For some high school football teams, the 2011 season began on a positive note.

For others, like Pine-Richland, the opening game only served as a reminder of how much improvement needs to take place between now and the start of conference play later this month.

The Rams suffered a 34-7 defeat to visiting Mt. Lebanon last Friday.

“The only positive we took from that game is that it doesn't count toward our conference record,” said P-R coach Clair Altemus. “We watched the film and figured out we have some guys out of position and playing on the wrong side of the ball. Most of the guys who we switched around are on the lines.”

Altemus hopes he and the Rams can find the right combination against visiting Mars on Friday.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Despite the Rams' defeat, Planets' coach Scott Heinauer knows Pine-Richland will be ready come Friday.

“They're a disciplined football team,” said Heinauer. “They're well-coached and that has a lot to do with it.”

One player who did play well in the Rams' opening loss was senior quarterback Austin Whipple.

“He was 16 of 19 for about 150 yards,” Altemus said. “It was his first varsity start, and I thought he played well.”

Other skill players include junior halfback Brock Baranowski (5-foot-9, 157 pounds), wideouts Luke Merhaut (5-10, 175) and Steve Szelong (5-11, 175) and junior tight end Collin Jackson (6-3, 225).

P-R's offense struggled to find its groove last week.

“We run a no-huddle offense,” said Altemus. “We want to run about 90 plays per game and had just 65 last week. We fell well short of where we need to be.”

There were also concerns with the Rams' 4-4 defense. Mt. Lebanon gained 275 yards rushing, led by Luke Hagy's five touchdown runs.

For the second straight game, stopping the ground game will be paramount for P-R.

The Rams will be facing a Mars team that ran for 239 yards in a 26-8 win over Moon in Week 1. Sophomore fullback Jason Lozzi led the way with 148 yards and two scores.

“They (Planets) run the Wing-T,” said Altemus. “I'm familiar with it, I used to run it when I was head coach at Grove City High School. It's the perfect high school offense, you don't have to be that big up front to run it because the blocking is all done on angles.

“Coach Heinauer is a very disciplined coach and he's going to stick with what they do best.”

That mentality came into play last week when Mars found itself down 8-7 at halftime to Moon.

“We didn't panic,” said Heinauer. “A young team could panic, but we simply told the kids what they needed to do and they did a good job. That's what I was most impressed with.”

One player who will be pulling double duty for the Rams is senior lineman Ben Balish (6-3, 225), who will play tackle on both sides of the ball.

“He's a great player,” Altemus said. “I love working with him because he'd run through a brick wall for you.”

Mars won last year's battle with the Rams 29-24.