A perfect 2004 regular season in football

The 2004 Jim Thorpe football team, led by head coach Mark Rosenberger, finished the regular season with a 10-0 record, becoming the first and only team in school history to win 10 games in a season.

The Olympians played in the District 11 Class AAA championship game where they suffered a heart-breaking 25-19 loss to Pottsville in a game that wasn't decided until the final play.

Jim Thorpe captured the Anthracite 8 championship with a perfect 7-0 league mark. It won the Route 209 Trophy by defeating Lehighton 62-7. It also captured the P & B Trophy for being the top team in the Panther Valley region.

The Olympians were ranked as the top team in the Blue Rideg Cable TV-13 coverage area, finished 7th in the WNEP-TV Super 16 countdown, and were ranked as high as #4 in the state in Class AAA by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

For the season, Jim Thorpe allowed just 74 points in 11 games. The Olympians also had an explosive offense to go with their rock-solid defense as they scored 426 points. Thorpe had an average margin of victory of over 30 points a game, averaging 38.7 points a game on offense while allowing an average of just 6.7 points per game. The Olympians averaged 341 yards a game offensively while limiting opponents to an average of just 134 yards a game.

Jim Thorpe allowed just one team to score more than seven points against them in its 10 regular season games. That came in the opening game of the season in a lopsided 54-14 rout of Tamaqua. The Olympians posted four shutouts during the season.

The 2004 Olympians had an excellent balance of star power and depth. Jason Figura, who scored 24 touchdowns, was named the TIMES NEWS Football Player of the Year; Aaron Smith was a First Team All-State defensive back; and Jacob Heydt was a Second Team All-State offensive lineman.

In addition to those three, 10 other Olympians received postseason All-Star recognition. Among that group were Jason Calcano, Dan Flizak, Justin Young, Keith Hontz, Adam Busocker, Mike Rambo, Craig Zurn, Tyler O'Shura, Shawn Bradley and Patrick Holland.

Rounding out the roster were; Albert Meriano, Joe Meriano, Josh Hontz, Tom Cannelley, Karl Moll, Vishnu Kashidas, Phillip Redline, Bryan Baker, Scott McGonigal, Mike Bingaman, Kyle Porembo, Travis Andrews, Tom Hannon, Adam LaRizzio, Lance Malatak, Matthew Dunbar, Matt Rambo, Keith Long, Jeremy Fleck, Kenny McCardle, Joe Plummer, Bob Mathurin, Peter Skaflestad, Mike Taptich, Vince Yaich, and Steve Martin.

Assisting Rosenberger on the varsity coaching staff were Frank Jacobs, Jason Jacobs, Dave Malkin, Pat Morgans, Anthony Vecolitis and Chris Walkowiak. Freshman/junior high coaches included Frank Miller, Ed kocha and Robert Schaeffer. The athletic trainer was Mindy Sando and the managers were Nicole DeVincenzo, Danielle Marchione, Jonathon Moronta, Victoria Rowlands and Alexis Villanueva. The film manager was Wilmer Redline.

The Jim Thorpe Area Sports Hall of Fame banquet will be held on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall. Cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. The induction ceremony will take place at 7:15 p.m. with entertainment following at 8:30. Tickets for the induction ceremonies and the entire evening can be obtained by calling Craig Zurn at 570-325-3855 or 570-325-3363, Wilmer Redline at 570-325-4244 or Jack Kmetz at 570-325-4923.

During the next few Saturdays, The TIMES NEWS will be featuring all of the Class of 2011 inductees.