Leopards explosive in 45-20 win over New Castle
Holly Tonini
The Leopards鈥� Quinton Martin runs through the New Castle defense to score a 31-yard touchdown in the first quarter of Friday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal playoff game at Belle Vernon.
Holly Tonini
Belle Vernon蘑菇视频 Devin Whitlock (1) looks for a running lane during Friday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal playoff game against New Castle at Belle Vernon. The Leopards take on Thomas Jefferson at West Mifflin in the semifinals tonight with a trip to the final at Heinz Field on the line.
Holly Tonini
The Leopards鈥� Quinton Martin (center) celebrates his touchdown against New Castle in the second quarter with teammates Dylan Larson and Tommy Kovatch (68) during Friday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal playoff game at Belle Vernon.
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The Leopards鈥� Evan Pohlot runs past New Castle蘑菇视频 Mike Wells as he heads downfield in Friday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal playoff game at Belle Vernon.
ROSTRAVER TWP. 鈥� Belle Vernon has been a quick-strike team this season and the Leopards showed just how explosive they can be Friday night with a 45-20 win over visiting New Castle in the WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinals.
Belle Vernon advances to play Thomas Jefferson (8-2) in the semifinals Friday at 7 p.m. at West Mifflin. Thomas Jefferson defeated Hampton, 42-14.
The Leopards (9-0) defeated the Jaguars, 28-21, on Sept. 24.
Playing only its second game in 28 days, and despite only having the ball for 12 minutes, Belle Vernon was efficient with its longest drive only six plays.
鈥淲e were able to make some plays, but we made it harder than we had to,鈥� said Belle Vernon coach Matt Humbert. 鈥淲e were sloppy, but New Castle did a great job of grinding it out and taking time off the clock as they methodically moved the ball.鈥�
New Castle head coach Joe Cowart talked about Belle Vernon蘑菇视频 explosiveness.
鈥�(Six) plays? We鈥檒l take that,鈥� said Cowart. 鈥淲hen we were preparing for them, we were asking, what do they do on third down? Nobody knows because they never get there.鈥�
New Castle (7-5) held the ball for 35:58 and gained 388 yards on 66 plays, while Belle Vernon gained 356 yards on 36 plays.
Leading 7-6 after the first quarter on a 31-yard touchdown run by Quinton Martin, the top-seeded Leopards exploded for 28 points in the second quarter on only 10 offensive plays with the longest scoring drive lasting only 1:39.
After a one-yard score by Devin Whitlock, Chris Hood hit Matayo Savage on a 13-yard score to trim the Leopards鈥� lead to 14-12 with 5:41 to go in the half.
Then, Belle Vernon got going with three touchdowns over the last 3:34 of the half to take control.
Martin scored from five yards out. Belle Vernon蘑菇视频 Parker Jewell recovered a New Castle fumble on the ensuing kickoff and the Leopards wasted no time when Whitlock hit Logan Hoffman on the next play with a 30-yard touchdown pass.
Whitlock scored from one yard out four plays later after the Leopards gained control of the ball at the Hurricanes鈥� 20-yard line. Tyler Kovatch蘑菇视频 extra point gave the Leopards a 35-12 lead heading into halftime.
Belle Vernon was outgained in the first half with 184 yards of total offense on 19 plays, compared to New Castle蘑菇视频 215 yards on 37 plays.
Kovatch hit a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter and Whitlock raced 75 yards for the last touchdown of the game.
Whitlock finished with 145 yards passing and 75 yards rushing on 11 carries, although outside of his long touchdown run, he was held to 0 yards over his other 10 carries.
Martin finished with 123 yards rushing and two scores on 15 carries.
Hood threw for 200 yards and rushed for 77 for New Castle, while Wells caught six passes for 132 yards.