Top RBs in 3A set to Face off in Freeport-Belle Vernon Semifinal Clash

Tagged under: District 7, News, Playoffs, Podcasts

Nate Grella | November 17, 2022

Let’s go over some history. In 2019, Belle Vernon rode a talented senior class for their first WPIAL championship berth in 20 years. The Leopards were outshined by Thomas Jefferson. In 2020, the Leopards lost to TJ in the regular season again, but didn’t even play them in the postseason, falling on the road to Aliquippa in the semifinals. In 2021, the Leopards slayed the dragon, TWICE, beating TJ in both the regular season and the semifinals. Everything was there for the stacked, undefeated, one seed. And then Aliquippa steamrolled them at Heinz Field on a cold day in November.

Now the Leopards won’t have to worry about the Quips and the Jaguars. With one of the top talents in the state, Belle Vernon is the pre-emptive favorite in the 3A playoff picture, as no 3A team on their schedule has even come close to them all year. In come a new round of suitors, chief among them, the Freeport Yellow Jackets.

The 3A semifinal will feature two of the premiere running backs in 3A, and maybe in the region. Everyone has heard the exploits of Quinton Martin. One of the most talented juniors in the country has had college coaches flying into James Weir on helicopters this season, however, statistically, a nagging leg injury has caused Martin to have a down year compared to his stellar 2021 campaign. A pedestrian 950 yards.

click to see brackets

On the other side is Benny Lane. The senior runner has rushed for 1075 yards this year and is averaging 10.5 yards per carry, *checks notes*, the exact same to the decimal as Quinton Martin this season. The Yellow Jackets also have a 1001 yard passer in Gavin Croney.

WIth all of the talent on the offensive side of the ball, this matchup will feature the second and third highest scoring offenses in 3A in the WPIAL. Think that’s good? Well the matchup will also feature the 1st and 4th leading teams in Points Against Per Game.

While Belle Vernon has had a recent playoff heartbreak, the Freeport Yellow Jackets haven’t gotten far enough to feel that. Freeport’s last semifinal appearance occurred in 2015, and they haven’t made a championship since 1989. While Belle Vernon enters the game as the heavy favorite, there may not be a team with more firepower than Freeport to give them all they can handle..

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