ADAMS TWP - The Laurel Spartans feature several weapons on offense.

The Mars defense learned about each one the hard way.

The Planets surrendered 450 yards to the Spartans' attack, including 326 on the ground, in a 50-15 football defeat at Mars Stadium Monday night.

Laurel is known as a passing team, but leading 37-8 midway through the third quarter, Spartans coach Jerry Holzhouser turned to his ground game to run time off the clock.

It was a decision Josh Linton took full advantage of.

The Laurel senior running back tallied 182 of his 216 rushing yards in the second half, including a 98-yard touchdown run that capped the scoring early in the final period.

"We like to pass the ball, and he likes to run the ball," Holzhouser said. "And he may go out next game and not get a carry. But he's the kind of kid who won't complain about it either."

Linton totaled three scores in the game, including a 41-yarder in the third quarter.

"We had some mental breakdowns on defense," said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. "And many of them came at the point of attack. When that happens, the other team is going to get some big plays."

Paul Ferrese was a bright spot for the Planets.

The junior totaled 136 yards rushing and two touchdowns, one coming on a 95-yard kickoff return that made the score 37-15 in the third quarter.

"We knew we weren't going to shut him down all night," Holzhouser said. "But overall, I thought our defense played well."

It was that defense that turned the tide of the game early on.

After the Planets went up 2-0 on a high snap out of the end zone during a Spartan punt attempt, Mars took over at the Laurel 45-yard line following the free kick.

On third down and long the Planets tried a shovel pass, but the ball ended up in the arms of Laurel defensive lineman Justin Smith, who ran 45 yards for a touchdown.

"(Laurel) made some mistakes early in the game, leaving the door open for us," said Heinauer. "But we didn't take advantage of them."

Following the fumble return, Spartans quarterback Ray Pollum connected with Corey Collins on the two-point conversion and Laurel held an 8-2 lead.

The Pollum-Collins combination struck again, accounting touchdown passes of 37 and 31 yards, the first of which put the Spartans up 23-8 just before halftime.

Pollum completed eight-of-12 passes for 124 yards while Collins grabbed six receptions for 120 yards.

The Planets' defense did put up a fight against the aerial attack, as Ferrese and Pisarcik both had interceptions when Pollum attempted to hit receivers on slant routes in the first half.

The Planets (1-3, 1-1) will travel to Summit Academy Saturday afternoon for a Tri-County North battle.