ADAMS TWP — An early-season win can do wonders for a young football team's confidence.

Mars High coach Scott Heinauer is hoping his Planets experience that for themselves Friday night.

For the fourth straight year, Mars will open the season against the Moon Tigers.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Mars Athletic Complex.

The Planets will be sending a lot of inexperienced but talented players to the field.

At no position is that assessment more accurate than at quarterback, where sophomore Owen Nearhoof will take his first varsity snap Friday.

“He is one of the leaders of our football team,” said Heinauer. “He's done a great job all summer and he wants the pressure on him.”

Behind Nearhoof will be sophomore fullback Jason Lozzi.

Wingbacks Alex Smith and Jacob Wright will also figure into the running game.

Heinauer and his staff will be looking for strong play up front from center Jack Mettus, left guard Billy Shrock, right guard Connor Biggs, left tackle Cole Horan, right tackle Joe Grice and tight end Brian Cassidy.

“Those guys know our system well,” said Heinauer.

“In our scrimmages (against Beaver Falls and Elizabeth-Forward), they made some mistakes and we had some big plays called back. But for the most part, I thought they played well, but those were scrimmages, this will be a real game.”

Andy Litton, Chris Smith and Garrett Ashbaugh are all expected to see time at wideout in the opening contest.

Moon was the only team to beat Mars in the regular season in 2010, upsetting the Planets 21-14.

Following a 3-1 start last season, Moon dropped its final five games to finish 3-6 and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

The Tigers have a new head coach in former Aliquippa assistant Mark Washington.

Washington played for the Quips before graduating in 1987. He spent the last 14 years as an assistant to Mike Zmijanac. As a player and a coach, Washington contributed to a number of WPIAL titles for the Beaver County school.

He is now attempting to bring winning football back to Moon.

“We just need the players to work hard and compete,” said Washington. “Summer camp has gone great. The guys are listening to what we're telling them.”

“He's got a good staff put together and those guys know what they're doing,” said Heinauer of Washington.

“I know that they have more (starters) returning this year than we do.”

Three of those players for Moon are 6-foot-1, 210-pound fullback/linebacker Dan Dellovade, linebacker Ben Dunning and quarterback Caleb Jakiel.

Jakiel threw for 708 yards as a sophomore last season.