Scouting the State Finals: PIAA Class 3A Championship
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Quinton Martin PA #1 ATH #1 HEIGHT 6'3" WEIGHT 200 POS ATH CLASS 2024 View Profile Quinton Martin Twitter State: Pennsylvania School: Belle Vernon Area Braden Laux PA #90 ATH #18 HEIGHT 6'4" WEIGHT 215 POS ATH CLASS 2024 View…
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Continue ReadingIt will be a pleasure to see Quinton Martin Quinton Martin 6'3" | 200 lbs | ATH Belle Vernon Area | 2024 State PA tote the rock up close for the first time. I’ve witnessed him dominate 7v7 settings for too long, now I get a chance to see him work with pads on. Arguably the best player amongst any of the 12 teams in a State final, Martin, along with his stout offensive line, will be tasked with moving the ball on a special Neumann-Goretti front seven. Martin is special enough to create on his own, although it’d be tough against this defense that limited a J’Ven Williams and Pacen Ziegler Pacen Ziegler 6'4" | 275 lbs | OL Wyomissing | 2023 State PA led rushing attack last week.
In a vacuum, Quinton Martin Quinton Martin 6'3" | 200 lbs | ATH Belle Vernon Area | 2024 State PA possesses the open-field acceleration to break any game open. He’s got athletic ability that would shatter most camp/combine settings. He’s easily one of the best running backs in the state, while simultaneously acting as one of the state’s best defensive backs as well. Put quality linemen like Dane Levi Dane Levi 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Belle Vernon | 2024 State PA , Dylan DeWitt, and Jack Heckel in front of him, and you have a program that has the firepower to get to this Final stage.
Braden Laux Braden Laux 6'4" | 215 lbs | ATH Belle Vernon | 2024 State PA is the man behind center. A 6’5, 220-pound athlete that will keep Neumann-Goretti on their toes, Laux can take QB sweeps and keepers the distance, with real speed and acceleration too. You’d think Laux would excel in short-yardage situations due to his size, yet his tape shows plenty of play-making ability from anywhere on the field.
Aiden Johnson Aiden Johnson 6'2" | 215 lbs | DL Belle Vernon Area | 2024 State PA will be a factor in this one. Equally a proficient run-blocker from his tight end spot as he is at his primary alignment at defensive end. 6’2, 220 pounds, he’s yet another frame Neumann-Goretti will have to handle in space.
I’ll be watching for Chase Ruokonen Chase Ruokonen 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Belle Vernon Area | 2023 State PA and Evan Pohlot Evan Pohlot 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Belle Vernon Area | 2023 State PA as well.
Highlights
We can get the obvious out of the way, not having Shawn Battle Shawn Battle 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Neumann-Goretti | 2023 State PA in this one is going to hurt Neumann-Goretti. Don’t need to be a scout to know that. I am familiar with the stable of young backs they could deploy in his absence, yet no one prospect will be able to replace what Shawn Battle Shawn Battle 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Neumann-Goretti | 2023 State PA brings to each carry he takes. Will be interested in seeing how involved the freshmen backs will be in this one, Battle’s offensive production will need to be replaced in some fashion.
I don’t see Neumann-Goretti necessarily struggling to attack this BVA secondary through the air, so long as Mekhi Wharton Mekhi Wharton 6'5" | 215 lbs | QB Neumann-Goretti | 2024 State PA is protected up front. Zungolo and Denim Smith Denim Smith 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Neumann-Goretti | 2023 State PA should be able to separate and do what they’ve been doing all post-season. Mekhi Wharton Mekhi Wharton 6'5" | 215 lbs | QB Neumann-Goretti | 2024 State PA is looking as confident as he’s ever looked, I don’t expect the kid to falter at this stage. Will NG create consistently clean pockets up front to let Wharton work? I think they can, especially with Deshon Dodson Deshon Dodson 6'4" | 260 lbs | DL Neumann-Goretti | 2024 State PA and Koren Robinson upfront. There’s no question that NG can win the trench battle, on both sides.
Khari Reid Khari Reid 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Neumann - Goretti | 2024 State PA has come up big in every NG game I’ve attended this Fall, he’s often over-looked when on the same field as Shawn Battle Shawn Battle 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Neumann-Goretti | 2023 State PA . I fully expect the secondary to lean into Reid’s strengths. Neumann-Goretti has the roster, the depth, and the role players. They are without their best prospect while Belle Vernon’s top player is looking better than ever. Very interested in seeing if the combination of Samuel Hobbs Samuel Hobbs 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Neumann-Goretti | 2023 State PA , Khari Reid Khari Reid 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Neumann - Goretti | 2024 State PA , and Daniel Adefolarin Daniel Adefolarin 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Neumann-Goretti | 2025 State PA will be enough to stop an onslaught coming out Quinton Martin Quinton Martin 6'3" | 200 lbs | ATH Belle Vernon Area | 2024 State PA . As a scout that has seen NG live on occasion, I believe they are capable of doing so.