Thomas Jefferson won the WPIAL Class AAA title last year, right?

They were the squad which walked off of Heinz Field with the trophy, weren't they?

"It doesn't feel like that at all, it is kind of like everyone in our program acts like we didn't win anything and we are the defending WPIAL champions," coach Bill Cherpak said. "But this group is so much different as far as who we have. This is an entirely different team."

An entirely different team, yes. But, the expectations remain as Thomas Jefferson is in its usual spot -- the Post-Gazette's preseason No. 1 WPIAL Class AAA team.

Some talented players graduated, but the Jaguars simply reload.

This team will be paced by 5-foot-10, 190-pound junior running back Brian Baldrige, who rushed for 1,416 yards and 19 touchdowns last year.

Baldrige can run behind tremendously talented lineman Lucas Nix (6-6, 295), a Pitt recruit ranked among the best linemen in the country.

"Running behind Lucas is something that you have to do to believe how big the holes are," Baldrige said. "The thing that I notice isn't the players he blocks, but the players who go out of their way not to be blocked by him."

Thomas Jefferson's season could hinge greatly on a player who will take command of his first varsity huddle -- junior quarterback Tyler Wehner, son of former Pirate John Wehner.

"Quarterback is a question right now, and it always is when you are starting someone new under there," Cherpak said.