BVA’s Whitlock, Martin race into semis

By JEREMY SELLEW

jsellew@yourmvi.com

Despite playing at times like a team that hasn’t been on the field in the past two weeks, Belle Vernon Area advanced to the WPIAL semifinals Friday night.

Devin Whitlock and Quinton Martin combined for more than 300 yards on the ground and scored three touchdowns each as the Leopards defended “The Beach” once again with a 49-21 win over No. 5 seed Chartiers Valley at James Weir Stadium.

Whitlock carried the ball 22 times for 164 yards and added an 82-yard kickoff return to give his team great field position on one possession.

Martin, the freshman phenom called into service with an injury to Dane Anden, had 15 carries for 141 yards.

“One thing we know we wanted to do was sustain drives and not have the big chunk plays that would give them the ball right back,” BVA head coach Matt Humbert said. “That’s what’s most gratifying for me.”

Belle Vernon (6-1) struck on its second possession of the game, an 11-play, 59-yard drive capped off by Whitlock’s 1-yard quarterback sneak as time expired at the end of the first quarter.

The Colts (6-2) answered with a nine-play drive with Anthony Mackey hitting Abraham Ibrahim  with a 39-yard strike to tie things up.

“We knew they hit well with their screens and were potent offensively with their playmakers,” Humbert said. “But when they scored, I was really pleased with the way we dug in and responded.”

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