With each formidable challenge comes a valuable reward if one can rise to the occasion.

That’s what the Mars football team is preparing for this week.

With a win Friday at Franklin Regional, the Planets would remain undefeated in Greater Allegheny Conference play and knock the Panthers, the pre-season favorite to win the conference, to 1-2.

“Starting 3-0 in this conference would be huge for us,” said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. “It would keep us going in the direction we want to go. It’s a great opportunity for us.”

While Franklin Regional suffered a 21-17 loss last week at Hollidaysburg, Mars remained unbeaten with a hard-fought 31-27 home win against Armstrong.

The victory saw Mars’ running game play much better in the second half, with Isaiah Johnson scoring the deciding touchdown from one yard out in the fourth quarter. Still, the team’s ground attack produced just 138 yards on 46 carries and a three-yards-per-carry average for a unit used to wearing down opponents.

“We weren’t blocking in the first half,” said Heinauer. “Armstrong was getting off the ball and taking it to us. I don’t think our kids thought Armstrong was as good as they are. Hopefully, we’ve learned our lesson.”

“Mars has tremendous skill,” said Panthers’ coach Greg Botta. “They have four guys who can run the ball and they do it well.”

Heinauer will also look for improvement on kick return coverage as Armstrong’s Zane Dudek stung the Planets with two returns for scores from 98 and 92 yards out last Friday.

“We fought through a lot of adversity and found a way to win,” said Heinauer.

The Planets will not take Franklin Regional lightly, despite the Panthers’ defeat last Friday.

Senior quarterback Santino Birty has rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns and added nearly 300 yards passing and three scores through two games.

“He’s in his second year as a starter,” Botta said of Birty. “His strength is his experience and he had a great game in Week 1 (over 250 total yards and five touchdowns in a 35-2 win over Knoch).”

“They have some other guys, but he (Birty) is the one you have to try and stop,” Heinauer said.

Botta is in his 22nd season of leading the Panthers.

“Greg always has a disciplined and very sound football team,” said Heinauer. “Good coaches aren’t going to be running plays all over the field, they are going to run their system. That’s how you build success and that’s what he does.”

The last three meetings between the Planets and Panthers have been decided by a combined 17 points, including Franklin Regional’s 21-15 win last season.