ADAMS TWP — Mars senior free safety Eli Brooks is overwhelmed at times when carrying out his tasks for the Planets football team.

In addition to making sure the defense is where it needs to be, Brooks catches passes, returns kicks and takes carries out of the backfield.

What helps Brooks manage all the jobs is years of preparation.

Assistant coaches on the team have formulated another reason for success for the 6-foot, 190 pound utility man.

They describe his skill set as being a part of “Borough ball” because Brooks grew up in Mars.

“The coaches joke that growing up in the street, sometimes you have to play quarterback, other times you have to be a wide out,” Brooks said. “Being an all-around player.”

Borough ball helped Brooks become that player for Mars, which is 6-1 overall and 5-1 in the Greater Allegheny Conference.

Brooks is second on the team with 691 all-purpose yards.

Isaiah Johnson, who has 1,167 rushing yards, leads the team with 1,228.

Brooks also leads the team and is third among all receivers in Butler County with 396 receiving yards and has caught six touchdown passes.

“He’s the guy we look to get a spark,” Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. “Our offense is better when we have a one-two punch. We have two kids that can run the ball back there.”

Getting settled in, offensively and defensively, took a little extra time for Brooks.

Against Gateway last season, Brooks had a player run into his left knee at the end of a play.

It cost Brooks the last six games of the season and led to physical therapy. Following six months of work, Brooks was feeling better.

When Brooks returned, he felt it took a couple of games to get settled in. Luckily for Mars, this was a role he prepared for.

In previous years, Brooks studied from a packet that broke down the defense.

To better understand how everyone would move, he also watched a lot of film.

Mars also gives out play sheets every week the players need to memorize.

“I had to study a lot early in my career,” Brooks said. “I had to know every position and study formations. After awhile, it becomes natural.”

Heinauer described Brooks as the quarterback of the defense.

Brooks’ ability to fill that role, according to Heinauer, lies in his personality.

Mars’ defense has held three opponents to fewer than 10 points, including a 21-0 win over Knoch.

The Planets allow 15.4 points per game as a team.

“I think he’s a leader,” Heinauer said. “Other kids gravitate to certain kids. The coach has to be able to see that when kids listen to him and do what he’s telling you to do.”

It’s easier to listen to someone who knows how to do every job.

Brooks hopes to help guide Mars to a solid postseason run.

“We’re playing well, but there are some mistakes we need to cut out,” Brooks said. “If we knock out most of that stuff, some of the mental errors, I think we can bring it all together and make a good run.”