Some people may not even have their calendar turned to September come Friday.

But the Mars football team’s quest to still be playing in November will begin with its first Northwest Nine Conference game — a formidable test at perennial power South Fayette.

It will be the first-ever meeting on the gridiron between the schools.

Both teams are coming off impressive wins last week. Mars shut out Hampton 28-0 while South Fayette downed Central Valley 28-17.

The Lions played in three straight WPIAL Class AA title games the last three seasons, winning both a district and state title in 2013 and 2014. With the PIAA’s realignment to six classes, South Fayette is now a Class 4-A program, along with the Planets.

“We’ve had a good run since 2009,” said 10th-year Lions’ coach Joe Rossi. “This year’s players want to put their stamp on the program.”

Rossi’s run has been more than just “good.” In the past seven years, his teams have gone a combined 87-8, including six conference titles and an incredible 27-5 record in postseason play.

“You can tell when you are playing against quality coaches,” said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. “Joe Rossi does a great job with those kids. They have a lot of weapons and are fundamentally sound.”

Likewise, Rossi has great respect for Heinauer’s program, which last missed the WPIAL playoffs in 2004.

“Every year, the players change, but Scott keeps winning,” he said.

Directing the Lions’ spread offense is junior quarterback Drew Saxton. He passed for 1,981 yards and 31 touchdowns last season and posted 260 yards through the air last week.

“He had a tremendous offseason and his arm is stronger than it was,” Rossi said.

The Lions often attack defenses with a four- or five-wide receiver set.

Junior Noah Plack (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) totaled seven catches for 104 yards against Central Valley.

“He can line up at wide receiver, but when they go to a tight end set, he’s their tight end,” said Heinauer. “South Fayette tries to control the ball through the air. We need to find a way to slow them down. One of the ways we can do that is what we did last week, which is run the ball.

“If we can’t run Friday, we’re going to be in trouble. I think turnovers are going to be huge Friday night. When we get opportunities, we can’t squander them away.”

The Planets’ familiar ground attack got off to a great start in the drubbing of Hampton as the team rushed for 319 yards and four touchdowns. Fullback Isaiah Johnson and wingback Garrett Reinke combined for 230 yards and three scores on 36 carries.

Rossi insists his defense will not be caught off guard against Mars’ Wing-T scheme.

“We faced Karns City (in the state playoffs) in 2013 and 2014,” he said. “That’s the offense they ran. We’ve prepped for it and it’s not new to us.”

Making his second career start at quarterback for Mars will be senior Noah Wright. In last week’s win, he completed one of his five pass attempts. That single connection was a crucial one — a 29-yard pass to Max Chizmar on a 4th-and-6 play from Hampton’s 37-yard line in the first quarter. On the very next play, Reinke broke a scoreless tie with an 8-yard touchdown run.

But Wright may be called on to make plays with his legs.

“He’s fast and athletic,” said Heinauer of his quarterback. “We need to utilize his ability.”