I’ll be the first to admit it — I was wrong last week.

But, I’ll also be the first to give Mars’ football team the props it deserves.

Before that, it’s a must that I set the scene for the Planets’ next test. To phrase it in a way that’s usually just an old coaching cliche, I’m looking to go 1-0 this week, something I couldn’t do the last.

Mars vs. Aliquippa — Soaring in the chilly air above Ambridge’s Moe Rubenstein Stadium last Friday night, it was hard for me not to notice the Planets’ defensive effort — especially up front. Central Valley’s Mason Dixon finished with over 100 yards rushing, but he never really had any sort of break-away scamper.

This time, Mars will have their hands full with the Quips’ Tikey Hayes, a junior Penn State pledge who’s rumbled for 1,438 yards on 174 gives this go-round.

The only WPIAL Class 4A rusher to cover more ground? Planets senior Evan Wright, who has a knack for winding up in the end zone late in games.

We’ll circle back to that statement’s importance in just a moment.

Mars has drawn and carried out an effective blueprint — stout defense combined with a rushing game that has consistently found a way to wear opponents down. Throw in junior triggerman Luke Goodworth’s ability to move the Planets downfield when they most need it — such as he did right before halftime last week.

The momentum that two-minute drill provided for Mars was much-needed, a reward for a defense that kept the Warriors off the scoreboard for the first 24 minutes. That same unit was lights-out in the fourth frame, giving up all of six yards of offense in the final 11 minutes and change.

Move over, Quips. I’ll bet my beak that there won’t be any three-peat this year.

Wright will break loose and hit pay dirt late at North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium, extending his side’s win streak to eight — its longest since 2015 — and punching Mars’ first ticket to the WPIAL final since 2002.

Score: Mars, 24-21

Scoop is 86-25 on the season