Mars coach chasing history
The Mars football team can accomplish a lot with a Northwest Nine Conference win Friday at Indiana.
The Planets (5-3, 4-2) would clinch a WPIAL Class 4A playoff berth and keep hope alive of hosting a quarterfinal playoff game.
A victory would also give head coach Scott Heinauer the most wins in Butler County history. He is currently tied with former Butler High mentor Art Bernardi with 179 wins.
The two also have another thing in common — they are synonymous with football at one school.
“I take a lot of pride in that,” said Heinauer, “but it's not all about me. We have been fortunate to have great assistant coaches here and support from the parents. If you don't have those things, you're not going to win many games.”
The Planets snapped a two-game losing skid with last week's 42-7 win at home against Ambridge, but Heinauer remembers several of his teams licking their wounds after trips to Indiana.
The teams met for the first time in 2008 and Mars holds a 6-3 lead in the series, though all three losses have come with the Little Indians playing host, most recently a 29-26 decision in 2014.
The Planets won last year's meeting, 49-14.
“We need to win this game,” said Heinauer. “That's how we approached things last week and we're not going to let up.”
Indiana (1-6, 1-5) scored its only win of the season against Ambridge, 20-0 in Week 5. The team has allowed no less than 42 points in its six losses, including last week's 62-14 loss at conference leader South Fayette.
The Indians pin their hopes on the arm of junior quarterback Luke Thomas, who broke the school record for career passing yards earlier this season, now with over 3,000.
“He's received Division I interest,” Heinauer said of Thomas. “He's a big kid (6-foot-2, 185 pounds), throws a good ball, but he needs time to throw. Not getting it has been a big factor for them this season.”
Carlos Carter, a 6-4 senior wide receiver, has big-play capability. He grabbed nine passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns in Week 6 against Knoch, but the Indians dropped that game, 56-28.
Mars' Chuck Green has had limited opportunities this year, but the junior wingback is making the most of them.
Green, who also plays safety on defense, is averaging 9.7 yards-per-carry (321 yards on 33 attempts).
“We have a lot of guys who can run the football and Chuck is one of them,” said Heinauer. “He's done a great job for us.”
Mars is hoping to get back offensive lineman Brendan Moyer and defensive lineman Chase Lambert, who have both been out with injury.
A Mars win Friday would also eliminate Highlands (4-3, 3-3) from playoff contention.
Indiana coach JohnAllen Snyder could not be reached for comment.
