ADAMS TWP — If there's one thing Mars football coach Scott Heinauer dislikes more than sloppy football, it's losing football.

Unfortunately for the Planets, he witnessed both Friday night.

Mars committed eight penalties, turned the ball over four times, muffed several kickoffs and punts and missed an extra point in a 20-13 loss to Franklin Regional in a season opener between the Greater Allegheny Conference foes at the Mars Athletic Complex.

Making the defeat even more frustrating was that the Panthers played a sloppy game, as well.

“We both have young football teams,” said Heinauer. “We each had opportunities, but we could not capitalize on our chances.”

Trailing 20-6 late in the third quarter, Mars' hopes received a boost when Owen Nearhoof connected with Travis Ganter on a 79-yard pass play, setting the Planets up at the Panther 3.

Following a penalty, Nearhoof hit Ganter again, this time for a 10-yard touchdown. Matt White's extra point cut Franklin Regional's edge to seven points with 2:56 left.

The Planets had one last chance, taking over at their own 16 with 1:12 to go. Following a 21-yard pass to Ganter, however, the drive stalled due to a sack and penalty and Nearhoof's final desperation pass was picked off near midfield.

“Just like it did for Mars when they beat us in Week 1 last year, this win puts us in the driver's seat,” said Panthers coach Greg Botta. “But it's a tough conference and there's a long way to go.”

At the heart of Franklin Regional's victory was the ability to contain Mars junior fullback Josh Schultheis, who carried the ball 21 times for 91 yards, but did not find the end zone.

“I did not know who he was last year,” admitted Botta, who watched Schultheis gain 164 yards and score two touchdowns in the Planets' 21-17 win to open 2012. “I did this year, though. I don't want to take anything away from Mars. Coach Heinauer does a great job, but we did a good job of game-planning this time.”

The Panthers threw a wrinkle into their opening series on offense. Senior Charan Singh, who was expected to start the game at quarterback, lined up as a wide receiver and caught a 43-yard pass from Brett Zanotto to set up the Panthers' first score, a 3-yard run by Zanotto.

It was the first of two touchdown runs by the junior running back, who teamed with Paul Emanuele, Dom Giannangeli and Singh to amass 179 rushing yards on 45 carries.

“You saw the number of guys we had carrying the football tonight,” said Botta. “That's very important for us.”

Mars answered the Panthers' early score, sparked by Nearhoof's hot hand. On the Planets' second drive of the game, he hooked up twice with tight end Nolan Skirtich for gains of 25 and 39 yards. Jason Lozzi took the handoff on a misdirection play and scampered 15 yards for a touchdown to cap the drive late in the first quarter. The extra point failed, but a more glaring missed opportunity awaited the Planets.

On its next drive, Mars had the ball inside Franklin's 10-yard line when Lozzi fumbled and Emanuele picked the prize up at his own 3.

“Good teams seize the moment when given the chance,” said Heinauer. “We didn't do that tonight.”

Nearhoof began to struggle, with his biggest mistake coming late in the first half when a pass on third-and-7 was intercepted by Colin Jonov, who returned it 34 yards for a touchdown.

“Our passing game made some plays tonight, but we struggled at times,” said Heinauer.

The Panthers received the second-half kickoff and drove 75 yards in 14 plays, culminating with Zanotto's 2-yard run to push the score to 20-6. The drive took 6:32 off the clock.

“That drive was the worst-case scenario for our defense,” said Heinauer.

“Opening up the second half with a long touchdown drive, it doesn't always work out that way,” said Botta. “But it was very important for us.”