Central Valley and Thomas Jefferson Set to Face Off in Battle of WPIAL Titans

Tagged under: District 7, News, Playoffs, Podcasts

Nate Grella | November 18, 2022

It’s almost like looking in a mirror. The similar trajectory between Central Valley and Thomas Jefferson in recent years has been astounding. Programs that have been built on legacy, offensive firepower, dominance in the trenches, and bone-crushing defense. And now they get to face off with everything on the line.

Two teams. Two legendary coaches. 5 WPIAL championships in the last 12 years for both. Both teams with two PIAA state championships in the last three years. This is going to be fun.

The Central Valley Warriors took the move up from 3A in stride. Only Avonworth has come within two scores of the Warriors this season aside from their Week 9 loss to Aliquippa. The Warriors are first in the WPIAL in scoring, averaging nearly 40+ points per game.

For the Jaguars, compared to the dominating, suffocating teams of years past, 2022 has been a little quieter. The Jaguars were beaten by Belle Vernon out of conference for the third game in a row, then dropped a road upset to Laurel Highlands. Since that loss, the Jaguars have awakened, and it resulted in a Week 9 upset over McKeesport.

The turnaround for the Jaguars have come through the ground game and on defense. Every 200+ yard rushing performance came after that Laurel Highlands loss, behind improvements by junior backs Elias Lippincott and Aidan Whalen. The Jaguars aren’t afraid to throw the ball around either, with starter Brody Evans with over 1900 passing yards on the season.

For Central Valley the points have come from everywhere. QB Antwon Johnson has 1174 yards through the air and 14 TDs along with three more on the ground. Brett Fitzsimmons has been one of the hardest to stop players in the WPIAL, rushing for over 1600 yards this year with 28 touchdowns. FInally, Jayvin Thompson has over 500 yards and 10 TDs as Johnson’s primary target.

If Thomas Jefferson wants to take down the Warriors juggernaut of an offense, it will have to start up front. The Jaguars defense is 4th in 4A allowing less than 15 PPG. TJ sports one of the top pass rushers in the region as well in Wisconsin commit Jordan Mayer, who’s playing the best football of his young career.

One more thing. The setting. The last time the Warriors played at North Allegheny’s Tiger Stadium? The 2020 WPIAL championship, where the Warriors ran all over Elizabeth Forward en route to a PIAA title. Thomas Jefferson? The night after in an overtime classic against Aliquippa, a game that kickstarted a PIAA title run for themselves.

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