3 WPIAL freshmen make MaxPreps All-America football team
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Wednesday, January 27, 2021 | 1:12 AM
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 Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Bill by email at bbeckner@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Tags: Belle Vernon, Central Catholic, Jeannette
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