MONROEVILLE — Gateway has athletes. Mars does, too — and then some.

“Scott Heinauer does a great job with that system over there,” Gateway coach Tom Nola said. “They run the Wing-T very well and you don’t see many teams using that offense anymore.

“Now they can throw the ball, too. We’ll have our hands full Friday.”

The Planets (4-1, 3-1) travel to Gateway (3-2, 2-2) for a key Greater Allegheny Conference football game at 7 p.m. Friday.

Then again, you can say that about almost any match-up in this league.

“It never stops,” Mars coach Heinauer said. “It’s good competition every week. Everybody’s got a good team.”

The Planets have become more versatile in their attack over the past couple of years and handed Gateway a 36-7 defeat last season.

Isaiah Johnson leads Mars with 842 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Sam Morrissey has thrown for 593 yards and eight TDs while getting picked off only twice.

John Castello has 16 catches for 265 yards and four touchdowns while Eli Brooks has caught nine passes for 200 yards and four scores.

“People still think we’re running-oriented and our passing game doesn’t get the credit that maybe it should,” Heinauer said. “But we’ve been making plays in the passing game.

“When Josh (Schultheis) went down last year, we weren’t sure Isaiah was ready to assume that fullback role just yet. We moved Ori Rinaman into that spot. Isaiah got plenty of experience at wingback and cornerback last year and has transitioned well to the fullback spot.

“He knew what our expectations of him were coming into this season and he’s met them,” Heinauer added.

Nola is hesitant to say his Gators have met expectations to this point in the year.

“Honestly, we could be 5-0 right now,” Nola said. “We should have beaten Hampton and we had our chances last week (33-23 loss to Hollidaysburg). We just didn’t get it done.

“Our quarterback is a sophomore and he’s played very well at times. At other times, he’s looked like a sophomore.”

Brady Walker has completed 44 of 80 passers for 673 yards for the Gators. He has thrown as many interceptions, five, as touchdown passes.

Adam White has rushed for 457 yards. Aiden Howard, a University of Virginia recruit, has caught 13 passes for 138 yards, Jacquan Brisker 10 for 174.

“Our strength is in our skilled people,” Nola said. “We’ve got speed and athleticism.”

They will also have the home field Friday night.

“Our kids have never played there,” Heinauer said. “It’s quite an atmosphere we’ll be walking into.

“Gateway has athletes. They’ve hurt themselves at times with mistakes, but that’s a talented group.”

Both teams are strong in the kicking game. Jordan Washington has converted 13 PATs and three field goals for Gateway. Caleb Brake is 19 for 20 on PATs for the Planets and has connected on both of his field goal attempts.