ADAMS TWP — Noah Wright heard the murmurs about the lack of a Mars passing game.

He saw the opponent load the box to try to stop the run, shunning the Planets’ ability to move the ball through the air.

The Mars senior quarterback, a wrestler who had never played football until he strapped on the shoulder pads this summer, wasn’t fazed.

“It really didn’t bother me,” Wright said. “I knew I never played quarterback before. I knew I was being thrown into the fire, and my teammates understood that, too. We never got down on it and we knew there would be a time when it would click.”

That time came Friday night against Knoch.

Wright, who came into the game completing just 11 of 47 passes for 260 yards and just one touchdown in nine games this year, connected on two long TD passes and also scrambled for another score as Mars routed rival Knoch, 42-14, at the Mars Athletic Complex.

Wright finished with 123 passing yards.

It helped to serve notice to potential playoff opponents next week that the Planets (8-2, 7-1) may not be as one-dimensional as they seemed just a week ago.

“A lot of people don’t realize we can throw the ball,” said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. The Planets had completed a mere two passes in the last four games before Friday. “Last week was just not conducive (with the rain) and the week before we were up big.

“We came out this week and we thought we could throw the football,” Heinauer added. “They were trying to shut our run down.”

Wright’s legs got Mars the early lead when he slipped a tackle in the pocket and scrambled to his right for a 21-yard touchdown run.

On the Planets’ next possession, he found Ben Perdziola wide open in the middle of the field for a 51-yard touchdown strike and a 14-0 lead that held until the half.

Wright connected with Isaiah Johnson on a perfect pass into tight coverage for a 59-yard score early in the third quarter to break the game open.

Wright said after 10 weeks, he is settling into his still relatively new role as a football player and QB.

“This is a new thing for me. I’ve been learning on the fly,” Wright said. “But I’m at a point now where I’m as comfortable as anyone else, at the same level as anyone else.”

With the Knoch defense’s back broken, lanes opened in the running game for Garrett Reinke.

The sophomore rushed for 208 yards on just five carries in the second half alone, scoring on runs of 71 and 68 to hand Mars a 42-0 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Reinke could have had another long scoring run at the end of the third period, but was caught from behind inside the 10 by Dylan Plutyk.

That led to a 4-yard touchdown run by Johnson.

Reinke finished with 246 yards on just 10 carries.

He lamented, though, getting caught from behind.

“He was upset,” Heinauer said, smiling. “He kept asking if someone had an angle on him. I said, ‘No, there was no angle on that one.’

“He’s the future, you know.”

Reinke said the rinning lanes were large in the second half.

“The linemen were opening up huge holes and Max Chizmar and Isaiah Johnson were blocking for me,” Reinke said. “All I had to do was hit the hole and run fast.”

For Knoch (2-7, 2-6), it was the cap to a disappointing season.

The Knights, who were without running back Jayden Renfrew for an undisclosed reason, came out throwing the ball.

Mac Christy finished 13-of-23 for 143 yards and a touchdown to Chase Mullen.

James Johnston also scored on a short TD run for Knoch.

Christy connected with Zach Boldy seven times for 107 yards.

Christy also rushed for 114 yards on 25 carries.

“We wanted to throw, no matter what the personnel was,” said Knoch coach Mike King.

“Mac has had to do everything,” King added. “The kid has played three different positions in three years for us (on offense). He’s played a lot of different positions for us on defense. We’ve moved him around a lot of different ways. He plays when he’s hurt. He plays when he’s banged up. My hat’s off to that kid. He did a nice job.”

This may have been the last game for King as the Knights’ coach.

King tweeted late Friday night: “To all my Knights, thank you for 19 memorable crusades and a castle full of memories! I love you! Coach King.”

A call placed to King late Friday night was not returned.