Mars gridders seeking program’s 3rd trip to WPIAL final
Having already achieved one of the best seasons in the history of Mars football, the Planets have a chance to reach territory visited just twice before by the Blue and Gold.
Mars (10-2) will face Aliquippa (10-0) in a WPIAL Class 4A semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday at North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium. The Planets have previously advanced to the district championship game in 1996 and 2002, losing on both occasions.
The undefeated and top-seeded Quips, two-time defending WPIAL champions, are coming off a 37-29 quarterfinal victory over Latrobe, one of only two times this season where opponents have been able to stay within single digits of Aliquippa.
But the team is far from infallible. Latrobe scored three of its four touchdowns last week on the ground and the Wildcats received 135 yards from Alex Tatsch, proving that a team with a potent ground attack can gain substantial yards against the Quips.
With Mars running back Evan Wright (1,799 yards and 32 TDs) and his wall of blockers champing at the bit to test the Quips defense, it could prove to be the clearest path to victory for the Planets.
“We’ve done fairly well against the run this year,” said Aliquippa coach Mike Warfield. “It comes in spurts. We’re 10-0, so we’re doing something right.”
The Quips have their own star in the backfield in junior Tikey Hayes, a Penn State commit. He’s rushed for 1,438 and 16 scores this season and has gained 5,165 yards in his varsity career.
“He’s been exceptional for us since his freshman year,” Warfield said. “He’s a 4.0 student and a four-star athlete.
“Mars is a really good team and the coaching staff makes sure their players are prepared for all situations.”
Mars topped Central Valley, 24-14, in last week’s quarterfinal.
“We’ve faced a lot of good backs this year, but this kid (Hayes) is probably the most explosive,” said Mars coach Eric Kasperowicz. “If he gets a seam, he can go all the way and we have to be aware of that.”
At quarterback is senior Quentin Goode with his 1,404 yards, 18 TDs and four interceptions. Neither Goode or Mars quarterback Luke Goodworth is a running threat.
Aliquippa has won 19 WPIAL titles, but Mars is not facing 19 teams that have already won district gold. Rather, it’s facing one team that needs to prove it belongs in the championship game, the same task in front of the Planets.
“Aliquippa is good. They’re really good,” said Kasperowicz, “but Central Valley is as fast, if not faster ... and I think schematically, Central is a better team.”
Mars has played in the WPIAL semifinals four previous times — winning in 1996 and 2002, losing in 2010 and 2015.
Friday’s other semifinal matches McKeesport against Montour. The WPIAL Class 4A title game is scheduled for 8 p.m. Nov. 24 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
