DARLINGTON — Mars dug itself an early hole through its own mistakes.

The Planets dug themselves out by playing old-fashioned Mars football, rallying from a 21-0 deficit to win at Blackhawk, 24-21, Friday night.

Caleb Brake drilled a 39-yard field goal on the game's final play to complete the comeback.

“I was hoping it would come down to me,” Brake said. “I always hope for that.

(Long snapper) Brendan Moyer and I practiced all summer together. waiting for a moment like this.”

“Close, physical games ... This is the type of game we like,” Mars senior Max Chizmar said. “This is the type of game we should win.”

They did — but it was in doubt for quite a while.

The Planets (2-1) fumbled the snap on their first offensive play and lost the football. Blackhawk drove 46 yards in nine plays for the game's first score.

Mars was flagged for three holding penalties on its next possession before turning the ball over on downs at the Blackhawk 28. The Planets also turned it over on downs at the Cougars' 13 and 10-yard line in the first half.

In the meantime, Blackhawk was putting together long possessions and finishing them. A Spencer Hunter 1-yard TD run capped a 13-play, 72-yard drive and a 35-yard TD catch by Carl Jazscar on a fourth-and-5 play ended a 12-play, 76-yard march with 2:12 left in the half.

The latter score gave Blackhawk (1-1) a 21-0 lead.

“Just too many mistakes,” Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. “We weren't playing good football.”

On the next offensive play after the Jazscar score, Mars quarterback Noah Wright found Ben Perdziola behind the defense for a 68-yard touchdown pass. A 39-yard punt return by Davis Bayne gave the Planets a golden opportunity before the end of the half, but a fumbled snap on fourth-and-5 ended the threat. The teams combined for 16 passes on the night — and 101 running plays.

“This was old-fashioned football tonight. It was physical out there,” Heinauer said. “We responded. We started making plays on offense and defense. That's what you have to do.”

After allowing 11 first downs in the first half, Mars allowed just four in the second.

“We had to calm down, stay with our assignments, play football the way we know how,” Chizmar said.

And the comeback was on. The Planets took the second-half kickoff and drove 70 yards in 10 plays. Garrett Reinke scored on a 23-yard run to cap the drive.

Isaiah Johnson intercepted a pass at midfield and returned the theft 10 yards to the Cougars 40 with 6:20 left in the game. Johnson scored the tying touchdown six plays later on a 9-yard run with 3:23 left.

Johnson (124) and Reinke (118) both rushed for more than 100 yards.

“That's what they're supposed to do,” Heinauer said.

Facing a fourth-and 1 at its own 37, Blackhawk went for the first down. As Ian Desmond struggled to reach the sticks, he lost the ball and a Cougar player fell on it at the 36, giving Mars possession.

“This game happened the way we hoped it would. Get an early lead and make them play from behind,” Blackhawk coach Joe Lamenza said. “We played well enough to win.

“Our program took a step forward tonight. We need to learn how to finish.”

On fourth-and-8 from the Blackhawk 34, Wright found Perdziola over the middle for 10 yards and a first down. Wright spiked the ball on the next play to stop the clock with :14.5 left.

Johnson ran toward the middle of the field on second down. The Planets called timeout with two seconds to go and sent Brake out to win the game.

“This was a huge win for us. I had no doubt he'd hit it,” Heinauer said of Brake. “The snap and hold were perfect.”

Chizmar agreed.

“The kid makes everything in practice,” he said. “To him, a game is no different. He stays pretty cool out there.”