Tough nonconference schedule to sharpen Mars for playoff push

By: Mark Nitowski
Sunday, August 11, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Aug. 23. Due to production scheduling conflicts, the McKeesport preview will appear later this month.

Mars coach Eric Kasperowicz prefers a tough nonconference schedule to prepare the Fightin’ Planets for the push toward a WPIAL playoff spot.

Kasperowicz shouldn’t be disappointed with his team’s early 2024 slate, which stacks up as one of the most challenging in the WPIAL.

Mars will travel to Orlando to open the season against Boone High School — a respected Florida program — on Aug. 23 in a kickoff classic event.

When they get back from the Sunshine State, the Planets will face the nonconference gauntlet of perennial 5A playoff contenders Bethel Park and North Hills, defending 4A state champion Aliquippa and WPIAL 4A semifinalist Montour.

“We always try to play as challenging of a schedule as we can,” Kasperowicz said. “We could have opened the season against a team we were favored to beat, but what are you getting out of that? We want to play all of our nonconference games against good teams to be ready for conference play.”

Starting the season with an out-of-state game is a tradition that Kasperowicz started as Pine-Richland coach.

“I did it at Pine for four of the last five years I was there,” said Kasperowicz, who’s starting his third season running the Planets program. “Once we got settled in at Mars, I wanted to do it again. It’s a great experience for the kids.”

The five-day trip to Orlando will include a visit to Universal Studios.

“It’s almost like a bowl game thing for us,” Kasperowicz said. “We’ll play a varsity game on Friday night and then a junior varsity game on Saturday.”

Boone is led by Isaiah Mizell – rated as one of the top high school wide receivers in the country. Mizell has committed to play at Arizona.

“Boone is a quality program,” Kasperowicz said. “It will be a big challenge for us.”

Mars will count on its high-powered spread offense to keep pace with Boone and other opponents this season.

“If you watch college football on Saturday, that’s the kind of offense we are,” Kasperowicz said. “We try to hit the defense where they aren’t and be as multiple as we can.”

Senior Luke Goodworth is back at quarterback. Last season, Goodworth earned first-team Greater Allegheny Conference honors while completing 159 of 283 passes for 2,168 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Junor Gabe Hein returns as the top target in the passing attack. He caught 43 passes for 774 yards and eight TDs before going down with a season-ending injury.

“Gabe is one of the top receivers in the WPIAL,” Kasperowicz said. “When he got hurt in Week 5, he was leading the WPIAL in receptions and yardage.”

When the Planets stay on the ground, Kasperowicz’s son, Eric Jr., should get the bulk of the carries. Junior Ayden Yocum will spell Kasperowicz in the backfield.

While sporting multiple weapons, the real strength of the Mars offense should be in the trenches. The Planets return four of five starting linemen: center Adam Budzilek, guard Colton Ewing and tackles Sean Franklin and Jameson Astarb.

“All of those guys earned all-conference honors in some form. Having your line back really does a lot for your offense, regardless of what else you have,” said Kasperowicz, adding that sophomore Jonnie Maestra should man the guard spot opposite Ewing.

Mars plays a 4-3 defensive alignment with its cornerbacks in press coverage.

The younger Kasperowicz and fellow senior Mason Childress are slotted to play the two safety positions. Kasperowicz earned first-team all-conference honors on defense last season.

“Eric was our leading tackler until he went down with an injury in Week 10,” Kasperowicz said. “Childress is a three-year starter.”

Seniors Brady Jordan and Liam Hein and junior Yocum are the top corners.

“Brady will be our cover corner,” Kasperowicz said. “Yocum and Liam Hein are fighting for the other spot.”

Budzilek was named to the all-conference first-team defense as a sophomore. He’ll anchor the line with senior Ethan Painley.

Junior Zac Dentel returns at middle linebacker. He ended up as the Planets’ leading tackler last season. Others vying for playing time at linebacker include senior Logan Becker, junior Ethan Kresinski and sophomores Jameson Garvin and Tyson Tsai.

“We have some new kids at linebacker,” Kasperowicz said. “That’s an area where we’ll have to improve quickly.”

Mars captured the 2023 Greater Allegheny title with a 6-0 record and finished 10-3 overall.

“I’m happy with where we are as a program,” Kasperowicz said. “The kids have worked hard and learned some lessons. The important thing is what you take from the losses and how you use it the next time you’re in that situation to win games.”

The WPIAL almost totally revamped the Greater Allegheny for the 2024-25 seasons. Gone are North Catholic, Highlands, Kiski Area and Armstrong. Mars returns with Hampton and Indiana. Newcomers are McKeesport, West Mifflin and Knoch.

“It will be a unique conference, geographically,” Kasperowicz said. “McKeesport is tremendous. I don’t know much about West Mifflin, except it has some good athletes and a pretty good coach. We’ll have our work cut out for us.”

Mars

Coach: Eric Kasperowicz

2023 record: 10-3, 6-0 in the Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference

All-time record: 444-533-32

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at Boone (FL), 7

8.30 Bethel Park, 7

9.6 North Hills, 7

9.13 at Aliquippa, 7

9.20 Montour, 7

9.27 at West Mifflin*, 7

10.4 at Knoch*, 7

10.11 McKeesport*, 7

10.18 at Hampton*, 7

10.25 Indiana*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Luke Goodworth

159-283, 2,168 yards, 22 TDs

Rushing: Evan Wright*

299-1,863 yards, 33 TDs

Receiving: Gabe Hein

43-774 yards, 8 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• In last season’s WPIAL 4A playoffs, the Planets defeated Chartiers Valley (44-19) and Central Valley (24-14) before falling to eventual state champion Aliquippa (47-24) in the semifinals.

• It shouldn’t be surprising that Mars mimics Pitt’s press coverage defense. A former Pitt linebacker, Eric Kasperowicz served as volunteer assistant with the Panthers before taking over the Mars program.

• The Planets will rekindle a Butler County rivalry when they travel to Knoch on Oct. 4.

• As Pine-Richland coach, Kasperowicz scheduled a game in Orlando, but it was wiped out due to covid-19 health concerns. He reached out to the same contacts to set up this year’s Mars-Boone contest.

Tags: Mars