Ramping it up
ADAMS TWP — There have been two sides to the Mars soccer group’s protection in 2022.
First, the spectacular: finish Connor Hartle, linebacker Jacob Maple and security Mason Childress mixed for 271 tackles. Hartle and Maple accounted for 14 of the group’s 20 quarterback sacks. Childress had three of the unit’s 11 interceptions.
However the person statistics masked some obvious weaknesses and in some video games, the deficiencies gained out.
In common season losses to Highlands (54-22), Armstrong (55-31) and Hampton (49-42) and in a WPIAL playoff loss to McKeesport (43-0), the Planets protection was overwhelmed.
Mars’ Jacob Maple (35) wraps up Hampton operating again Brock Borgo behind the road of scrimmage in a recreation final season. Maple will probably be one of many leaders of this 12 months’s group because the Planets search for a extra constant effort on protection. Eagle File Picture
“An enormous issue was our incapability to cease the run in a variety of video games. We simply weren’t robust sufficient in that space,” stated Hartle. “It is a large focus for us this season.”
Head coach Eric Kasperowicz believes getting the job completed on the level of assault will assist this 12 months’s group keep away from a few of 2022’s shortcomings.
“We have to forestall the large play and a variety of that comes from higher tackling,” he stated. “We have now eight starters again on protection, together with a dominant man at every degree, so we’re anticipating improved play.
“It is a effective line nowadays. You do not wish to lose the physicality of the sport. You need children to follow onerous, however we have to do it in a secure manner.”
Mars Excessive College Soccer group. Submitted picture
Hartle is the chief of the defensive position. He made 18½ of his 73 tackles behind the road of scrimmage final 12 months.
“Isaak Winters performs on the different finish and does a very good job of forcing the ball to my facet,” stated Hartle. “Adam Budzilek performs deal with and takes up a variety of double groups and that enables me to go 1-on-1 with an offensive lineman.”
Jacob Maple made a team-leading 106 tackles from his outdoors linebacker place final season and Childress turned in an outstanding sophomore marketing campaign as a security.
Different starters again for the 4-3 protection embrace Zach Ruffner at deal with, Cole Yoshioka at linebacker and Liam Hein at cornerback.
No scarcity of play-making capability returns to the offense. Quarterback Eric Kasperowicz handed for 1,353 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as a sophomore in 2022 whereas including 401 yards speeding and 9 extra scores.
The bottom recreation will as soon as once more be sparked by Evan Wright, who rushed for over 1,300 yards and 18 TDs and receiver Gabe Hein returns after a freshman marketing campaign wherein he paced the group in catches (36), receiving yards (551) and receiving touchdowns (7).
“We’re on the lookout for Eric to proceed his development as a junior,” Coach Kasperowicz stated of his son and beginning quarterback. “It was good to get a full offseason on this 12 months. I did not get employed till the spring final 12 months and that took away a while that we needed to get him prepared for the season.”
Childress and Dom Speranza will probably be accessible to spell Wright within the speeding assault. Aidan Alessio snagged 23 passes as a junior for 251 yards and can line up reverse Hein whereas junior Blake Yates may see balls headed his manner as nicely. Maple, Yoshioka and Ethan Kresinski are all viable choices at H-back.
Tackles Winters and Sean Franklin and guards Budzilek and Ruffner return as starters on the offensive line whereas junior Ethan Painley takes over at middle.
“We have now excessive expectation for the offense,” Coach Kasperowicz stated. “We scored a bunch of factors final 12 months and imagine we will do it once more, nevertheless it all begins up entrance.”
Childress dealt with placekicking and punting duties final 12 months, however Kasperowicz stated he’s open to somebody taking among the load off his shoulders.
