Mars football locks up WPIAL playoff berth as defense shines in shutout win over Hampton
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Mars Eric Kasperowicz (5) runs the ball down field during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Eric Kasperowicz (5) scores a touchdown during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Eric Kasperowicz (5) runs the ball down field during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Eric Kasperowicz (5) runs the ball down field during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Luciano Cuzzocrea (50) celebrates the win after the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Blake Yates (1) scores a touchdown during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Eric Kasperowicz (5) runs the ball down field during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Tyan Tsai (15) wait on the sideline to get in the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Quarterback Nate Walker (14) pitches the ball to Eric Kasperowicz (5) during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars students turned out and celebrated a touchdown during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Gabe Hein (30) celebrates after Eric Kasperowicz (5) scores a touchdown during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars kicker Mason Childress (3) kicks the extra point during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Marching Band perform for the Hampton crowd during halftime of the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Marching Band perform for the Hampton crowd during halftime of the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Marching Band perform for the Hampton crowd during halftime of the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Marching Band perform for the Hampton crowd during halftime of the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Marching Band perform for the Hampton crowd during halftime of the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars color guard perform during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars cheerleaders pumping up the Mars fans that showed up to the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars cheerleaders pumping up the Mars fans that showed up to the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars cheerleaders pumping up the Mars fans that showed up to the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eaglee
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Aygen Yocum (4) scores a touch down during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars game captains Adam Budzelek (55), Brady Jordan (22), Logan Becker (11), Ethan Painley (71) head out for the coin toss before the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Ayden Yocum (4) recovers the dropped ball by Hamptons Willy Haselrig (5) after a punt during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Sean Franklin (63) and coaches looks at game tape during the football game against Hampton on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Hampton High School. Mars won 35-0. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
HAMPTON TWP. — Defense travels.
Without a doubt, the Mars unit did so, blanking Greater Allegheny Conference football foe Hampton 35-0 Friday night. The dominant road win, combined with Knoch’s 48-21 loss at West Mifflin, ensured the Planets (4-5, 3-1) a spot in the WPIAL postseason.
“Usually when you’re winning football games in late October, early November — especially playoff games — you’d better play good defense or you’re not going to be playing very long,” Mars coach Eric Kasperowicz said. “I think our defense is really jelling right now.”
The Planets have allowed three touchdowns through as many away conference games this season. In the most recent, they limited the Talbots (3-6, 1-3) to just 206 yards of total offense. The hosts had only four plays in plus territory in the latter half and gained nine first downs the entire contest.
Kasperowicz didn’t discount his defense’s 28-7 losing effort at home against McKeesport last week, either. He said the defense still played well despite being put in some unfavorable situations. That outfit brought the same intensity after its bus ride down Route 8.
“I really like where we’re at, and then special teams was tremendous tonight,” Kasperowicz said. “Our kicker (Mason Childress) was great, booming some balls up there and we had a few turnovers there.”
The first turnover set Mars up for its first points of the night, as junior Ayden Yocum pounced on a Childress punt bobbled by Willy Haselrig. Senior Eric Kasperowicz, the coach’s son, surged in from 12 yards out on the next snap, the first of the second quarter.
He finished with 121 yards on 14 carries.
A minute and a half later, Gabe Hein took the younger Kasperowicz’s pop pass 68 yards for a touchdown. Yocum added a 6-yard ground score before the initial half was through.
Hampton quarterback Porter Kelly went 4 for 19 for 27 yards before the midway point and finished the night with just 61 yards through the air. Planets junior linebacker Zach Dentel intercepted Kelly with 11 seconds left before halftime, hugging the pass to the crown of his helmet with both hands.
“We noticed last week they (Hampton) threw the ball a bunch,” Kasperowicz said. “That was kind of our plan. ... If we kind of play and score some points — get a little bit of a lead and they start throwing it — we liked our chances there. Proud of those guys. Proud of Coach (Tim) Vernick and the defensive staff getting the first shutout at a very timely time.”
“The thing we always say is, ‘The way you practice is what you do in the game,’” Hampton coach Steve Sciullo said. “We had a couple guys miss practice this week, and that’s what happens when you miss practice — you run the wrong routes, you drop punts, you drop catches, you do the wrong thing. You can’t win football games that way.”
Kelly was called for intentional grounding on third-and-5 from his own 39-yard line during the opening series of the second half. That backed his side up 35 yards and led to a blocked punt that Mars freshman Hunter Schroder fell on for a touchdown. The elder Kasperowicz said the team puts an emphasis on special teams in practice.
“That’s something I don’t know if a lot of teams do,” Kasperowicz said. “It’s almost 1/3 (offense), 1/3 (defense), 1/3 (special teams). It’s something that often goes overlooked, but we put a lot of pride in special teams and it definitely pays off.”
Senior wideout Blake Yates capped the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown reception from freshman Nate Walker on the first play of the final frame.
Mars 0 21 7 7 — 35
Hampton 0 0 0 0 — 0
Second Quarter
M — Eric Kasperowicz 12 run (Mason Childress kick), 11:54
M — Gabe Hein 68 pass from Kasperowicz (Childress kick), 10:25
M — Ayden Yocum 6 run (Childress kick), 3:39
Third Quarter
M — Hunter Schroder blocked punt recovered in end zone (Childress kick), 9:13
Fourth Quarter
M — Blake Yates 15 pass from Nate Walker (Childress kick), 11:54
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Mars, Eric Kasperowicz 14-121, Ayden Yocum 6-28, Hunter Schroder 4-15, Gabe Hein 3-2, Will Dunaway 1-(-4), Nate Walker 2-(-6). Hampton, Evan McAneny 23-110, Heath Borgo 1-27, Willy Haselrig 2-12, Porter Kelly 2-(-3).
Passing: Mars, Nate Walker 7-10-90-0, Eric Kasperowicz 1-1-68-0, Will Dunaway 1-(-7). Hampton, Porter Kelly 7-26-61-1.
Receiving: Mars, Gabe Hein 1-68, Eric Kasperowicz 2-37, Blake Yates 3-26, Liam Hein 1-15, Mason Childress 1-12, Smyth Dunaway 1-(-7). Hampton, Willy Haselrig 3-22, Jack Halli 1-21, Ryan Scully 1-7, Luke Claus 1-6, Carson Potter 1-5.
Correction: This story was updated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday to reflect Mars won this game 35-0.
