ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
Thomas Jefferson field general helped Jaguars claim third PIAA title
By Joshua Funk
For PA Football News
If you were to flip the calendar back to December 2007, the day Thomas Jefferson won its second PIAA title over Garnet Valley, you’d find a completely different football team than the one that just claimed PIAA gold in 2008.
You’d also find a much different attitude from its starting quarterback, Tyler Wehner. But he didn’t play much of a role in last year’s state title game, except for cheering in the stands.
Just a week before the playoffs began, Thomas Jefferson head coach Bill Cherpak had kicked Wehner off of the team for disciplinary reasons. While TJ lost a near-1,000-yard passer for the remainder of the season, it turned instead to a bulldozer offense, flattening teams with a potent running attack.
Wehner watched those remaining games from the stands, and the state title game from the fence right near the field. He had come to the conclusion that he’d do whatever it took to get back on the football field.
“I decided right when I got kicked off the team, ‘I really got to get my act together and get back on this team,’” Wehner said. “I love all the kids on it and I love playing the game. There’s nothing better than a feeling like this.”
So after Thomas Jefferson ran off the final seconds of its 34-7 victory over Philadelphia Catholic League champion Archbishop Wood, you can imagine the emotions that ran through Wehner’s mind.
His thoughts about winning the title went like this: “This is the second time (winning the state title). It’s unbelievable.”
Even after winning the WPIAL championship nearly a month prior at Heinz Field, TJ head coach Bill Cherpak talked about the situation his senior field general went through.
“The situation with Tyler went from being a most negative thing to a positive, motivational thing,” Cherpak said.
What it proved is this: anyone can overcome anything, given the right attitude and hard work. And it reflected in Wehner, not only with his demeanor off the field, but also in his play on the field.
Wehner shone brightly in the playoffs. In the Blackhawk game, he threw for 155 yards. Against West York, Wehner completed nearly 72 percent of his passes for over 270 yards and had six total touchdowns. Against Wood, Wehner totaled over 190 yards of offense and had a hand in all five touchdowns.
Combined, in the semifinals and state finals, Wehner threw for 430 yards, ran for another 87, and had a hand in 11 total touchdowns.
His 2008 season was remarkable to say the least: 2,654 passing yards (a school record), 33 touchdown passes (also a school record), and 3,361 total yards from scrimmage (another school record).
Wehner also set a school record for career passing touchdowns (44), and tied a school record with a 99-yard touchdown run against New Castle, according to team statistician Chuck Stout.
When Cherpak addressed the media following the state title game, he made a comment that really stuck out.
“I don’t think they’re going to realize the effects of this for a while,” the 14-year veteran said.
Cherpak meant the quote for his entire team. But it could also take meaning for Mr. Wehner, who worked very hard to get from standing by the fence watching to hoisting the golden football in a year.
One thing Wehner does realize is this: “It’s a lot better on the field than off it.”