Quinton Martin, Anthony Crews make explosive plays as Belle Vernon wins Pennsylvania high school football Class 3A state championship
MECHANICSBURG, Pennsylvania - Explosive plays were the name of the game on Saturday afternoon at Cumberland Valley's Chapman Field as Belle Vernon defeated Northwestern Lehigh 38-7 in the PIAA Class 3A state championship game.
With the game about to get underway, all eyes were on Belle Vernon's Quinton Martin. And rightfully so, as the Penn State commit is the top player in Pennsylvania's 2024 class.
Those eyes included the ones on the Northwestern Lehigh sideline and coach's box, as the Tigers kicked off to start the game and avoided kicking to Martin.
The problem?
They did kick to Anthony Crews, who was set up in front of Martin.
The 5-foot-9 junior caught the ball near his own sideline on the 22-yard-line, took a few steps to his right and started up the middle of the field, splitting defenders along the way.
When he got to about the Northwestern Lehigh 30, he ran towards the left side of the field and went to the end zone untouched.
It was a highlight not only for Crews, but also his highly-recruited teammate.
"Honestly, I think that was the favorite part of the game for me," Martin said. "We came out in the state championship game, the crowd's excited and Anthony Crews takes it to the house. That's the way to set the tone."
Crews wasn't done.
On the first possession for the Belle Vernon offense, the play call was for a jet sweep but the exchange between quarterback Braden Laux and Crews wasn't smooth. It didn't matter to Crews, who got control of the ball after a couple of bobbles, reversed field, outraced everyone, juked a defender and dove into the end zone for a 62- yard touchdown.
"That's my play," Crews said. "I caught it and I have good vision. I saw it was there, so I cut it back and I was gone. I saw (the last defender) coming across 100 percent (before juking him). (I dove) just to make sure I got in there. I thought somebody was behind me."
Belle Vernon's Anthony Crews dives into the end zone for a touchdown in the 2023 PIAA Class 3A state championship game. Photo credit: Ryan Isley, SBLive Sports
Ryan Isley, SBLive Sports
And then with the Leopards leading 21-7 midway through the third quarter, Martin got his.
Belle Vernon was at their own 8-yard-line and Martin took a handoff from Laux. He ran what looked to be a direct line to the left sideline but just before heading out of bounds, the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder cut it up field and was off to the races as he outran everyone up the sideline for a 92-yard score.
"I saw nothing but green," Martin said. "I just had to burst. I am very confident in my speed so when I saw the green, I knew nobody was going to catch me."
The confidence he has in his speed is why while most running backs would hedge up field at the beginning of the play, Martin was able to run that direct line to the sideline before making his cut at the right time.
"My burst is insanely good," Martin said. "I don't mean to be cocky, but I just want to I want to keep it as real as possible."
Martin had a team-high 133 yards on eight carries and 24 yards receiving on five catches, while Crews only touched the ball three times but turned those touches into 147 total yards and two scores.
While Martin will be in State College next year, he's going to be keeping an eye on Crews.
"Anthony Crews has another year, and he's gonna be a dawg," Martin said.
-- Ryan Isley | ryan@scorebooklive.com | @sblivepa
