ADAMS TWP — It is not often that Mars' football team gets out-gained on the ground, but running the ball was all New Castle had in mind Friday night.

The Red Hurricane chewed up 299 yards rushing to Mars' 164 as New Castle earned a crucial 25-23 victory at the Mars Athletic Complex.

The ground assault was led by quarterback Marcus Hooker, who rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns. New Castle attempted just one pass in the game.

“Hooker is their main guy,” said Planet coach Scott Heinauer. “Their offensive line did a good job, but we didn't tackle well.”

With New Castle clinging to a 22-16 lead, the Red Hurricane forced a turnover on downs at the Planet 37 with just over three minutes left in the game. Hooker and running back Josh Thomason carried the team to the Mars 15. Brayden Cartright booted a key 32-yard field goal that gave the Hurricane a two-score edge at 25-16.

Mars scored a late touchdown — Kowalkowski connected with Thomas Sheehy for a 17-yard touchdown — but the Planets failed to recover the onside kick with six seconds left in the game.

Thomason did not score in the game, but provided New Castle with a second threat in the backfield, gaining 117 yards on 20 carries.

“You have the skill set of Marcus and having Josh back there, it gives us another option,” said New Castle coach Joe Cowart. “Both of those guys are benefitting from our offensive line's play.”

Things couldn't have gone much worse for New Castle in the opening quarter. On the first play from scrimmage, a reverse resulted in a fumble, which Mars defensive lineman Hunter Boyd recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. The extra-point attempt was missed due to a low snap, which would come back to haunt the Planets.

On the Planets' first possession, a roughing the passer penalty on the Hurricane helped set up Andrew Moyer's 29-yard scoring run and Mars was up 13-0 midway through the first quarter.

That's when Hooker and Thomason started to control the game on the ground. Hooker capped a 10-play, 69-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run.

A fumbled snap by Mars led to Hooker's second score, a 7-yard romp midway through the second quarter that gave New Castle a 14-13 lead at halftime.

“We talked to our kids about a game having peaks and valleys,” said Cowart. “Earlier this season (in losses to Aliquippa and Montour) we didn't handle it well. We showed resolve tonight against a really good football team.”

Hooker also fumbled in the second quarter, giving the Planets the ball on New Castle's 37. But Mars was unable to turn it into points.

“New Castle made a mistake and we didn't capitalize,” said Heinauer. “We go up 13-0 and I think our kids thought New Castle was just going to go away. That didn't happen.”

The Planets opened the second half with a 13-play drive that resulted in Christopher Check's 20-yard field goal that gave the Planets their last lead at 16-14.

New Castle answered with its own 14-play drive and Hooker's 8-yard scoring run with 9:27 left in the fourth quarter.

New Castle 0 14 0 11 — 25

Mars 13 0 3 7 — 23

First Quarter

M — Hunter Boyd recovered fumble in end zone (kick failed), 11:44

M — Andrew Moyer 29 run (Christopher Check kick), 5:54

Second Quarter

NC — Marcus Hooker 1 run (Brayden Cartright kick), 8:32

NC — Hooker 7 run (Cartright kick), 5:56

Third Quarter

M — Check 20 field goal, 4:26

Fourth Quarter

NC — Hooker 8 run (Hooker run), 9:27

NC — Cartright 32 field goal, 1:45

M — Thomas Sheehy 17 pass from Tyler Kowalkowski (Check kick), :07

Individual Statistics

Rushing: New Castle, Drew Cox 1-(-13), Marcus Hooker 25-179, Josh Thomason 20-117, Freddy Soto 3-20, Donte Burnett 1-0, TEAM 1-(-4). Mars, Teddy Ruffner 21-100, Davis Bayne 1-6, Tyler Kowalkowski 4-3, Andrew Moyer 11-39, Garrett Reinke 5-16.

Passing:New Castle, Marcus Hooker 0-1-0-0. Mars, Tyler Kowalkowski 7-23-85-0.

Receiving:Mars, Cade Hetzler 4-54, Garrett Reinke 1-4, Thomas Sheehy 2-27.