3 WPIAL freshmen make MaxPreps All-America football team
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Wednesday, January 27, 2021 | 1:12 AM
Belle Vernon’s Quinton Martin stiff-arms Chartiers Valley’s Lamont Panye Jr. on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020.
Jeannette’s Brad Birch (12) throws the ball during their game against Clairton on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020.
Central Catholic’s Anthony Speca returns an interception to seal the victory in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game against North Allegheny Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, at Martorelli Stadium.
Three rising stars in the WPIAL Class of 2024 were named to the MaxPreps All-America Freshman football team.
Belle Vernon running back, receiver and defensive back Quinton Martin, Central Catholic tight end/linebacker Anthony Speca and Jeannette quarterback Brad Birch were among the 48 national selections for offense and defense.
All three are Division I prospects. Martin and Speca were first-team selections.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Martin made it as a defensive back. He already has a scholarship offer from Pitt.
Martin ran for 425 yards, averaging 9.2 yards per carry, and had 15 tackles and an interception on defense.
Speca, a 6-3, 215-pounder was a run-stopper for Central Catholic, which won its second straight WPIAL Class 6A title. Speca had an interception in the championship game.
Birch made it as a second-team all-purpose player after throwing for 1,676 yards and 30 touchdowns. He is the first ninth-grade starting quarterback at Jeannette.
View the full list of All-America players here.
Blessed to be named a MaxPreps First Team Freshman All-American @wpialsportsnews @headcoachnike7 @MikePanther247 @WPIAL_Insider @flem021 @PCC_FOOTBALL @MaxPreps @247Sports @210ths pic.twitter.com/2XVMLQhvym
— Anthony Speca ???? (@aspeca6) January 26, 2021
Thankful to be a Maxpreps Freshman All-American @coachwil_412 @210ths @SportsByBLinder @RivalsFriedman https://t.co/0C445CFfER
— Brad Birch (@BradBirch12) January 27, 2021
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Belle Vernon, Central Catholic, Jeannette
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