scores and averages 25.6 yards per catch.

Dylan Mallozzi, a junior running back, has chipped in offensively with 228 yards and six touchdowns on 23 carries.

TJ’s offensive unit has seen “limited” action most of the games this year because of lopsided halftime scores week-in and week-out.

Serapiglia and Danielson also start on the defensive line, along with seniors Sean Barrett (6-2, 210) and Gabe Dominick (6-0, 170).

Danielson (five), Darius Barrett (four) and Sean Barrett (three) are the sack leaders on defense.

TJ has outscored the opposition 344-48 with three shutouts through seven contests.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

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