Brian Baldrige

Thomas Jefferson

The past week: A 5-foot-10, 198-pound senior running back, he ran for 382 yards on 32 carries in a 47-20 WPIAL Class AAA semifinal victory against New Castle.

Check this out: Baldrige's effort in the semifinals pushed Thomas Jefferson into the WPIAL championship for the sixth consecutive season.

When did you know you had 382 yards? It was after I scored the last touchdown and our trainer came over to me and told me. I knew I had at least 300 during the game, because the P.A. announcer said it over the loudspeaker.

What is different about this Thomas Jefferson team than the five others in a row that have made it to Heinz Field? Our offense throws it a lot more. Every TJ team wants to run the ball, and we do, too. But with [quarterback] Tyler Wehner being able to throw it, we can do some different things.

Tell me something about one of your teammates that people might not know? It is about Brock DeCicco. Coach Cherpak never calls him by his name. He either calls him 'Ten' or 'Raptor' for some reason.

Music that pumps you up before games? We play a certain sequence of songs before games all the time, but it always ends with DMX.

Any superstitions? I always come out of the locker room last. I have always done that. I don't know why, I can't explain it; it is just something I have always done.

-- By Colin Dunlap