Trib HSSN football team of the week for Sept. 1, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Monday, September 1, 2025 | 6:54 PM

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Trib HSSN football team of the week – Mars Fightin’ Planets

Coach – Eric Kasperowicz (Fourth season)

Result – Mars 17, Bethel Park 13

Record – 2-0 overall

#Earned – The Mars football team has always been known for two things — playing a hard-nosed, physical style of football with successful results and pounding the pigskin through a strong running attack that at times came out of the old school wing-T formation. This year’s Fightin’ Planets may not be running formations similar to those from the 1940’s and 50’s, but they are running the ball and shutting down opposing offenses. In Week Zero, Bethel Park scored 43 points in a win over Seneca Valley that produced the WPIAL’s leading passer, leading rusher, and two of the top four receivers. However, on Friday Mars put together a worthy defensive effort in limiting the Black Hawks’ offense to a pair of field goals (BP’s lone score came on defense) and help the Planets come back and beat host Bethel Park, 17-13.

Statistical standouts – The bell cow of the Mars rushing attack this season is senior running back Ayden Yocum. On Friday in the win against Bethel Park, Yocum helped move the chains and keep the clock rolling with 28 carries for 195 yards. While he didn’t reach the end zone, he did help set up the game-winning touchdown in the final minute by sophomore running back Liam Corcoran on a 2-yard run. The Fightin’ Planets other scores came on a 28-yard field goal by junior kicker Dom DeBasi and a game-changing 35-yard interception return for a score by senior linebacker Ethan Kresinski that tied the game at 10 early in the fourth quarter. He wasn’t asked to do much, but sophomore quarterback Colin Yurisinec threw for 47 yards after passing for 154 yards in his season debut in a Week Zero victory at Beaver.

Last year – A year ago, the Mars football team opened the 2024 season in Florida with a wild victory over Bonne, 47-35. The Fightin’ Planets then returned home and lost their next four games to Bethel Park, North Hills, Aliquippa and Montour by a combined score of 143-61. The team bounced back once Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference play began and won four of their last five games to finish 5-5 overall but in second place behind McKeesport in the GAC. The Planets reached the 4A semifinals for a second straight season after stunning top-seeded Montour in the 4A quarterfinals, 48-42. The campaign ended though in the final four with a second loss of the season to McKeesport, 35-7.

Remember when – Mars has never won a WPIAL football championship. While it came within a win of reaching the district finals the last two years, the Planets have only appeared in the title game twice in school history. It was nearly 30 years ago when former head coach Scott Heinauer led the Planets to the 1996 WPIAL Class 2A championship game, only to lose to Aliquippa at Three Rivers Stadium, 26-16. Six years later, Mars reached the district finals again, this time falling to Seton LaSalle in the 2002 finals at the Heinz Field, 20-6.

WPIAL Week 1 Honorable Mentions

Hempfield Spartans

Three years ago, Hempfield opened the 2022 season with five straight wins. The team lost its next four games and missed the postseason. But after starting 0-2 the last two years, the Spartans are happy to have two wins under their belts before hitting September this year. In Week 1, senior quarterback Dominic Detruf threw for 201 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 68 yards, and senior running back Aidan Stinebiser rushed for 103 yards and scored twice as Hempfield defeated Franklin Regional, 31-14.

Latrobe Wildcats

Latrobe struggled out of the gates this season with a home loss to independent Connellsville by two touchdowns. However, the bounce back was long but sweet for the Wildcats this past Friday. Junior quarterback Dom Scarton connected on 12 of 20 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, and sophomore running back A.J. Yeboah scored in the second overtime to tie the game, then plunged into the end zone in the third OT for the game-winner as Latrobe edged host Plum, 42-35.

Quaker Valley Quakers

A new head coach is trying to change the football culture at Quaker Valley and, thus far, the results have been positive. Following up on a Week Zero victory over Freedom, Tom Eshenbaugh’s Quakers showed a strong finish in a win Friday on the road over Keystone Oaks. Senior quarterback Atticus Barr scored on a short run and threw for 106 yards and a 21-yard scoring pass to senior Ty Popowich, plus senior Rex Fatur scored the game-winning TD in the fourth quarter as QV defeated KO, 20-14, to improve to 2-0 and match the team’s win total from a year ago.

Laurel Spartans

Laurel started slow a year ago with four straight losses to Ellwood City, Mohawk, Riverside and Bishop Canevin before rallying to finish in second place in the Class A Big 7 Conference. So far, the Sparty revenge tour is going gloriously. Following a Week Zero win at Ellwood City, the Spartans’ home opener was a huge success. After falling behind by six points after one quarter, it was all home team the rest of the way as senior quarterback Luca Santini was 7 of 12 passing for 113 yards and a touchdown, and senior running back Nathan Hill scored twice as Laurel cruised past Mohawk, 36-6.

2025 HSSN Teams of the Week

Week Zero – Upper St. Clair Panthers

Tags: Mars