Avonworth is the No. 1-ranked WPIAL Class 3A team. But after a second consecutive A-plus effort against a perennial power, Avonworth just might be worth a lot more.

Just listen to what a legendary WPIAL coach had to say about Avonworth after his team was dominated by the host Antelopes 41-14 in a big nonconference game Friday night. Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Cherpak has won more WPIAL titles (10) than any coach in league history and has more than 300 wins. He knows a top-notch team when he sees one because he has had a number of them. And it’s not often Cherpak-coached teams lose by 27.

“They are us in 2019,” Cherpak said of Avonworth.

The 2019 Thomas Jefferson team, by the way, won WPIAL and state titles in Class 4A and dominated its way to a 16-0 record. This year’s Thomas Jefferson

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