ADAMS TWP — North Hills senior running back Tyler Brennan is a difference-maker and Mars head coach Scott Heinauer knows it.

The former, who has rushed for 509 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, has missed all but one quarter of his team's last three games with an injury. In the time he's missed, the Indians have scored a total of just 10 points.

Brennan is expected to play when the Indians invade the Mars Athletic Complex for a Northern Conference showdown on Friday.

“We had some guys fill in for him, but it's difficult to replace a star player,” said North Hills coach Pat Carey. “Tyler is an explosive back with a lot of speed. Some players need to have everyone getting their hat on somebody to make things happen. Tyler can do it on his own.”

North Hills (4-2, 3-0) is coming off back-to-back losses in non-conference play, the latest a 45-0 defeat at Gateway last week. Still, the Indians are in good position in the Northern Conference standings thanks to winning their first three conference games for the first time since 2014.

“We moved the ball well and played good defense earlier this season,” said Carey, who hopes his team can return to that combination with the return of Brennan, a United States Military Academy commit who also starts as a defensive back.

“Their game plan is different when he's in the game,” said Heinauer. “He touches the ball on most plays. They've even run the Wildcat with him.”

The Planets (5-1, 2-1) have their own players capable of big plays, which include junior Drew Schlegel. In last Saturday's 21-12 victory at Shaler, the safety intercepted a pass early in the fourth quarter and returned it 51 yards to set up the final score of the game.

On offense, Schlegel began the season as a wideout, but has since been moved to wingback following an injury to senior Chuck Green. In the last two games, Schlegel has made the most of limited touches, catching two passes for 55 yards, rushing for 118 yards on 10 attempts.

“No question about it, Drew is a playmaker,” said Heinauer. “He's an athletic kid. That play last week turned the game in our favor.”

Planet fullback Garrett Reinke has rushed for 913 yards, nearly 200 more yards than the next best total in Butler County. Quarterback Tyler Kowalkowski, in his second year as a starter, has passed for 634 yards. He is ahead of his pace from last year (910).

“Mars is a really good football team,” Carey said. “They don't make many mistakes.”

Kickoff is 7 p.m.