Mars football smothers Knoch in crucial WPIAL clash as Eric Kasperowicz erupts for 4 TDs, 264 yards

October 05, 2024 Last Updated: October 05, 2024 12:41 AM Sports

Mars defeats Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Mars’ Nate Walker throws a pass during a football game against Knoch on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Mars won 42-7. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Mars’ Nate Walker throws a pass during a football game against Knoch on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Mars won 42-7. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Knoch’s Wyatt Fraser thwarts a successful pass to Mars’ Blake Yates during a football game Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Mars won 42-7. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Mars defeats Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Mars defeats Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeats Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars’ Nate Walker throws a pass during a football game against Knoch on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Mars won 42-7. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars’ Nate Walker throws a pass during a football game against Knoch on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Mars won 42-7. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Knoch’s Wyatt Fraser thwarts a successful pass to Mars’ Blake Yates during a football game Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Mars won 42-7. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeats Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Knoch 42-7 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

JEFFERSON TWP — Tim Burchett glared at the running clock until the seconds in the first half emptied, then peeled off his headset with obvious frustration.

Having seen how his offense had fared during the first 23 minutes and change, the Knoch football coach just pocketed his two remaining timeouts.

“Just getting into the half,” Burchett said of his thoughts at that point of what wound up a 42-7 home loss to Mars on Friday night. “We couldn’t move the ball enough to warrant ... trying to take a shot downfield.”

The Planets (3-4, 2-0 in Greater Allegheny Conference) smothered the Knights’ attack in the initial two quarters, allowing just 64 yards of total offense and ushering Knoch off the field after each of its six third downs.

Mars receiver Gabe Hein breaks a tackle against Knoch in a football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

On the night, Mars senior Eric Kasperowicz carried the ball 25 times and rumbled for 264 yards and four touchdowns — sometimes lining up as a running back and others on quarterback draws.

“It starts up front,” said Planets coach and the younger Kasperowicz’s father, Eric Kasperowicz. “I thought we did a great job of controlling the football, changing our tempos. We were able to go fast at times, we were able to slow it down at times and get into some good, advantageous looks for ourselves. I thought our guys — not even (just) the line up front — but our receivers and tight ends did a great job blocking, as well.”

The Knights (2-4, 1-1) were without senior blocking stalwart Wyatt Foster. Junior offensive lineman Zach Szebalskie injured his tailbone early in the contest but stayed in the game.

“We’re playing three sophomores up front,” Burchett said. “That’s a giant affect when you’re playing a very veteran team. We competed, we tried. It’s not an effort thing. It wasn’t anything like that. We were just playing sophomores at some key positions. You can’t in this league.”

Knoch gained only six first downs the entire night, while senior quarterback Codi Mullen was neutralized by the visitors’ stout defense.

“They go as he (Mullen) goes,” the elder Kasperowicz said. “When he’s able to run and make some big plays with his feet, then their offense goes. I thought our defense did a tremendous job — other than that one run — of kind of containing him all night.”

The run he was referring to was a 63-yard keeper up the right sideline that made it 28-7 with 11 seconds to go in the third frame. That was set up by Mullen’s interception of Nate Walker in the Knights’ end zone the play before.

Mars’ Nate Walker throws a pass during a football game against Knoch on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Knoch High School. Mars won 42-7. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Prior to that, Mullen was limited to an average of 2.6 yards on his first 10 totes.

“We knew that he (Mullen) was a big part of their offense,” Planets junior defensive lineman Adam Budzelik said. “We knew we had to shut him down to win the game.”

Knoch went three-and-out to begin matters, thanks in part to a Budzelik swat of Mullen’s third-down pass try. Less than a minute later, Walker hit Gabe Hein for a 32-yard passing score.

Ayden Yocum punched it in from 15 yards out to get the running clock going with 5:47 to play. Knights senior receiver/defensive back Kaden Spencer exited the game in the third quarter with an apparent right wrist injury.

“It’s every week,” Burchett said. “Every week there’s another injury. We’ll figure it out.”

Mars 7 14 7 14 — 42

Knoch 0 0 7 0 — 7

First Quarter

M — Gabe Hein 32 pass from Nate Walker (Mason Childress kick), 9:37

Second Quarter

M — Eric Kasperowicz 10 run (Childress kick), 7:01

M — Kasperowicz 23 run (Childress kick), 2:59

Third Quarter

M — Kasperowicz 21 run (Childress kick), 10:13

K — Codi Mullen 63 run (Kannon Trofimuk kick), :11

Fourth Quarter

M — Kasperowicz 13 run (Childress kick), 8:47

M — Ayden Yocum 15 run (Childress kick), 5:47

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Mars, Eric Kasperowicz 25-264, Ayden Yocum 6-63, Gabe Hein 8-53, Hunter Schroder 2-20, Chris Recchia 2-7, TEAM 1-(-1). Knoch, Codi Mullen 11-89, Cameron Lang 3-6, Sam Skurka 1-(-1).

Passing: Mars, Nate Walker 12-19-117-1, Gabe Hein 1-1-5-0. Knoch, Codi Mullen 7-23-70-0.

Receiving: Mars, Gabe Hein 6-73, Mason Childress 5-42, Blake Yates 2-7. Knoch, Kaden Spencer 2-21, Ethan Rouleau 2-20, Sam Skurka 1-11, Carter Beres 1-11, Keaton Oprosky 1-7.