ELLWOOD CITY — Like it did the week before against Laurel, the Mars defense came up big when it had to Friday against Riverside.

And like last week, the Planets came away with another big Tri-County North victory.

With Riverside trying to drive for the game-tying score in the fourth quarter, the Planets defense forced a fumble to thwart the effort.

Then, with 3:38 remaining, the Panthers moved 51 yards on six plays to set up a third-and-1 at the Mars 28. The defense responded by limiting Riverside running back Jake Wickline to a combined minus 2 yards on the next two carries.

Mars took over on downs with more than a minute remaining and ran out the clock to preserve the 20-13 victory at Memorial Field.

The win moves the Planets to 2-0 overall and in the conference while the Panthers fell to 1-1, 1-1.

"It was not a pretty game, but we came back," said Mars coach Scott Heinauer.

"We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times, but we were able to come away with the big stop and got the first downs when we needed them at the end," Heinauer added.

All of the scoring came in the first half and it did not take long for the host Panthers to jump on the scoreboard.

Drew Ottaviani took the opening kickoff 90 yards to the Mars 1 before quarterback Chance Kelosky scored on the next play.

After each team went three-and-out, Mars knotted the game, thanks to four consecutive big plays.

A personal foul penalty was called on the Planets' fair catch off the Panthers' punt. Then, a 19-yard pass from D.J. Cannon to Josh Keil was followed by a 15-yard pass interference penalty. Billy Bair then broke untouched up the middle for a 32-yard touchdown.

On the Planets' next possession, Bair's 25-yard run helped set up a 31-yard touchdown pass to Carroll Smith for a 14-7 lead with 45 seconds left in the first quarter.

Riverside responded with an impressive 13-play, 64-yard drive that ate 6:35 off the clock, capped by a 15-yard run around the right side by Kelosky with 6:10 left before halftime.

Trevor Young's extra-point attempt was blocked and kept the Panthers from tying the game.

With 2:08 remaining, the Planets passing game put on an amazing display as Smith pulled in a 39-yard pass near the right sideline with a defender by his side. Two plays later, Keil made a one-handed 23-yard catch that placed the ball on the 3-yard line.

Bair, who finished with 168 yards on 24 carries, scored on the ensuing play, but Ryan Schroth's extra point attempt was blocked.

"I think our kids believed they could win the football game," said Heinauer. "They fell behind and did not quit. there was no panic and we were very methodical."

Mars had a couple of scoring chances in the second half, but a dropped pass by a wide-open Keil on a third-and-9 from the Riverside 39 midway through the third quarter led the Planets to punt.

In the fourth quarter, sandwiched between the aforementioned Panthers fumble and Planets hold on fourth down, Mars had driven to the Panthers 10-yard line, but a five-yard loss by Keil and a six-yard loss on a sack to Cannon led to an incomplete pass on fourth-and-18 at the 22.

Still, the Planets defense shined when it mattered most. it allowed 172 yards rushing, but held Kelosky to just 29 yards passing.

Notes: Cannon finished with 133 yards on 6-of-13 passing, with Keil catching four passes for 64 yards and Smith the other two for 69 yards. Wickline, who had 188 rushing yards in a 32-7 win over Shenango last week, finished with 91 in 20 carries.