PLUM — Another listless offensive performance by the Mars football team Friday night at Plum Stadium made Planets coach Scott Heinauer stress a sense of urgency.

Mars can't afford to play from behind.

Plum built a 12-point halftime lead and never let the Planets get close in a 29-0 Greater Allegheny Conference win. It was the second time this season Mars, which fell to 0-5 for the first time since 2003, has been shut out.

“We can't make mistakes and think you are going to come back,” Heinauer said. “I thought we were going to come out and play football in the second half. We made mistakes again. Those things are hard things to overcome.”

Finding a way to put points on the board is going to be a season-long challenge for the veteran coach.

What the Planets (0-5, 0-2) want to find a way to avoid is the pattern they fell in. All of Mars' drives ended in one of two results.

Plum either forced Mars into a turnover or the Planets were forced to punt the ball away.

Mars was intercepted three times and lost a fumble. That fumble set up Plum's first score.

Late in the first quarter, Planets running back Evan Wright was stripped of the ball around midfield following a 14-yard run. Plum took over on its own 44 yard-line and went 56 yards in nine plays to take the lead.

Mustangs quarterback Sean Franzi, who finished with 118 yards passing and completed 9-of-25 passes, found Samo Pitts on a 46-yard catch-and-run that gave Plum the lead with 24 seconds left in the first quarter. Plum (1-4, 1-1) doubled its lead in the second quarter when Mars quarterback Rafael Bartley had a pass deflected by a defender and fall into the arms of Plum defensive back Eryck Moore, who returned it 25 yards for a score.

“We've been doing that all year, causing turnovers,” Plum football coach Matt Morgan said. “We have yet to capitalize on them. Tonight, we finally punched them in, which was good to see.”

The second-half rally Heinauer hoped for never materialized. After both teams traded punts, Bartley was intercepted by Kaden Thomas, who returned the ball into Planet territory.

Moore would score the second of his three touchdowns two plays later on a 19-yard run. Moore led Plum with 96 yards rushing on 13 carries.

Not being able to score on their first two possessions of the second half was disappointing for Heinauer.

“It's a two-half thing,” Heinauer said. “Going into halftime, 12-0, that's not an unrealistic thing to overcome. … We came out and made a turnover. That was a big play and it's something you can't do. Our heads were down and it's hard for us to overcome things like that.”

Mars was limited to 118 yards of total offense, led by Evan Wright's 77 rushing yards. The Planets had several drives stopped in Plum territory by turnovers.

Morgan said the Mustangs were pleased they were able to get pressure with four players.

“I thought we did a good job getting after them,” Morgan said. “We got pressure up front with four guys. It was good to see.”

Mars 0 0 0 0 — 0

Plum 6 6 7 10 — 29

First Quarter

P — Saqmo Pitts 46 pass from Sean Franzi (kick failed), :24.2

Second Quarter

P — Eryck Moore 25 interception return (kick failed), 3:38

Third Quarter

P — Moore 19 run (Angelo Baleno kick), 7:12

Fourth Quarter

P — Moore 8 run (Baleno kick), 10:57

P — Baleno 28 field goal, 4:17

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Mars, Evan Wright 15-77, Rafael Bartley 14-14, Finn Seideneck 2-9, Noah Nesselroad 1-(-2). Plum, Eryck Moore 13-96, Nicholas Oddom 8-86, Sean Franzi 7-10, Noah Odom 1-7, Logan Brooks 1-3, Domenic Beyer 1-3.

Passing: Mars, Rafael Bartley 5-12-20-3, Luke Goodworth 2-4-0-0. Plum, Sean Franzi 9-25-118-0.

Receiving: Mars, Chris Dvorak 1-15, Aiden Alessio 1-3, Noah Nesseleroad 2-3, Hayden Mayer 1-2, Mason Childress 1-0, Evan Wright 2-(-23), Finn Seideneck 1-(-3). Plum, Samo Pitts 1-46, Logan Brooks 6-38, Darin BNelson 2-34.