Mars football playing up to coach’s expectations
Prior to the start of the season, Mars football coach Eric Kasperowicz said one of his goals was for the team to average 42 points per game.
It may have seemed a case of coach's optimism, maybe too lofty at the time. Yet here the Planets are, seven games into the campaign and putting up 41.1 points per contest.
"It's on par with what I expected," Kasperowicz said. "I don't want to sound too confident, but it's what we (including assistant coaches) do and we've been doing it for 10 years, first at Pine-Richland and now at Mars."
The next team to attempt to slow the Planets (5-2, 3-0) down is Armstrong. The River Hawks (5-2, 2-1) visit the Mars Athletic Complex for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday in a critical Greater Allegheny Conference meeting.
The Planets' offensive numbers are staggering. Junior quarterback Luke Goodworth has 1,380 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and just one interception.
Wide receiver Gabe Hein has 43 receptions worth 774 yards and eight touchdowns while Aidan Alessio (21-341-3) has provided the passing game with a reliable second option.
Most impressively, running back Evan Wright has gained 932 yards on the ground with 18 touchdowns. He scored five times in last week's 56-14 victory at Kiski Area.
"The offensive line has been tremendous and we're starting a senior, junior and three sophomores," Kasperowicz said. "In today's game, you have to be able to adapt. We were thrown a curveball over the summer when Eric (Kasperowicz, quarterback) had to have surgery, but Luke Goodworth has stepped in and done a tremendous job."
Armstrong coach Frank Fabian is well aware of Mars' stable of weapons, but focused particularly on Wright.
"He's the engine that makes them go. If you make one mistake, he's gone," he said. "Teams ran the ball well against us early on this season and that's obviously a concern, but our defense has played its best over the last three weeks."
Defense was a big part of the River Hawks' 41-7 win over Indiana last week.
Armstrong runs a spread offense that Kasperowicz referred to as "identical to ours".
The River Hawks have dealt with the injury bug as well. Sophomore quarterback Colt Sprankle was dealing with nagging injuries before a broken collarbone suffered against Hampton three weeks ago ended his season. Freshman Jaydon Oliver, who has seen action in all seven games, took over full-time and has thrown for 916 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions.
"He's playing well, but what I like most about him is that when he does make a mistake, he wipes it clean and doesn't dwell on it," Fabian said.
Also lost for the season is All-State receiver Isaiah Brown, who caught 19 touchdown passes last year. But the trio of Kyan Kline, Ian Olsen and Chase Jablonski has combined for 80 catches, 1,439 yards and 16 scores.
"We knew what we were getting from Kline and Olsen, but Jablonski has really stepped up," added Fabian. "It always helps when you have multiple options in the passing game, makes it tough for defenses to take any one guy away."
Armstrong is averaging 151 yards rushing per game, with Alex Patton leading the way with 539 yards.
"Our running game is under construction," Fabian said. "We've done well at times, but want to become more consistent."
Kasperowicz said his defense is playing much better than this time last year.
"We did well early, but sputtered the last five games (of 2022)," he said. "We've gotten better at tackling, are playing as a unit and most importantly, we're physical.
"We have three games remaining and if we are to win them and have a shot to win it all, we have to play well defensively."
Captains of Mars' defense include end Connor Hartle (seven sacks), linebacker Jacob Maple (45 tackles) and safety Kasperowicz (team-leading 48 tackles).
Armstrong handed the Planets a 55-31 defeat last year.
