He tends to be everywhere. Marques Mason likes it that way. The St. Joseph’s Prep senior is a tailback, plays slot receiver and returns the Hawks’ punts and kickoffs.
The Hawks thoroughly throttled Northeast, 49-14, Saturday night at Northeast High’s Supersite. The win is the third-straight PIAA District 12 6A championship.
That was expected.So, too, was seeing Mason contributing everywhere.
The 5-foot-7, 170-pound Mason is as versatile as Brian Westbrook. All that’s missing for No. 3 is adding the No. 6 to his jersey.
“Marques makes us extremely dangerous because of his versatility,” Hawks’ coach Gabe Infante said. “He’s a great back, who does a great job of hitting his landmarks and getting tough runs. He has incredible agility, great balance and is incredibly tough to bring down.”
“He also lines up in the slot and has great hands for us. He’s a real crisp route runner and he’s really a problem when he catches the ball in the second level. And then, he returns kickoffs and punts for us. He really does do everything. I would agree. He is our Brian Westbrook—and Marques is a tremendous leader. He’s unselfish and is willing to do anything that needs to be done.”
Mason loves being that player who can do it all.
Last season, he was in the slot sporadically, returned kicks and punts. When Infante told Mason his role would be increased this season, he was ready.
“I was ready, bring it on,” Mason said. “We can play better. We haven’t reached our peak. We’re building towards that. I know what it’s like to win a state title. I was a sophomore when we won the state title. Whatever needs to be done, I’m willing to do it.”
“We play to stay together. We play for another week with each other.”
The Hawks will host District 11 6A champion Bethlehem Freedom (12-1), which was a 49-17 winner over Emmaus in the district championship, in the PIAA 6A state quarterfinals on Saturday at Northeast High School at 1 p.m.
The Hawks (10-0) are tentatively scheduled to face in a state quarterfinal at 1 p.m. Saturday back at Northeast. Freedom topped Emmaus, 49-17, on Saturday night.
St. Joe’s is 10-0 so far this season, having scored 444 points, while giving up 145.
Against Northeast, there was no doubt. The Hawks never trailed. They broke out early and led 21-0, thanks to a Kyle McCord-to-Marvin Harrison, eight-yard TD pass and touchdown runs by Kolbe Burrell and Mason. By halftime, St. Joe’s Prep held a 28-7 advantage and were in full control.
Northeast managed scores from Charles Britt and a 70-yard TD in the third quarter. McCord, threw for four TD passes, the last a three-yard toss to tight end Cooper Kim with 2:19 left in the third quarter.
As the Hawks ride deeper into the playoffs, Harrison, who caught TD of 9 and 13 yards in the first half, will also become a greater factor. There is also the sense that the Hawks have a number of higher gears left to hit.
