ADAMS TWP — Having two punts blocked and allowing five turnovers do not comprise a recipe for victory.

Garrett Reinke and a staunch defense do.

For Mars, the latter trumped the former in a 23-13 non-conference football victory over Moon Friday night at the Mars Athletic Conference.

“I don't know why we're making the mistakes we're making. We've got to clean things up,” Mars coach Scott Heinauer.

“But 2-0 is 2-0. We'll take it.”

Both of Moon's scores came as a result of the blocked punts. Matt Owczarzak covered the first one in the end zone with 5:04 left in the first half, enabling the Tigers to knot the score at 7.

A 31-yard field goal by Blake Edwards gave the Planets a 10-7 lead two seconds before halftime. Those points came as a result of a shanked Moon punt that sailed out of bounds at the Tigers' 14-yard line.

Reinke touchdown runs of 35 and 24 yards in the second half extended the Planet lead to 23-7 before Moon blocked another punt — this one onside the Mars 30 — with 2:53 to play.

Moon scored a quick touchdown, but the Tigers' two-point conversion attempt failed, as did their ensuing onside kick, and Mars was able to run out the clock.

“Our defense played a solid game tonight. It's the offensive side of the ball where we need the work,” Moon coach Ryan Linn said. “When you block two punts and force five turnovers, you should win the game.”

Not on this night.

On third-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 1:32 left in the first half, Reinke fumbled the ball and lineman Brenan Luffey covered it for Moon.

“Yeah, that bothered me,” Reinke said. “But you just have to forget about it, put it out of your mind and move on to the next play.”

Reinke wound up with 25 carries for 210 yards and the two touchdowns. He had 169 yards in the second half.

Heinauer had no problem giving his senior standout the ball despite four lost fumbles in the season's first two games.

“He's our best guy and you give your best guy the ball,” Heinauer said. “Sometimes Garrett spends too much time lookng for the hole. He just has to take the ball, cut and go.

“He's fast. They're not gonna catch him. I thought he ran a lot more aggressively in the second half.”

Mars' defense was as much the story as Reinke's running. The Planets produced four takeaways in their own right.

Tyler Kowalkowski recovered a fumble that thwarted a Moon scoring threat in the first quarter. Drew Schlegel, Tom Sheehy and Chuck Green intercepted passes.

Moon (1-1) threw for only 35 yards in the game.

“We have a first-year quarterback and that's going to be a work in progress,” Linn saiod.

Other big plays for the Planets were a 38-yard pass from running back Teddy Ruffner to Sheehy and a 63-yard kick return by Green. Both of those possessions ended with turnovers.

Brady Sunday had 23 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown for Moon. He scored the TD after his team's second punt block.

“Our defense gave up seven points tonight and that was on a short field,” Heinauer said. “This is the first time in all my years of coaching that we return no starting linebackers.

“Kids are growing into those positions and our defensive line and secondary are leading the way on that side of the ball.”

Mars travels to Greensburg Salem next Friday.

Moon 0 7 0 6 — 13Mars 0 10 7 6 — 23Second QuarterM — Andrew Recchia 34 pass from Tyler Kowalkowski (Blake Edwards kick), 11:18Moon — Matt Owczarzak recovered blick punt in end zibne (Jajke Zimmerman kick), 5:04M — Edwards 31 field goal, :02Third QuarterM — Garrett Reinke 35 ruin (Edwards kick), 8:17Fourth QuarterM — Reinke 24 run (kick blocked), 7:34Moon — Brady Sunday 2 run (pass failed), 1:42Individual StatisticsRushing: Moon, Dante Clay 4-10, Brady Sunday 23-146, Jamal Littlejohn 6-27, TEAM 1-(-7). Mars, Tyler Kowalkowski 5-(-15), Chuck Green 2 (-9), Garrett Reinke 25-210, Teddy Ruffner 4-30.Passing: Moon, Dante Clay 9-22-35-3. Mars, Tyler Kowalkowski 3-13-42-2, Teddy Ruffner 1-1-38-0.Receiving: Moon, Sean Brennan 2-2, Malcom Johnson 1-3, Jamal Littlejohn 2-5, Ramone Dean 1-1, Dawson Snyder 1-4, Patrick Mack 1-3, Matt Owczarzak 1-13. Mars, Teddy Ruffner 1-7, Chuck Green 1-1, Andrew Recchia 1-34, Tom Sheehy 1-38.