INDIANA — To win by 34 points on the road would be deemed a big accomplishment — but not for the 2012 Mars Planets in this particular game.

The Planets threw two interceptions, lost three fumbles, mishandled a pair of extra points and committed nine penalties, but still routed Indiana 40-6 Friday at Kuzneski Field.

“That's a concern and we talked to the kids about it,” Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. “I know the score was 40-6, but we're not happy.

“We were fumbling, throwing interceptions, making bad penalties. You can't do that against a good football team,” Heinauer added.

The Indians (0-3, 0-3) were without five starters and are a very young squad so the Planets used a ground game to amass 430 yards on 55 carries — including a 211-yard, two-touchdown effort by Josh Schultheis.

“The kids up front did a great job,” Heinauer noted. “Our defense did a great job. We were able to get some younger kids in there and they did well, too.”

It was Schultheis who scored on runs of 38 and 4 yards that staked the Planets (3-0, 3-0) to a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter.

When Alex Smith scored from 25 yards out and quarterback Owen Nearhoof added a 7-yarder with 7:23 left before halftime, Mars enjoyed a 26-0 advantage.

“Mars has a good defense and they haven't given up a lot of points,” Indiana coach Mark Zilinskas said. “We're coming off two seasons where we were fairly successful. ... Sometimes it's a state of mind.

“The kids are shocked so far. They felt they'd be 2-1 or 1-2, but they haven't been in the ballgame. We talk about character. We're on a tough run. We'll keep working and the kids will get it worked out,” he added.

The Planets had a chance to add a late first-half score, but they committed three turnovers in the final 1:35, one which Indiana converted into an 11-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dequan West with 14 seconds before the break.

Indiana then opened the second half on a 10-play drive, which ended when Jake Tumminello sacked West for a 13-yard loss on a third-and-18 from the Indians' 32.

Mars answered with an eight-play, 66-yard drive, capped by a Jason Lozzi 9-yard score.

When Smith pulled down an 8-yard scoring pass from Nearhoof on a fourth-and-5 from the Indiana 8-yard line, Mars scored its final points of the game.

The Planets' defense did play a stellar game, intercepting three passes, recovering one fumble and limiting the Indians to 189 total yards.

Despite a first-half downpour, Heinauer still believes the Planets must be more careful in securing the ball, particularly if this team is going to contend for the Greater Allegheny crown.

“We need to hold on to the football better,” Heinauer said. “Overall, we as a coaching staff know you want to win the game. That's the goal.”

Notes: Mars has rushed for 993 yards in three games, 522 by Schultheis on 64 carries with eight touchdowns.