Nov 16, 2018 3 min read

There was no hiding the truth when South Fayette senior wide receiver Mike Trimbur spoke a few weeks ago. He laid it all out there, just like you would expect a leader to do.

“He said a few weeks ago that they had not done anything as a senior class,” South Fayette football coach Joe Rossi remembers. “That the senior class was living on the coattails of the last couple of years. I think it kind of hit home for them that it is our time to make something happen.”

After clearing the speed bumps of early rounds, which have acted as barriers the past two years, South Fayette (11-1) will try for its fourth title in the past nine years when it takes on traditional power Thomas Jefferson (11-0) in the WPIAL Class 4A championship game at Heinz Field today. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Top-seeded Thomas Jefferson is on the verge of making history. The Jaguars are trying to become only the third team to win four consecutive WPIAL championships. TJ coach Bill Cherpak is in search of his eighth title, which would tie West Allegheny’s Bob Palko for the most in district history.

The Lions are making their first appearance in a WPIAL championship since 2015 but have three titles since 2010.

“I have a lot of respect for the (Thomas Jefferson) program,” Rossi said. “How can you not? For us, it’s been a couple of years. Our kids are really hungry.”

The No. 4 from each team – Thomas Jefferson quarterback Shane Stump and Trimbur for the Lions – could go a long way in determining the champion.

Trimbur has at least one touchdown reception nine games this season, catching 49 passes for 936 yards and 15 TDs.

“It’s something we don’t see a lot,” said Cherpak of the pass-happy, spread offense of South Fayette. “Especially with how good they are at it. They are patient enough to take what they are given. It’s tough on a defense when you are so spread out. Then, if you are spread out too much, they can run the ball.”

Charley Rossi and Peyton Tinney, with 32 and 19 receptions, respectively, have been reliable targets for senior quarterback Jamie Diven, who has passed for 2,767 yards and 41 touchdowns in his first season as the starting quarterback.

“We have an aggressive defense,” Cherpak said. “We can’t be as aggressive against them. It’s going to be tough for us to adjust.”

Stump has completed 80 of 127 passes (63 percent) for 1,668 yards and 24 touchdowns. His favorite target, Daniel Deabner, has 51 receptions for 1,219 yards and 19 touchdowns. No other receiver has more than 10 catches.

“The thing that gets lost is that their quarterback is tremendous,” Rossi said. “He can throw the ball around. It’s not just the running game you have to stop against them. Watching that kid sling the ball around is pretty special.”

It is the first time Rossi and Cherpak have faced one another, a matchup many have wanted to see since South Fayette moved to Class 4A in 2016.

“This week is definitely longer,” Rossi said. “The days creep by slowly. You want to make sure your are prepared. Every minute you are closer to getting on that bus to head down to Heinz Field. You can’t just be satisfied getting there. We got over the hump and feel good about it, but our kids are dialed back in and wanting to get the championship.”