HAMPTON TWP — Even with a mostly young and inexperienced team, Mars found a way to overcome a sluggish start.

After 20 minutes of Friday's season opener at Hampton, the Planets had gained just 16 yards of offense, no first downs and trailed the Talbots 7-0.

But Mars grabbed momentum in the second quarter, dominating on both sides of the ball for the rest of the game in posting a 27-14 victory.

“We have a lot of new faces,” said Mars coach Scott Heinauer, “but they still have confidence. We got back to doing what we do best, which is run the football.”

But it was two consecutive plays, neither one involving Mars' ground game, that jump-started the Planets.

Already leading 7-0, the Talbots were looking for more on a 4th-and-4 from Mars' 28 with five minutes left in the second half.

Junior defensive lineman Hunter Boyd sacked Hampton quarterback Ross Andersson for a 5-yard loss, giving the ball back to the Planets.

On the very next play, Tyler Kowalkowski hit wingback Andrew Moyer for a 37-yard gain down to the Talbot 30. Five plays later, Garrett Reinke scored the first of his three touchdowns to put Mars on the board.

Making his first varsity start under center, Kowalkowski, a junior, completed 4-of-10 passes for 63 yards. Most importantly, he did not make the big mistake.

“He played well, threw the ball away a couple of times and that was the smart thing to do,” said Heinauer.

Reinke and Moyer both scored on runs in the third quarter, from 14 and 2 yards, respectively, and the Planet edge swelled to 21-7.

Mars forced three turnovers in the game. The final one proved very costly.

Down by 14 points, Andersson led the Talbots on a 7-play, 58-yard drive that reached the Mars 22 with just over eight minutes left in the game. On first down, he lofted a pass to the left side of the end zone. It was intended for Schuitt, but Cade Hetzler came down with it for a touchback.

“This is his first year of football, but he's an athletic kid,” said Heinauer. “There was a lot of green in front of him out there and I thought he was going to take it the other way. He did the smart thing, though, kneeling down.”

Mars took the ensuing possession 80 yards in 10 plays. Reinke capped his team's scoring with a 1-yard run.

Mars' Anthony Grieco recovered a fumble late in the first half and Davis Bayne intercepted Andersson mid-way through the third quarter.

Hampton scored first when Andersson turned his first pass attempt of the season into a 16-yard touchdown to sophomore flanker Will Schuitt late in the first quarter.

Mars opens Northwest Nine Conference play next Friday by hosting South Fayette.

[naviga:h3]Mars 0 7 14 6 — 27

Hampton 7 0 0 7 — 14[/naviga:h3]

First Quarter

H — Will Schuitt 16 pass from Ross Anderson (Harper Cook kick), 1:30

Second Quarter

M — Garrett Reinke 2 run (Chris Check kick), 1:56

Third Quarter

M — Reinke 14 run (Check kick), 7:04

M — Andrew Moyer 2 run (Check kick), 3:35

Fourth Quarter

M — Reinke 1 run (run failed), 2:31

H — Vinny Schmitt 90 kickoff return (Cook kick), 2:17

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Mars, Garrett Reinke 21-99, Tyler Kowalkowski 3-(-1), Chuck Green 6-29, Andrew Moyer 7-42, Joe DeLuca 1-6, Jake Richardson 1-9, TEAM 2-0; Hampton, Ross Anderson 14-38, Tyler Steedle 4-11, Michael Yakich 6-67, Vinny Schmidt 3-10, TEAM 2-(-32)

Passing: Mars, Tyler Kowalkowski 4-10-63-0; Hampton, Ross Anderson 5-10-41-2

Receiving: Mars, Garrett Reinke 1-5, Chuck Green 1-3, Andrew Moyer 1-37, Thomas Sheehy 1-18; Hampton, Will Schuitt 1-16, Tyler Steedle 3-19, Vinny Schmitt 1-6