North Carolina Pledge Ashton Blatt Powering Central Catholic Defense
When teams like Central Catholic and Pine-Richland meet on the football field, there is sure to be highlight-level plays, which is what happened in Friday’s matchup between the two WPIAL powerhouses.
With guys such as four-star Penn State commit Khalil Taylor and four-star Florida St. commit Lawrence “Jay” Timmons on the losing side, it took a group effort by the Vikings to pull off the win.
While Central Catholic got a 101-yard kickoff return touchdown from Chrys Black Jr. and three rushing scores from Roman Thompson, the player that flipped the game on its head was 2026 three-star edge rusher and North Carolina commit Ashton Blatt.
“We knew it was Pine week, they are a great team, well-coached so we knew that we had to put the foot on the gas and that is what we did,” Blatt said after the game. “We prepared all week, and then came out here and we balled out.”
Due to the nature of the game, it took time for Blatt and the rest of the Vikings’ defense to make a true impact. The Vikings held just a one-point lead as the teams went into the locker rooms for halftime after a high-flying first half that saw both sides make exciting offensive plays.
The play that really got Blatt and the rest of the Vikings’ defenders to wake up came on a third-down early in the third quarter. Blatt managed to get through the Rams’ offensive line and get to quarterback Aaron “Oobi” Strader for a sack, his first of two in the game.
“Going in at halftime, it was 21-20. We were up by one so we knew that we had to come together and finish out the game,” Blatt said. “Us and all of the coaches, we all got together. We knew we had to dominate, and that is what we did.”
Following that defensive stand, the Vikings’ defense took over the game as they went on to pitch a second-half shutout of one of the best Class-5A programs around.
“This is definitely a confidence booster,” Blatt said. “We are going to celebrate tonight but we’re going to flush it tomorrow. It’s a new week.”
Back in June, Blatt committed to North Carolina and to new head coach Bill Belichick, making him the first WPIAL player to commit to the new regime down in Chapel Hill.
While everyone around football knows who Belichick is, the six-time Super Bowl winning head coach of the New England Patriots, Blatt chose the Tar Heels for more reasons than just that.
“The coaching staff is great,” Blatt said. “I knew when I went there, I felt at home. It was a great experience overall. I am talking to my position coach all of the time, Coach Ty Nichols, and we have a great bond. I am excited to get down there.”
While Blatt and Pittsburgh Central Catholic still have a long season ahead of them as they try to avenge last year’s team who lost in the PIAA Class-6A state championship game, he is already displaying excellent traits that could grant him early playing time in the ACC once he makes it down to Chapel Hill.
