NESHANNOCK TWP - Special teams are often taken for granted in high school football.

Occasionally, they can make all the difference.

Mars (2-4, 2-2) found that out Friday night in a 27-18 loss at Neshannock (5-1, 4-0).

Lancers kicker Mike Snow went 4-for-4, making two field goals and two extra points in his team's victory.

Mars couldn't to convert the extra point all three times it had the chance.

Neshannock kept the ball on the ground most of the night, attempting only two passes.

"We definitely have a lot of confidence in our running game," Neshannock coach Rob Nogay said.

"Our backs have been running hard all year, and our offensive line has been doing a tremendous job up front," he added.

Neither team scored in the first quarter, but Neshannock reached the scoreboard first on a 27-yard Snow field goal just four seconds into the second period.

The Lancers scored again in the same quarter on a 64-yard sprint from senior Matt Dean.

Mars responded with a 20 yard run from junior running back Paul Ferrese with just 1:27 remaining in the half.

Neshannock came out strong in the third quarter and added another touchdown when senior Joe Moses punched the ball in from 2 yards out.

Snow added three more points in the third on a 24-yard field goal.

Neshannock's special teams scored again in the fourth quarter when Dean returned a punt almost untouched from 46 yards out.

Mars started to get the passing game going late in the game as sophomore quarterback D.J. Cannon hooked up with junior Bill Cress on a 16-yard strike to keep the Planets in the game.

Neshannock's special teams stepped up once again Barge blocked the Tim Wirtz's extra point kick.

Mars wasn't done yet, however, and managed to get the ball back on the ensuing onside kick.

The Planets reached the end zone again as Cannon fired a pass to senior Alec Mundy from 20 yards out.

Once again, the Lancers' special teams denied the extra point attempt.

Neshannock finished with two players rushing for more than 100 yards. Moses had 24 carries for 109 yards and Dean had 125 yards on eight carries.

Mars still has a chance to make the playoffs, but it means winning every game left on its schedule.

"Some of our kids played very, very hard. Other kids, well, we've got work to do," Mars coach Scott Heinauer said.

"We know what we've gotta do. The picture's been painted. The writing is on the wall," Heinauer added. "We've gotta win out."