Trib HSSN football player of the week for Nov. 3, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, November 3, 2024 | 3:44 PM

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Trib HSSN football player of the week – Eric Kasperowicz

School – Mars

Class – Senior

Height/weight – 5-foot-10, 180 pounds

Position – Running back, defensive back

What coach says – “Eric’s leadership, determination and grit stood out the most,” his dad and head coach Eric Kasperowicz said. “There was no way he was letting us lose that game. I am extremely proud of how he stayed composed and willed our team to victory.

“The biggest change from the first half to the second half was the line of scrimmage. My staff made tremendous halftime adjustments that allowed us to come out and dominate the line of scrimmage in the second half. The offensive line took it upon themselves to take the game over up front.

“We had to go 80 yards in about 1:30 or so with one timeout. We were able to hit a couple throws to get us across the 50-yard line. Due to the time on the clock, I was really just trying to get into field goal range to set up the winning kick. The players were doing a great job getting out of bounds when they could and our quarterback, Nate Walker, did a great job of managing the clock along the way. With about 20 seconds left, we ran the ball down to the 14 but got called for holding that backed us up to about the 25-yard line, which was right at our kicker’s range. With one time out remaining and maybe 20 seconds on the clock, I decided to put the ball in Eric’s hands with a very high percentage run that could pop or, at least, get positive yards to get a bit closer for the game-winning field goal. The o-line and wide receivers made great blocks and sprung Eric for the 21-yard game winning touchdown.

“Eric impresses me more and more every day, not only as his coach, but even more so as his father. He is a natural leader and competitor that refuses to quit. His unwavering work ethic and determination have allowed him to overcome these injuries and become a stronger person, player and leader of this team.”

#Earned – With all the fuss about the WPIAL Class 4A brackets behind them, No. 7 Mars went into the locker room Friday trailing host Montour, 21-6. Then worlds collided as senior running back Eric Kasperowicz and the Fightin’ Planets exploded in the second half. Mars scored 20 points on touchdown runs of 24, 7 and 2 yards, then added 22 more points in the fourth quarter when the son of the head coach had another 2-yard score, a 21-yard touchdown run along with a two-point conversion on a pass from Nate Walker, then the game-winning score on a 21-yard jaunt with less than a minute remaining. Kasperowicz carried the ball 27 times for 212 yards and six touchdowns along with a two-point conversion as No. 7 Mars came back to stun No. 2 Montour, 48-42, in a WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal game.

Background – Kasperowicz spent his freshman year at Pine-Richland before transferring to Mars where he began his schooling in first grade. As a sophomore, Kasperowicz threw for 1,353 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 401 yards and nine scores before a hip injury ended his season. Prior to his junior year, he tore his rotator cuff and labrum in his throwing arm, thus ending his days at quarterback. He underwent four surgeries for his shoulder and a lisfranc foot injury suffered last year. This season at running back, Kasperowicz has rushed for 1,266 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. Prior to his foot injury, he was a sprinter on the Mars track and field team, which he hopes to do again this spring. He also played baseball as a youngster up until middle school. He expects to make his decision on future plans for next season in February.

WPIAL Week 10 Honorable Mention

Naytel Mitchell, Penn Hills

Penn Hills was wobbled on the ropes following a flurry of scores by Moon in the opening quarter of their WPIAL Class 5A first round contest, but the host Indians did not go down, regrouped, climbed back into the game and delivered a win in the end. Senior Naytel Mitchell led by example for the No. 7 seed, rushing for 254 yards on 27 carries and scoring three touchdowns, including jaunts of 55 and 2 yards, plus the fourth quarter game winner of 69 yards in helping the Indians come back to beat the visiting Tigers, 30-27.

Kemon Spell, McKeesport

The day after Halloween, the two-year run of golden dominance in the district and state ended for Belle Vernon as the Leopards were put under a spell by host McKeesport. Sophomore running back Kemon Spell averaged over 10 and a half yards per tote when he rushed for 274 yards on 26 carries, scoring on runs of 65 and 5 yards as the Tigers won the cat fight to advance to the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals with a 34-11 victory. For the season, Spell now has 1,339 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns.

Joey Felitsky, North Catholic

We tip our helmet for the second week in a row to the WPIAL’s leading passer. Last week, junior Joey Felitsky enjoyed a big night in helping North Catholic earn a Class 3A wild card berth. This week his efforts have the Trojans advancing to the elite eight in the district playoffs. Felitsky connected on 25 of 38 passes for 261 yards. With the score tied late in the fourth quarter, Felitsky found Tom Arth on a 10-yard scoring pass that was the difference as No. 11 North Catholic stunned No. 6 Deer Lakes, 21-14, to move on to face No. 3 Elizabeth Forward in a second round contest.

2024 HSSN Players of the Week

Week 9 – DevonTe Dean, Carlynton

Week 8 – Brady Brinkley, North Allegheny

Week 7 – Kymon’e Brown, Jeannette

Week 6 – Tasso Whipple, Penn-Trafford

Week 5 – Julian Dahlem, Upper St. Clair

Week 4 – Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry

Week 3 – Trey Hopper, Montour

Week 2 – Tyler Eber, Thomas Jefferson

Week 1 – Donald Barksdale, Steel Valley

Week Zero – Drew Welhorsky, South Fayette

Tags: Mars