Mars Area High School Varsity Football Team advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 WPIAL Class 4A Varsity Football Champion-ships on Nov. 8; but, was defeated 35-7 by the McKeesport Area Tigers.
The Fightin’ Planets thwarted the Montour Spartans 48-42 in the WPIAL Quarterfinals on Nov. 1. The team ended the 2024 season with an overall record of 5-5 and 4-1 in the 2024 Greater Allegheny Conference.
This season, senior Eric Kasperowicz led the team in points scored with 20 touchdowns and 128 points. He also earned a total of 1,287 rushing yards.
Junior Gabe Hein led the team in receiving (858 yards). In passing, leaders were freshman Nathan Walker (921 yards) and senior Luke Goodworth (755 yards).
Rounding out this year’s team were seniors Jameson Astarb, Logan Becker, Josh Blanco, Mason Childress, Landon Haddad, Liam Hein, Brady Jordan, Shawn Mackalica, Logan O’Brien, Ethan Painley, Dayton Schuckert, Senaka Wilson and Blake Yates; juniors Adam Budzilek, Zach Dentel, Andy Diaz, Jason Droske, Colton Ewing, Sean Franklin, Ethan Kresinski, Jacob Noe, Chris Recchia, Nico Salvini, Jimmy Sommers, Nathan Tak and Ayden Yocum; sophomores Gavin Best, Brian Biaku, Ray Chase, Gus Coffield, Luciano Cuzzocrea, Dom DeBasi, Jameson Dickman, Smyth Dunaway, Jameson Garvin, Adam Genevro, Tyler Hardek, Paxton Hartle, Zack Hugus, Jonnie Maestra, Cole Spencer, Chase Stamper, Tyan Tsai and Ryan Walker; and, freshmen Joe Bandzak, Luke Boronyak, Brady Brennan, Liam Corcoran, Will Dunaway, Kole Funovits, Christian James, Samuel Nemetz, Carter Orehowsky, Asher Pesanka, Anderson Santa, Hunter Schroder, Brody Spencer, Brayden Teyssier, Roman Trombulak, Talan Tsai, James Watenpool, Tyler Whitling, Carter Yocum and Colin Yurisinec.
For more information, visit https://wpial.org.
Operation Football Play of the Week (Week 7)
An 80-yard touchdown run by Mars Area High School junior Gabe Hein was named the WTAE-TV News Operation Football Play of the Week (Week 7)
In the Fightin’ Planets football game against the McKeesport Area Tigers on Oct. 11, Hein (wide receiver) took a direct snap and ran the length of the field to score the team only touchdown of the game. The Planets were ultimately defeated 28-7 by the Tigers.
For more information, visit www.wtae.com/article/mars-gabe-hein-touchdown-play-of-the-week/62591152.
Football Team Begins 2024 Regular Season
Mars Area High School Varsity Football Team is making strides toward a playoff bid this season.
The 2024 Fightin’ Planets are looking to build off of last year’s semifinal loss to Aliquippa and take the next step towards a championship,” says Eric Kasperowicz, head coach.
In 2023, the Fightin’ Planets advanced to the semifinals of the WPIAL Class 4A Varsity Football Championship. The team ended the regular season with an overall record of 8-2 and 6-0 in Section 2-4A, earning the Greater Allegheny Conference title.
Players to watch on this year’s team include seniors Jameson Astarb, Mason Childress, Luke Goodworth, Liam Hein, Brady Jordan, Eric Kasperowicz Jr. and Ethan Painley; juniors Adam Budzilek, Zach Dentel, Colton Ewing, Sean Franklin, Gabe Hein, Ethan Kresinski and Ayden Yocum; and, sophomore Jameson Garvin.
Rounding out the team are seniors Logan Becker, Josh Blanco, Landon Haddad, Shawn Mackalica, Logan O’Brien, Dayton Schuckert, Senaka Wilson and Blake Yates; juniors Andy Diaz, Jason Droske, Jacob Noe, Chris Recchia, Nico Salvini, Jimmy Sommers and Nathan Tak; sophomores Gavin Best, Brian Biaku, Ray Chase, Gus Coffield, Luciano Cuzzocrea, Dom DeBasi, Jameson Dickman, Smyth Dunaway, Adam Genevro, Tyler Hardek, Paxton Hartle, Zack Hugus, Jonnie Maestra, Cole Spencer, Chase Stamper, Tyan Tsai and Ryan Walker; and, freshmen Joe Bandzak, Luke Boronyak, Brady Brennan, Liam Corcoran, Will Dunaway, Kole Funovits, Christian James, Samuel Nemetz, Carter Orehowsky, Asher Pesanka, Anderson Santa, Hunter Schroder, Brody Spencer, Brayden Teyssier, Roman Trombulak, Talan Tsai, Nate Walker, James Watenpool, Tyler Whitling, Carter Yocum and Colin Yurisinec.
2023-2024
2023 WPIAL Class 4A Varsity Football Championship
Mars Area High School Varsity Football Team advanced to the semifinals of the 2023 WPIAL Class 4A Varsity Football Championships on Nov. 17, but was defeated 47-24 by the Aliquippa Quips.
The Fightin’ Planets thwarted the Central Valley Warriors 24-14 in the WPIAL quarterfinals on Nov. 10; and crushed the Chartiers Valley Colts 44-19 in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs on Nov. 3. The team ended the 2023 season with an overall record of 8-2 and 6-0 in section, earning the 2023 Greater Allegheny Conference title.
Players on this year’s team included seniors Nathan Ewing (captain), Connor Hartle, Jacob Maple (captain), Isaak Winters (captain), Evan Wright (captain) and Cole Yoshioka; juniors Luke Goodworth and Eric Kasperowicz (captain); and sophomores Adam Budzilek, Sean Franklin and Gabe Hein, all of whom were named to the 2023 Greater Allegheny Football Conference All-Conference First Team. Seniors Aidan Alessio (captain) and Xander Painley; juniors Jameson Astarb, Mason Childress and Ethan Painley; and sophomores Zach Dentel and Ethan Kresinski were selected for the Second Team and junior Brady Jordan received an Honorable Mention.
Rounding out the team were seniors Aydin Brink, Devin Douds and Zachary Ruffner; juniors Josh Blanco, Logan Becker, Landon Haddad, Liam Hein, Logan O’Brien, Shawn Mackalica, Richard Rowan, Nick Rushe, Dayton Schuckert, Nikolas Swentkowsky and Blake Yates; sophomores Andy Diaz, Colton Ewing, Ryan Kelly, Jacob Noe, Nico Salvini, Jimmy Sommers, Nathan Tak and Ayden Yocum; freshmen Gavin Best, Brian Biaku, Vinnie Cersosimo, Gus Coffield, Luciano Cuzzocrea, Smyth Dunaway, Jackson Dwyer, Adam Genevro, Tyler Hardek, Zack Hugus, Jonnie Maestra, Isaac McMichael, Chase Ray, Maddox Schumann, Cole Spencer, Tyan Tsai, Ryan Walker and Seneca Wilson.
For more information, call (724) 625-9380 or visit www.wpial.org.
2023 Greater Allegheny Football Conference All-Conference Team
Several members of Mars Area High School Varsity Football Team were selected for the 2023 Greater Allegheny Football Conference All-Conference Team.
Junior Luke Goodworth (quarterback), senior Evan Wright (running back), sophomore Gabe Hein (wide receiver), senior Isaak Winters (offensive guard) and sophomore Sean Franklin (offensive tackle) were named to the First Team Offense.
Senior Connor Hartle (defensive end), sophomore Adam Budzilek (defensive tackle), senior Cole Yoshioka (outside linebacker), senior Jacob Maple (inside linebacker), senior Nate Ewing (cornerback) and junior Eric Kasperowicz (safety) were selected for the First Team Defense.
Senior Aidan Alessio (wide receiver), sophomore Ethan Kresinski (halfback) and junior Jameson Astarb (offensive tackle) were named to the Second Team Offense; and, junior Ethan Painley (defensive end), senior Xander Painley (defensive tackle), sophomore Zach Dental (inside linebacker) and junior Mason Childress (safety) to the Second Team Defense. Junior Brady Jordan (cornerback) received an Honorable Mention.
For more information, call (724) 625-9380.
Head Coach Earns 100th Career Victory
Kasperowicz joined the team as head coach in 2022 and has earned an overall record of 15-7. He previously achieved a career record of 85-15 as head coach of the Pine-Richland High School Rams Football Team (2013-2020).
Kasperowicz is a 2018 National Federation of High School (NFHS) Coach of the Year; a 2017 National Coach of the Year finalist; an Associated Press and Pennsylvania Football News State Coach of the Year (2020, 2017, 2014); Pittsburgh Post-Gazette WPIAL Coach of the Year (2020, 2017, 2014); and Conference Coach of the Year in (2020, 2019, 2017, 2014).
For more information, call (724) 625-1518.
Steelers Youth Football Coach of the Week (Week 7)
On Oct. 13, Kasperowicz led the Fightin’ Planets to a 38-0 victor over the Armstrong River Hawks. He joined the team as head coach in 2022.
Kasperowicz is a 2018 National Federation of High School (NFHS) Coach of the Year; a 2017 National Coach of the Year finalist; an Associated Press and Pennsylvania Football News State Coach of the Year (2020, 2017, 2014); Pittsburgh Post-Gazette WPIAL Coach of the Year (2020, 2017, 2014); and Conference Coach of the Year in (2020, 2019, 2017, 2014).
For more information, call (724) 625-1518.
Junior’s Touchdown Pass Name Play of the Week
A record-setting moment in Mars Area High School Varsity Football Team Oct. 13 game against the Armstrong River Hawks, was named the WTAE Pittsburgh’s Operation Football: Play of the Week (Week 7).
Junior Luke Goodworth became the high school’s single-season passing leader when the Fightin’ Planets quarterback threw a touchdown pass senior to Jacob Maple. So far this season, Goodworth is 104/175 for 1,569 yards with 17 touchdowns and 2 interceptions
The play, one of three plays nominated in the Oct. 13 poll, received 2,701 votes and was announced as the winner on Oct. 15 on WTAE Action News. The Planets defeated the River Hawks 38-0.
For details, visit https://www.wtae.com/article/mars-luke-goodworth-play-of-the-week/45541697?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot#.
2022-2023
Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Football Team advanced to the first round of the 2022 WPIAL Class 4A Boys Varsity Football Championships on Nov. 4; but was defeated 43-0 by the McKeesport Area Tigers.
The Fightin’ Planets ended the 2022 regular season with an overall record of 6-4 and 3-3 in Section 2-4A of the Greater Allegheny Conference.
Players on this year’s team included seniors Rafael Bartley, Andrew Cashdollar, Garrett Heatherington, Garrett Hull, Jack Hull, Alex Jablunovsky, Hayden Mayer, Luka Moran, Noah Nesselroad, Carlos Orr, Leo Saver, Billy Sommers and Sam Stewart; juniors Aidan Alessio, Augustus Aubrecht, Ayden Brink, Cooper Courson, Devin Douds, Nathan Ewing, Dominic Gigliotti, Connor Hartle, Jacob Maple, Kyle Organ, Xander Painley, Adam Rohrbaugh, Zachary Ruffner, Maximos Veneris, Isaak Winters, Evan Wright, Cole Yoshioka and George Zottola; sophomores Diego Argueta, Jameson Astarb, Logan Becker, Josh Blanco, Roman Brunsell, Mason Childress, Luke Goodworth, Liam Hein, Noah Henderson, Eric Kasperowicz, Nick Kennedy, Shawn Mackalica, Jack Mueller, Ryan McGee, Logan O’Brien, Ethan Painley, Andrew Riner, Richard Rowan, Zach Romig, Lucas Ross, Nick Rushe, Dayton Schuckert, Dominic Speranza, Nikolas Swentkowsky, Ethan Wolf and Blake Yates; and, freshmen Ben Ames, Adam Budzilek, Gino D’Angelo, Zach Dentel, Ben Detisch, Andy Diaz, Thomas Dressen, Jason Droske, Colton Ewing, Sean Franklin, Dario Gigliotti, Lincoln Green, Gabe Hein, Timmy Joos, Ryan Kelly, Ethan Kresinski, Chris Recchia, Nico Salvini, Colden Stewart, Braden Schmitt, Jimmy Sommers, Nathan Tak, James Thomas, Ayden Yocum and Joseph Zottola.
For more information, call (724) 625-9380 or visit www.wpial.org.
2021-2022
2021 Regular Season
Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Football Team ended the 2021 regular season with an overall record of 2-8 and 2-5 in Section 2-4A of the Greater Allegheny Conference.
This season, senior Eli Wright led the team in scoring with four touchdowns, followed by junior Noah Nesselroad with two touchdowns. Junior Rafael Bartley led in passing (867 yards); Nesselroad in receiving (257 yards); and Wright in rushing (114 yards).
Other players on this year’s included seniors Remy Crofutt, Anthony Dentel, Matthew Detisch, Christopher Dvorak, Hunter Hart, Timothy Humes, Alexander Kostial, Jacob Ottenweller and Joey Tepke; junior Owen Helwig, Garrett Hull, Jack Hull, Alex Jablunovsky, Hayden Mayer, Luka Moran, Noah Nesselroad, Carlos Orr, Logan Santa, Leo Saver, Nolan Scott and Billy Sommers; sophomores Aiden Alessio, Augustus Aubrecht, Aydin Brink, Brennan Carr, Cooper Courson, Devin Douds, Nathan Ewing, Dominic Gigliotti, Connor Hartle, Jacob Maple, Kyle Organ, Alexander Painley, Adam Rohrbaugh, Zachary Ruffner, Maximos Veneris, Isaak Winters and Evan Wright; and, freshmen Jameson Astarb, Logan Becker, Joshua Blanco-Garcia, Mason Childress, Luke Goodworth, Liam Hein, Shawn Mackalica, Ryan McGee, Jack Mueller, Logan O’Brien, Ethan Painley, Dayton Schuckert, Finn Seideneck, Dominic Speranza, Nikolas Swentkowsky and Ethan Wolf.