Pine-Richland football bounces back with shutout against Hempfield

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 1, 2018 | 8:15 PM

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On Friday, the legendary band Earth, Wind and Fire put on a concert in Gibsonia to benefit three charities. This annual community event needed most of the parking lot space at Pine-Richland High School, thus moving the football game against Hempfield to Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday, the Rams lived up to two of the group’s biggest hits as the defending champs began “September” playing as a collective “Shining Star.”

Pine-Richland scored 21 points in each of the first two quarters and cruised to a 49-0 win over Hempfield in their Class 6A opener.

Spartans coach Rich Bowen summed up his thoughts on the game succinctly:

“Pine-Richland has a great football team.”

Pine-Richland (1-1) wasted little time bouncing back from a 42-0 loss to national power IMG Academy of Florida in Week Zero when it recovered an onside kick on the opening kickoff.

“We knew Wednesday, maybe Tuesday,” Pine-Richland coach Eric Kasperowicz said afterward. “We were studying the film and saw a weakness and told our kicker immediately. That was huge to execute that.”

Sophomore quarterback Cole Spencer started at the Hempfield 49-yard line and, despite two Rams holding penalties that wiped away big plays, Spencer capped the drive with a 3-yard scoring run.

Hempfield (1-1) went three and out, and a short punt set up Pine-Richland in Spartans territory again. The Rams struck again two plays later, when Luke Meckler scored on a 26-yard run.

Spencer and Meckler hooked up for the third Pine-Richland touchdown of the first quarter on a 38-yard scoring pass.

The first quarter was a far cry from the previous week, when Pine-Richland managed just more than 75 yards of total offense.

“We knew last week was a tough game and the result was a loss, but we knew we’d be better because of it,” Kasperowicz said. “It was our goal to get back to who we are.”

The onslaught continued in the second quarter, when Spencer hit Shane Cafardi on a 40-yard score. Anthony Cerminara and Caden Schweiger scored on short touchdown runs to increase the lead to 42-0 by halftime.

Many of the Pine-Richland starters were getting a break from the heat by the end of the second quarter, including the linemen.

“I was really impressed. Up front was dominant today — on both sides, not just on offense but defensive line as well,” Kasperowicz said. “But the skill guys got better today because those guys were able to control things and kind of got into a rhythm a little bit, and we were able to move the ball.”

The afternoon got worse for Hempfield in the third quarter, when junior quarterback Blake Remaley was injured while running for a first down. He did not return and finished with 45 yards passing and 12 yards rushing. However, Bowen is optimistic on his return for the Norwin game.

“Blake should be fine for next week.”

Kasperowicz acknowledged the young Spartans gave it their all.

“Hempfield battled. They’re a good football team, but we were a little too much for them today. They’re young. I think they have all juniors up front. We have all seniors up front, and that is where the game was own.”

Don Rebel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Don at drebel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TheDonRebel.

Tags: Hempfield, Pine-Richland