Back again
ADAMS TWP — The Mars football team's season began at Moon High School's stadium.
The Planets are hoping it doesn't end there as well.
Mars' 15-6 victory over Chartiers Valley last week sent the Planets to the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals, where they will face Blackhawk at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Moon.
Mars (7-3) began the year with a 35-0 win over Moon, but the team will encounter much stiffer competition this time around.
Blackhawk and New Castle both finished with 5-1 records in the Parkway Conference, but the Cougars (9-1 overall) were awarded the better seed by virtue of a 38-14 win over the Red Hurricanes Sept. 12. Blackhawk's lone loss was a 21-13 setback to West Allegheny Oct. 3.
The Cougars dismantled Ringgold 35-7 in the first round of the playoffs last Friday.
Under coach Joe Hamilton, who is in his 33rd year with the team, the Cougars have made the WPIAL playoffs 15 of 18 years.
The veteran coach has several offensive weapons at his disposal. In last week's win, senior tailback Bryan Stefanik rushed for 144 yards on 19 carries.
"Bryan missed three games earlier this season with an injury," said Hamilton. "But he still has about 870 yards for us."
Zack Hayward's numbers are even more impressive. So far in 2008, the 6-foot-3, 165-pound senior quarterback has thrown for more than 1,400 yards with 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions in his second season as a starter.
Hayward's favorite target is senior split end Jake Delmonico, who has 39 receptions.
"We're fortunate to have very good wide receivers," said Hamilton. "But Jake is the best of the group. He's being looked at by Army, Akron, Toledo and Pitt as a defensive back."
Delmonico contributed on both sides of the ball last week, scoring a touchdown on an interception return and on a pass reception.
One thorn in the Cougars' side has been their defense's struggles against the run, which is music to the ears of the Planets, who live or die with the Wing-T offense.
"We've got a small defensive line and we're small overall on defense," said Hamilton. "But we are fast."
"Their guys do a good job of running to the football," said Mars coach Scott Heinauer.
In last week's victory at Chartiers Valley, Mars sophomore fullback Austin Miele overcame three fumbles to rush for 175 yards and a touchdown.
"We have confidence in running the football," said Heinauer. "We feel we can run the ball as well as any team."
Getting little attention but deserving a lot of credit is the Mars offensive line: center Nolan Nearhoof, left guard Ian Schauer, left tackle Chad Nelson, right guard Dylan Bear, right tackle Brody Evanson and tight end Dan King.
"We're fortunate in that our kids are very physical," said Heinauer. "I think this is the most physical team we've had, and that's going to keep you in games."
The winner of Friday's game will face the Montour-Highlands survivor next week at a time and site to be determined.
