On paper, the Union-New Castle and Mars football teams are in the same boat.

But closer inspection reveals that the Scotties and Planets are at opposite ends of the WPIAL Class AA spectrum.

Both teams are 0-2, but the Planets' losses have come to Class AAA power Pine-Richland (27-25) and a very strong Center squad (24-21).

The Scotties' most recent loss, a 22-18 defeat to Quaker Valley last Saturday, snapped the Quakers' 23-game losing streak.

"They beat us to snap their streak, but Quaker Valley is going to win some football games this year," said Union coach Stacy Robinson.

Still, the veteran coach concedes his team is in a rebuilding mode.

Union graduated only nine seniors from a team that finished 3-4 in the Tri-County North and 4-5 overall in 2004. But that group included the team's biggest playmakers, including quarterback Bobby Burkes, running back Adam Moore and wide receiver Danny Mukaabya.

"We're very young and inexperienced, as the cliché goes," Robinson said.

Evidence of that inexperience is at the quarterback position, where sophomore Jordan Rooney is calling the signals.

Rooney does have three touchdown passes in his team's two contests, however.

"He didn't see much action last year, so, he's getting thrown into the fire this season," said Robinson.

"(Rooney) has improved in the first two games. Hopefully, the game is starting to slow down for him a bit and he can become more of a leader on this team," he added.

The Scotties run defense is a concern as they prepare for a Mars team that has amassed 331 rushing yards in just two weeks.

"With inexperience comes not being sure of yourself," Robinson said of the mindset of his defense. "But we have to be more aggressive against Mars, especially since they've shown they can throw the ball as well."

With a back like Paul Ferrese - 156 yards on 35 carries so far in 2005 - the Planets certainly aren't going to abandon the run. But this year's team has shown the ability to consistently make plays through the air.

Junior quarterback D.J. Cannon has passed for 379 yards and three touchdowns in two games.

Despite Mars' 0-2 start, coach Scott Heinauer saw several positives in those losses.

"It would've been nice to win those games," said Heinauer. "But we did learn that we can play with two very good football teams, and that's a positive.

"We were up the whole game against Center until the final seconds," he added. "We couldn't deliver the knockout punch. Hopefully, our kids now know what it takes to win close games."

Senior kicker and punter Tim Wirtz, who did not play in the Planets' first game because of a battle with mononucleosis, played last week and will be ready to go Friday.

Mars defeated Union last year, 14-13.

"Records don't matter right now," said Heinauer. "We're both 0-2, but everybody's 0-0 in the conference."