Final 48, Class 2A/3A Quarterfinals: Prospect Spotlight

The final 48 teams are set in the PIAA playoff tournament. The final 16 in Classes 2A/3A are loaded with talent. Underdogs, powerhouses, and dark horses are among all class brackets. Let’s take a dive into each of the four matchups and prospects I am looking forward to seeing from each team!  

Class 2A Quarterfinals

*Northern Lehigh vs. West Catholic

• Prospect Matchup:

Northern Lehigh | Matt Frame | 6’0, 225 | RB / LB | 2022 West Catholic | Jayzen Flint Jayzen Flint 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL West Catholic | 2024 State PA | 6’3, 210 | TE/DL/LB | 2024 Talented West Catholic Prep continues their underdog run against Matt Frame and Northern Lehigh. I’m familiar with many at WC and am honestly not too surprised by this awesome playoff run they are on. Northern Lehigh is coming off 3 straight victories of 21 or more. They haven’t faced a team capable of handling their offense. *Southern Columbia vs. Richland 

• Prospect matchup:

Southern Columbia | Derek Berlitz Derek Berlitz 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Southern Columbia | 2022 State PA | 6’3, 247 | DL/TE | 2022 Richland | Griffin LaRue Griffin LaRue 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Richland | 2022 State PA | 6’3, 192 | WR/DB | 2022 Southern Columbia is tearing through opponents to get to this point. Wins of 48, 34, and 27 against solid talent. Derek Berlitz Derek Berlitz 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Southern Columbia | 2022 State PA is one of the best players in the state without an offer. He’ll be matched up with many talented prospects at Richland, which will be SC’s toughest matchup yet. Griffin LaRue Griffin LaRue 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Richland | 2022 State PA joins Berlitz as another Top 100 prospect featured in this game. Richland has also run through opponents with ease getting to this point. Somethings got to give.  *Farrell vs. Karns City

• Prospect matchup:

Farrell | Anthony Stallworth Anthony Stallworth 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB Farrell | 2022 State PA | 6’0, 205 | RB | 2022 Karns City | Luke Garing | 6’2, 220 | RB/LB | 2022 Farrell’s offense is a lit one. Anthony Stallworth Anthony Stallworth 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB Farrell | 2022 State PA , Omar Stewart, Kylon Wilson Kylon Wilson 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Farrell | 2023 State PA , Trian Holden Trian Holden 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Farrell | 2022 State PA . I can keep going believe it or not. That offense is looking to stay on track against another frequent touchdown scorer in Luke Garing. The senior has 25 touchdowns to his name. *Beaver Falls vs. Serra Catholic

• Prospect matchup:

Beaver Falls | Tyler Cain Tyler Cain 6'3" | 230 lbs | LB Beaver Falls | 2022 State PA | 6’3, 230 | TE/LB | 2022 Serra Catholic | Pharoh Fisher Pharoh Fisher 6'0" | 190 lbs | DB Serra Catholic | 2022 State PA | 6’0, 185 | DB/ATH | 2022 Serra Catholic came away on top against an evenly matched Sto-Rox team last weekend. This defense and secondary in particular is arguable one of the best the state has to offer. They hope to capitalize on said huge win with another against Tyler Cain Tyler Cain 6'3" | 230 lbs | LB Beaver Falls | 2022 State PA and Beaver Falls.

Class 3A Quarterfinals

*Neumann-Goretti vs. Danville 

• Prospect matchup:

Neumann Goretti | Raleigh Collins Raleigh Collins 6'4" | 190 lbs | DB Neumann-Goretti | 2022 State PA III | 6’4, 185 | DB | 2022 Danville | Carson Persing Carson Persing 5'9" | 170 lbs | WR Danville | 2023 State PA | 5’8, 160 | WR | 2023 Much like Serra Catholic in 2A, this Neumann-Goretti defense is absolutely loaded at each position. Carson Persing Carson Persing 5'9" | 170 lbs | WR Danville | 2023 State PA and Madden Patrick will have their hands full trying to pick apart Shawn Battle Shawn Battle 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Neumann-Goretti | 2023 State PA , Terry Cameau Terry Cameau 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Neumann-Goretti | 2022 State PA and Raleigh Collins Raleigh Collins 6'4" | 190 lbs | DB Neumann-Goretti | 2022 State PA . They are capable of doing so. *Wyomissing vs. Scranton Prep

• Prospect matchup:

Wyomissing | J’Ven Williams | 6’5, 310 | OL | 2023 Scranton Prep | London Montgomery | 5’11, 190 | RB | 2023 May be the best game in this bunch and that’s saying something. Neither of these two were ranked in the summer which is a complete travesty. Both Williams and Montgomery have Power 5 offers and are continuing to push their teams in the right direction in hopes of a 3A title. Opposing players will have a lot to deal with when attempting to stop each of these prospects. They both project to be future Top 50 prospects in their class. *Central Valley vs. North Catholic

• Prospect matchup:

Central Valley | Sean FitzSimmons Sean FitzSimmons 6'3" | 275 lbs | DL Central Valley | 2022 State PA | 6’3, 275 | DL | 2022 North Catholic | Kyle Tipinski Kyle Tipinski 6'3" | 220 lbs | ATH North Catholic | 2022 State PA | 6’3, 220 | RB/DL/LB | 2022 Central Valley has outscored opponents 99-6 in two post-season games thus far. I shouldn’t really have to say much. Central Valley is on a war path right now. North Catholic is on the opposite end of that spectrum, winning each of their two post-season games by one score (48-41, 7-0). *Grove City vs. Central 

• Prospect matchup:

Grove City | Gavin Lutz Gavin Lutz 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH Grove City | 2024 State PA | 5’11, 165 | WR / DB | 2024 Central | Jeff Hoenstine Jeff Hoenstine 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB Central | 2023 State PA | 5’10, 180 | QB | 2023 Grove City is coming off an 8-point victory against Slippery Rock and will now be playing Central at Slippery Rock University. They will have their work cut out for them attempting to slow down Jeff Hoenstine Jeff Hoenstine 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB Central | 2023 State PA . The junior has had multiple 5+ TD games this season. I don’t expect that to production to slow any time soon.