Carden Lippmann and the Hempfield Area Spartans had been knocking on the door.

After competitive performances against Bethel Park and Penn-Trafford failed to produce a victory, Hempfield Area finally broke through in Week 3. Lippmann made sure the Spartans did it in emphatic fashion.

The senior quarterback accounted for five touchdowns, throwing for 197 yards and three scores while rushing for 77 yards and two more touchdowns in Hempfield's 44-20 victory over Trinity.

The performance earned Lippmann the Week 3 Westmoreland Sports Network Player of the Week honor.

“I feel like we were always at the finish line and something would just knock us down,” Lippmann said. “But definitely against Trinity... we kept pushing. That's definitely how we got across the finish line.”

Hempfield Area and Trinity were tied 14-14 in the third quarter before the Spartans pulled away. Lippmann credited a talented group of receivers, including DeRon Hunter and Lucas Simmons, with helping their passing game take off.

“If you double coverage Sim, we're going to have somebody else open,” Lippmann said. “If you double coverage DeRon or put a safety over top, that's going to open another Sim.”

Lippmann is also a threat with his legs and plays on defense for Hempfield Area.

“I will get gassed, but I feel like the next play I'm going to be right back in because that's the type of guy I am and that's the type of player I want to be for this team,” he said.

Football has been part of Lippmann's life since he was about five years old, when he began tagging along with the midget football team of his older brother, Kieran, who later became a standout signal-caller himself for the Spartans and remains an important influence on his younger brother.

Kieran plays linebacker at Lock Haven and the Eagles had a bye week last Friday which allowed him to attend the Trinity game. He issued Carden a challenge beforehand.

“He was like, ‘You better ball out this week because I'm going to be there,’” Lippmann recalled.

Carden responded with five touchdowns.

“He was proud of me and how I played,” he said.

Lippmann also pointed to Spartans head coach Nick Keefer as an important part of his development. The two spend considerable time watching film and studying defensive coverages and blitzes.

“He communicates real well with me,” Lippmann said. “He definitely helps with my reads because we watch film all the time.”

Leadership is important to Lippmann away from football, too. The senior serves as Hempfield Area's student council treasurer and said the relationships and leadership skills he's developed are among his favorite parts of playing football.

“I like the bonds I make and the teamwork that I've found — leadership,” Lippmann said. “I think that's the biggest one.”

Lippmann hopes his football career will continue beyond high school. He would like to play at the college level while pursuing a degree in finance. For now, his focus is on helping his team build off its first victory as the Spartans travel to North Allegheny on Friday to open conference play.

“Our confidence is through the roof,” Lippmann said. “Our team knows that we can pull through. All we have to do is communicate, execute, and we should be fine.”