Scouting the State Finals: PIAA Class 3A Championship

<p>It will be a pleasure to see [player_tooltip player_id='64565' first='Quinton' last='Martin'] 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 [player_tooltip player_id='357974' first='Pacen' last='Ziegler'] led rushing attack last week. </p>   <p>In a vacuum, [player_tooltip player_id='64565' first='Quinton' last='Martin'] 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 [player_tooltip player_id='255054' first='Dane' last='Levi'], Dylan DeWitt, and Jack Heckel in front of him, and you have a program that has the firepower to get to this Final stage. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='313742' first='Braden' last='Laux'] 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. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='386260' first='Aiden' last='Johnson'] 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. </p>   <p>I'll be watching for [player_tooltip player_id='248161' first='Chase' last='Ruokonen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='530967' first='Evan' last='Pohlot'] as well. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NathanGrella/status/1598916615764029440?s=20&t=8BuvWZZBG-xScsaGBYlgJw </div></figure>      <p>We can get the obvious out of the way, not having [player_tooltip player_id='27731' first='Shawn' last='Battle'] 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 [player_tooltip player_id='27731' first='Shawn' last='Battle'] 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. </p>   <p>I don't see Neumann-Goretti necessarily struggling to attack this BVA secondary through the air, so long as [player_tooltip player_id='164150' first='Mekhi' last='Wharton'] is protected up front. Zungolo and [player_tooltip player_id='530974' first='Denim' last='Smith'] should be able to separate and do what they've been doing all post-season. [player_tooltip player_id='164150' first='Mekhi' last='Wharton'] 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 [player_tooltip player_id='377025' first='Deshon' last='Dodson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='142828' first='Koren' last='Robinson'] upfront. There's no question that NG can win the trench battle, on both sides. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='141985' first='Khari' last='Reid'] has come up big in every NG game I've attended this Fall, he's often over-looked when on the same field as [player_tooltip player_id='27731' first='Shawn' last='Battle']. 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 [player_tooltip player_id='140931' first='Samuel' last='Hobbs'], [player_tooltip player_id='141985' first='Khari' last='Reid'], and [player_tooltip player_id='262271' first='Daniel' last='Adefolarin'] will be enough to stop an onslaught coming out [player_tooltip player_id='64565' first='Quinton' last='Martin']. As a scout that has seen NG live on occasion, I believe they are capable of doing so. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Samm2r/status/1599260412591104000?s=20&t=8BuvWZZBG-xScsaGBYlgJw </div></figure>