SCHOOL: Thomas Jefferson.

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-1, 180-pound quarterback/cornerback for the football team.

THE PAST WEEK: Dawson completed 9 of 15 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown Saturday night as the Jaguars defeated West Mifflin, 20-0, in the WPIAL Class AAA championship game at Heinz Field.

Thomas Jefferson (11-2), a WPIAL champion for the first time since 1980, will play Selinsgrove (11-1) in a PIAA quarterfinal Saturday at Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona.

SEASON: A senior, Dawson has completed 108 of 207 for 1,922 yards and 18 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions.

Dawson has been a game-breaker on defense, too, returning four of his team-high 10 interceptions for touchdowns. He also has scored on a fumble recovery.

"Brad is such a good athlete, I had to get him on the field [defensively]," Jaguars coach Bill Cherpak said. "This is hard to believe, but he hasn't given up more than five completions all season to guys he's covered."

TRANSITION GAME: A year ago, senior Pete Winovich was entrenched as the Jaguars' quarterback. Dawson, a quarterback from youth leagues through junior varsity, was switched to wide receiver and ended up second on the team in catches with 19 for 460 yards (24.2).

A LEGACY: One of Dawson's athletic role models while growing up was his brother, Brian, who led Thomas Jefferson to the WPIAL semifinals in 1998 before setting numerous passing records at Washington & Jefferson.

FUTURE: Mid-American Conference teams, Robert Morris, Mount Union and Hofstra are among Dawson's college suitors.