Since he's always willing to debate or take a stance on just about any subject, Avon Grove's Mike Jeffcoats is considering studying law in college.

Few can argue with him about the Red Devils' dramatic football turnaround. After a pair of 4-6 campaigns, the eighth-year varsity program is 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the Ches-Mont League National Conference.

"Since this group of seniors was in seventh grade, we were pointing toward this season," said Jeffcoats, a center and defensive tackle. "We had a strong feeling this would be our year."

With bruising fullback Brendan McLaughlin and halfbacks Brandon Monk and Jordan Harris combining for nearly 300 rushing yards, Avon Grove ripped visiting West Chester Henderson, 31-6, Friday night in a National Conference matchup.

McLaughlin, a 6-foot, 205-pound junior, ran for touchdowns of 5 and 9 yards. The other scores were a short toss from quarterback Kyle Kush to wideout Mike Rooney, a 1-yard plunge by Monk, and a 40-yard field goal by Jack Ruggieri.

"We just kept pounding the ball right at them," the 6-foot-1, 240-pound Jeffcoats said. "That's what we do in this offense. We usually don't throw more than five or six times a game."

In addition to Jeffcoats, the offensive line consists of left tackle Cory Snyder (6-3, 220), left guard J.J. McNeil (5-10, 180), right guard Andrew Lowe (6-2, 210), right tackle Ian Wood (6-0, 245), and tight end Ryan Samuels (6-3, 215).

With a victory Friday vs. Coatesville, the Red Devils will earn at least a share of the National Conference crown. Downingtown East (7-2, 5-1) and Downingtown West (8-1, 5-1) finish league action with Henderson and Bishop Shanahan, respectively.

Third-year coach Marvin Dooley's Avon Grove squad suffered its only loss to Downingtown East, 32-21, on Oct. 2.

"We got tired in the late going," said Jeffcoats, one of six senior captains. "That loss helped us, though. We started running hills and working on our conditioning. We'll never get tired again in the second half of a game."

A defense that has yielded an average of 14.7 points per game is spearheaded by Jeffcoats, fellow tackle Geoff Melendez, ends Snyder and Samuels, linebacker Wes Shoap, and cornerback C.J. Arhontakis.

In the PIAA Class AAAA playoff rankings, the Red Devils had entered the weekend tied for seventh place with Norristown. That means they will be part of the tournament, a 16-team field, for the first time.

"I can't even imagine what it's going to be like playing in such a meaningful, one-and-done type of game," Jeffcoats said. "I do know that it will be incredibly exciting."

Jeffcoats, a 17-year-old from West Grove, is also a standout in the classroom. Owner of a 3.8 grade point average, he takes advanced placement classes in calculus, English, and European history.

Georgetown, Penn and Johns Hopkins are college possibilities.

His father, also named Mike, is a varsity assistant and defensive coordinator for Avon Grove's freshman team. The elder Jeffcoats grew up and played football in Madill, Okla.

Wildcats claim crown. Sparked by a swarming defense and a flurry of second-half scores, Bok downed Imhotep Charter, 32-8, Saturday at Southern and repeated as the Public League's Class AA champion.

The Wildcats (9-0) are led on offense by QB Andre Frazier (who threw a pair of TD passes and ran for another against Imhotep), fullback Khalil Neal, and multipurpose back Gary Jackson. They have outscored foes by a combined 329-46.

"We don't have any stars," longtime Bok coach Tom DeFelice said. "Collectively, we play well."

The defensive stalwarts include Neal and fellow linebacker Naeem Nunnally, 6-1, 235-pound nose guard Kevin Thompson, tackle Josh Garnett, and ends Jacqual Dobbs and Chris Sherrod.

The Wildcats will take on the Catholic League champion, either Bishop McDevitt or West Catholic, for the District 12 Class AA title on the weekend of Nov. 13-14. In last year's district final, the Burrs topped Bok, 55-0.

Honored. DeFelice, in his 17th year as Bok's head coach, and West Catholic 11th-year boss Brian Fluck received the Golden Burr award, along with six others, Sunday at West Catholic's 89th annual communion breakfast at Springfield Country Club.

DeFelice and Fluck graduated from West Catholic in 1964 and 1988, respectively. DeFelice quarterbacked the Burrs to the 1962 city championship game and coached there later, under John McAneney in the early 1970s.

Public League playoffs. Two Public League semifinal playoff doubleheaders are slated for Saturday.

In Class AAAA, at Southern, Bartram faces George Washington at 11 a.m., and Frankford meets Northeast at 2 p.m.

In Class AAA, at Northeast's Charlie Martin Memorial Stadium, Mastbaum plays Dobbins at 11 a.m., and Simon Gratz clashes with Roxborough at 2 p.m.

Catholic League AA final. Bishop McDevitt and West Catholic are set to play for the Catholic League AA title Saturday night at 7 at Northeast.

Contact staff writer Rick O'Brien at 610-313-8019 or robrien@phillynews.com.