One of the greatest runs in WPIAL football history was ended last night by some great runs.

Mike Caputo, West Allegheny's junior running back, turned in another terrific performance. But considering the competition, this was certainly his finest moment.

Caputo and West Allegheny took down the kings of WPIAL Class AAA football. There will be no four-peat and no seventh heaven for Thomas Jefferson.

Running out of the wildcat formation, Caputo was one tough cat. He had his sixth 200-yard rushing game of the year, and West Allegheny knocked off Thomas Jefferson, 28-21, in a Class AAA semifinal at Chartiers Valley. The win put West Allegheny (10-2) in the title game Friday at Heinz Field against Hopewell.

Caputo finished with 259 yards on 26 attempts and scored two touchdowns on runs of 1 and 96 yards. And he also returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.

"To take down those guys is saying something," said West Allegheny coach Bob Palko.

After the game, Palko got hugs from fans and also his son, Tyler, who quarterbacked the team to three WPIAL titles from 1999-2001.

Thomas Jefferson (11-1) was hoping to become only the second team in WPIAL history to win four championships in a row (without a tie). The Jaguars also were trying to land a spot in the title game for the seventh year in a row, which would have been a WPIAL first. Coach Bill Cherpak had built a dynasty, winning 48 games in a row against WPIAL teams and 26 in a row overall.

Afterward, the tears flowed from players' eyes. This was TJ's first loss to a WPIAL team since losing to Franklin Regional in the 2005 WPIAL final.

"The big thing is these kids have never really lost," Cherpak said. "The last two seasons, their season ended with a victory. It's tough. I'm glad they're hurting because that means it means a lot to them -- and it should."

One of Thomas Jefferson's top seniors played under tough emotional circumstances. Quarterback Sam Johnston's father died Thursday. But Johnston, who came in with 1,896 passing yards, wanted to play. He finished 8 of 16 for 133 yards. Cherpak said it was Johnston and his family's decision to play.

"He was incredible," Cherpak said. "I didn't expect him to play, but maybe this was the best place for him. He was focused. He did everything he could do."

Caputo did everything he could to bring down the Jaguars. What an addition he has been to West Allegheny this season after transferring from Blackhawk. He now has 2,210 rushing yards.

He started the game a little slowly, and Thomas Jefferson took a 7-0 lead. But Caputo returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.

West Allegheny started its next possession on its 3. Caputo ran 97 yards for a touchdown on the first play.

"He gets better as the game goes on," Palko said. "It's almost like it takes him a while to get into the flow. But he really made some ... interesting moves tonight."

Thomas Jefferson tied the score, 14-14, later in the second quarter on the second of T.J. Matrascia's three touchdown runs. This one came from 2 yards.

But West Allegheny drove 64 yards in nine plays, with quarterback Jared Buck hitting some key passes. Buck threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Mitch Posel with 25 seconds left in the half to give West Allegheny a 21-14 lead.

Matrascia's 1-yard run tied it in the third quarter. But, in the second half, West Allegheny put its offense on Caputo's shoulders -- and he was up for the challenge. He made moves, used power and found holes. In the second half, West Allegheny had 23 plays from scrimmage. Caputo carried the ball on 20 of them.

"[Thomas Jefferson] was big up front, and they're fast," Caputo said. "I give all the credit to the line's blocking."

Cherpak said: "You know it's coming and you can't stop it. It's kind of weird because you look at him and he's not a power runner. But he's not a speedster, either. I don't know what he is, but he makes you miss."

West Allegheny's winning drive started at the 50. Caputo carried seven consecutive times and scored the touchdown on a 1-yard run with 10:01 left in the game.

With a little more than a minute left and his team facing a fourth-and-1 at Thomas Jefferson's 47, Palko elected to go for the first down. Caputo ran 46 yards to the 1. West Allegheny then took a knee twice to run out the clock.

"He hadn't really lost any yards all night, and he's so good at finding a crack," Palko said. "That's why we went for it."

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