Mars looks to exact some revenge

September 13, 2007 Last Updated: September 13, 2007 02:43 PM High School

Mars defenders Nolan Nearhoof (56), Ed Gaw (60) and Shane Kaclik gang tackle Riverside quarterback Codi Jackson during the Planets' 21-0 shutout win last week. The Mars defense has been just as dominating as its offense this season.

The Shenango football team accounted for Mars' lone regular-season loss last year.

That was then, this is now.

The Wildcats have lost their first two games to Riverside (27-0) and Beaver (34-6) by a combined score of 61-6.

Shenango will host the Planets in the former's home opener with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Mars has rolled to wins over Tri-County North foes Laurel (39-14) and Riverside (21-0) to open the season.

Last year's game between Shenango and Mars was preceded by an incident in which a Shenango player's father was caught taping a Mars practice.

But Planets coach Scott Heinauer blames the 41-35 loss on poor play.

"We thought we could beat them last year," he said. "But we had five fumbles."

A lot has changed for the Wildcats since then.

Head coach Brian Cooper has been replaced by Ryan Mayo, who has moved the offense from a wide-open, downfield attack to an option scheme.

Senior and first-year starting quarterback Ryan Tanner leads the offense, but the group has struggled in its two games.

"Ryan's a mobile quarterback and he should end up being one of our leading rushers," said Mayo. "But we have just 43 rushing yards through two games.

"We are looking to regroup and make a run at the postseason."

Mars wingback Anthony Ciafre scored a touchdown in last week's win.

With fullback Bill Bair and wingback Shane Kaclik on the same offense, Ciafre may appear to be the forgotten man.

"Our offense is designed to get the ball to the fullback," said Heinauer. "But we'll go with whatever play we think is going to work."

• Last Year's Game: Moniteau 35, A-C Valley 0• Current Record: Moniteau (1-1, 1-0), A-C Valley (0-2, 0-2)• Coaches: Moniteau: Jeff Campbell, first season; A-C Valley: Gary Pinkerton, first season• Game Notes: Moniteau suffered a 49-29 setback at St. Marys last week while A-C Valley is coming off a 28-12 home loss to Clarion-Limestone. ... Through two games, Warriors quarterback Tyler Armagost has thrown for 447 yards and seven touchdowns. ... Moniteau junior John McFadden caught seven passes last week for 148 yards, including a 62-yard scoring reception. ... The Warriors surrendered 327 rushing yards to the Dutchmen. ... In place of senior quarterback Brad Rembold (appendicitis), junior Luke Walker has completed 13 of 27 passes for 130 yards with one interception. ... Moniteau leads the all-time series 19-17-4. ... A-C Valley last defeated Moniteau in 2000 by a 26-20 final.

• Last Year's Game: Sto-Rox 35, Slippery Rock 17• Current Record: Slippery Rock (1-1), Sto-Rox (1-1)• Coaches: Slippery Rock: Clyde Conti; Sto-Rox: Jason Ruscitto• Game notes: Slippery Rock fullback and linebacker Ryan Ferguson has recorded 25 tackles in two games on defense and also is the Rockets' leading rusher on offense with 141 yards. ... Paul Jones replaces Jules Crosby, who passed for more than 1,600 yards last season, at quarterback for the Vikings. ... Sto-Rox lost to Aliquippa last week 42-6 after slipping past Center 27-26 in the opener. ... Jonathan Powell has passed for 97 yards and rushed for another 114 yards and five scores for the Rockets.

• Last Year's Game: Valley 15, Freeport 14• Current Record: Freeport (0-2, 0-2), Valley (2-0, 2-0)• Coaches: Freeport: Bill Dillen, fourth season; Valley: Troy Hill, fourth season• Game Notes: The Vikings eked out a 6-2 victory over Deer Lakes last week with their lone score a 46-yard punt return by Anthony Saunders. ... Valley defeated the Yellowjackets on a scoring pass on the final play last season and were outscored 19-0 in the fourth quarter in a 25-14 loss in 2005. ... Pat Petit completed just two of 10 passes for 23 yards. ... Darius Frantz's seven-yard fumble return was the Yellowjackets' only score in a 21-7 loss to Kittanning. ... Freeport's Matt Lucas completed two of 14 passes for 18 yards and two interceptions. Bob Keys' scoring runs of 99 and 65 yards in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the Wildcats.

• Last Year's Game: Karns City 55, Clarion-Limestone 6• Current Record: Karns City (2-0); Clarion-Limestone (1-1, 1-1)• Coaches: Karns City: Ed Conto, eighth season; Clarion-Limestone: Todd Smith, fifth season• Game Notes: The Lions knocked off A-C Valley 28-12 last week as Dan Miller passed for 133 yards and connected with Jesse Montana on a 28-yard scoring pass. Miller also rushed for a touchdown while Andy Wilson ran for 92 yards on 14 carries and two scores. ... The Gremlins won their second consecutive non-conference game of the season by dispatching Hickory 35-11. Five different Gremlins scored rushing touchdowns, including Stephon Conto, who rushed for a game-high 89 yards on three carries. ... Karns City outgained the Hornets 304-131.

• Last Year's Game: Wilmington 14, Grove City 6• Current record: Grove City (2-0, 0-0); Wilmington (1-1, 0-0)• Coaches: Grove City: Jeff Bell; Wilmington: Terry Verrelli• Game Notes: The game will be televised on PCN on tape delay at 9 p.m. Saturday. ... After getting blanked by Ford City 24-0 in the opener, the Greyhounds led Ft. LeBoeuf 30-6 in the third quarter before lightning ended the game. ... Mike Burk turned in another solid performance at quarterback for the Eagles, completing 7-of-12 passes for 88 yards and a score. He also rushed for a score. ... Wilmington is led by running back Chris Burns, who has 219 yards and three TDs this season. ... Chris Clark leads Grove City with 163 yards and four scores.

• Last Year's Game: Keystone 25, Union 7• Current Record: Keystone (1-1, 1-1), Union (0-2, 0-1)• Coaches: Keystone: Jason Nellis; Union: Tom Kidder• Game notes: Keystone shocked Clarion 30-7 last week. Keystone forced Clarion, considered the second-best team in the KSAC behind Karns City in the preseason polls, to fumble the ball 10 times, recovering four. ... Panthers quarterback Ben Black threw for 99 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Clarion. ... Zach Traister stood out for Union, gaining 91 yards on just 11 carries. Colby Davis added 51 yards on six carries for the Knights. ... Union was playing with a heavy heart Friday after learning former standout Colton Davis, son of boys basketball coach Karen Davis, was killed the night before in a motorcycle accident.

• Last Year's Game: Shady Side Academy 18, Summit Academy 14• Current Record: Summit Academy (2-0, 2-0), Shady Side Academy 1-1, 1-1)• Coaches: Summit Academy: Steve Sherer, seven season; Shady Side Academy: Dave Havern, fourth season• Game Notes: Theo Betts rushed for 107 yards and three touchdowns and caught a pair of passes for 74 yards and another score to key the Knights' 32-14 win over Neshannock ... Tywon Newby threw for 150 yards and a touchdown and ran for another to help roll up 333 yards of offense. ... The Indians lost to Ford City 25-7.Billy Nickel's 75-yard run was the team's only score. Dan Rooney passed for just 18 yards as the Indians evened their record.