18 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2021 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
adno=190311
No. Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl.
1 Devin Whitlock QB/DB 5-8/175 Sr.
2 Colton Lee WR/LB 6-0/140 So.
3 Evan Pohlot WR/DB 6-2/180 Jr.
4 Parker Jewell FB/LB 5-10/160 Jr.
5 Dylan Seliga WR/DB 5-11/160 Jr.
6 Logan Cunningham WR/DB 5-11/180 Sr.
7 Anthony Rathway RB/DB 5-10/150 Fr.
8 Tanner Steeber WR/QB/LB 6-1/190 Jr.
9 Kole Doppelheuer RB/DB 5-7/135 Fr.
10 Jake Gedekoh RB/DB 5-10/170 So.
11 Reiley Wiant TE/LB 6-2/200 Sr.
13 Chase Mertz QB/DB 6-0/145 Fr.
14 Braden Laux QB/LB 6-4/194 So.
15 Cole Weightman TE/LB/DL 6-3/220 Sr.
17 Chase Ruokonen WR/DB 6-0/165 Jr.
18 Bradey Gabrovsek WR/LB 5-9/150 Fr.
19 Adam LaCarte WR/DB 6-0/160 So.
20 Tyler Kovatch P/K 6-0/185 Sr.
21 Jake Wessel WR/DB 5-9/140 Jr.
23 Joe Klanchar TE/LB 6-2/210 Sr.
24 Zaria Taylor WR/DB 4-11/120 So.
25 Quinton Martin RB/DB 6-3/195 So.
27 Anthony Miklos WR/DB 6-1/160 Sr.
29 Neveah Akin WR/DB 5-5/130 So.
30 Ryan Hamer RB/DL 6-0/215 Sr.
32 Zach Zelenski FB/LB 5-8/180 So.
34 Dominick Sasko OL/DL 5-10/185 Jr.
35 Craig Dongilli FB/LB 5-10/195 Sr.
42 Landen Baron WR/DB 5-8/145 So.
43 Logan Hoffman FB/LB 6-0/ 195 Sr.
44 Jack Bryer FB/LB 6-0/210 Sr.
48 Steve Macheska TE/DL 6-4/240 Jr.
50 Dylan DeWitt OL/DL 5-11/230 So.
51 Zach May OL/DL 6-2/260 Jr.
52 Jake Heckel OL/DL 5-11/240 So.
53 Luke Bryer OL/DL 5-9/195 So.
55 Izak Sobczak OL/DL 5-9/190 So.
56 Ryan McGrew OL/DL 6-4/270 Sr.
59 Kieron Cledaniel OL/DL 5-8/230 Fr.
60 Jacob Pfarr OL/DL 5-8/200 So.
62 Dylan Larson OL/DL 5-9/230 Sr.
63 Tyler Zelenski OL/DL 5-7/190 Fr.
64 Perry Riggle OL/DL 6-0/250 So.
65 Cole Browder OL/DL 5-7/195 Fr.
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66 Josh Plavchak OL/DL 5-9/220 So.
68 Tommy Kovatch OL/DL 6-0/240 Sr.
69 Noah Clegg OL/DL 6-0/200 Sr.
70 Dane Levi OL/DL 6-3/250 So.
71 Carson Matusik OL/DL 6-1/265 So.
72 Tanner Hackenson OL/DL 5-9/195 So.
75 Dalton Vitez OL/DL 5-9/320 So.
77 Connor Youngblood OL/DL 5-6/320 Jr.
79 Frank Munsky OL/DL 5-7/195 Fr.
81 Dominic Ghilani WR/DB 5-7/140 Fr.
86 Willie Schwerba K/P 5-8/175 So.
88 Aiden Johnson TE/DL 6-1/200 So.
ROSTER
QUINTON MARTIN
Coach: Matt Humbert
2020 record: 6-2, 5-1 in
Class 4A Big Eight Conference
All-time record: 331-237-7
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.3 at Chartiers Valley 7
9.10 Penn-Trafford 7
9.17 at West Mifflin* 7
9.24 Thomas Jefferson* 7
10.1 Laurel Highlands* 7
10.8 at Ringgold* 7
10.15 Trinity* 7
10.22 Idle
10.29 McKeesport* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Devin Whitlock
35-75, 528 yards, 6 TDs
Rushing Whitlock
101-1,082 yards, 15 TDs
Receiving Tanner Steeber
14-145 yards, 2 TDs
FAST FACTS
• Belle Vernon has reached
the WPIAL semifinals four
times since Matt Humbert
became coach in 2015.
• Senior QB/CB Devin Whitlock
accounted for 26 touchdowns
(15 rushing, six passing,
three defensive, two punt
return) last season.
BELLE VERNON PUTS PIECES
IN PLACE FOR ANOTHER RUN
In senior quarterback Devin Whitlock and
sophomore running back Quinton Martin, Belle
Vernon boasts two of the better skill-position
players in WPIAL Class 4A and beyond.
“I know we’re blessed to have the playmakers
we have in those two. They’re two of the best
players in the state,” Belle Vernon coach Matt
Humbert said. “But the thing is, we typically
don’t have the most athletic kids. We have
to get by on skill, fundamentals and football
intangibles.”
For all the highlight-reel plays the fast,
shifty and rugged Whitlock makes and
for all the eye-popping athleticism of
Division I prospect Martin — whom Humbert
said will be playing on Sundays later this decade,
what makes Belle Vernon a bear in the
Big Eight Conference and WPIAL playoffs is
its ability to maximize talent.
Toughness, grit, coachability and a few more
positive attributes have turned Belle Vernon
into a perennial championship contender.
The Leopards reached the WPIAL semifinals
in each of the past four seasons and played at
Heinz Field for the title in 2019.
In Whitlock, Martin — both key components
of a ball-hawking secondary — and senior tight
end/defensive end Cole Weightman, the star
power is in place for another postseason run.
“That’s what we always talk about, playing
in the gold seats, the yellow seats at Heinz
Field,” Humbert said. “In 2019, those kids broke
down that door for us. One of the things we talk
about is we’re playing for ourselves, but we’re
playing for all of the kids from the past five
years. They paved the way. … Winning that
championship is the next step.”
Key to this season could be the development of
Belle Vernon’s defensive front and offensive line.
Seniors Logan Hoffman (6-foot, 195 pounds)
and Jack Bryer (6-0, 210) give the Leopards
a formidable duo at middle linebacker, and
D-I prospect Weightman (6-3, 220) provides a
dynamic pass rush off the edge, but Belle Vernon
needs its outside linebackers — a group
that includes Reiley Wiant, Jake Gedekoh,
Joe Klanchar and Colton Lee — to emerge as
disruptive forces.
Klanchar also could figure into the mix at defensive
end, along with Ryan Hamer and Steve
Macheska. Senior Ryan McGrew (6-4, 270), a
longtime stalwart of the Leopards offensive
line, will see increased time at defensive tackle.
“I’m getting a lot of defensive work, and I’ve
really improved my skills on defense,” McGrew
said. “Everything starts up front on defense,
too, and if we play well, we’ve got the skill on
that side to be really good.”
McGrew and senior Tommy Kovatch (6-0, 240)
are the unquestioned leaders of the offensive
line, McGrew as a returning starter at right
tackle and Kovatch at center.
The Leopards know what they are getting
from those two, but the other three positions
are open, and Humbert expects three from a
group of Dane Levi, Zach May, Dylan Dewitt,
Bryer, Dylan Larson, Noah Clegg and Steve
Macheska to seize the opportunity.
“We’re blessed to have the football players
we have. We have a nice supporting cast. I love
our backfield and what it can offer,” Humbert
said. “Our success will be on the backs of our
offensive line.”
Kovatch said the group is ready for the challenge
and to help Belle Vernon take the final
step in the postseason process.
“How we come together up front is very
important. I feel like we can’t let down anyone
because the skill is there,” Kovatch said.
by MIKE KOVAK
BIG 8 • BELLE VERNON
DEVIN WHITLOCK