Earning their crown
ADAMS TWP — The ice bath Scott Heinauer received following the Mars football team's 30-23 win over Hampton came before the Planets knew for sure they were going to be Greater Allegheny Conference champions.
Knowing they had no control over who won the conference, the Planets decided to have fun with their coach after winning their seventh straight in dramatic fashion Friday at the Mars Athletic Complex.
Mars didn't find out it clinched its first outright GAC title since 2012 until Gateway closed out a 15-12 upset over Franklin Regional about a half-hour later. The Planets weren't sweating that result.
“We didn't know,” said senior defensive end John Castello about if he thought a conference title was possible after losing to Franklin Regional 35-24 in Week 3. “We took it week-by-week. We controlled our own destiny. Let them do what they have to do and we'll do what we have to do.”
Beating Hampton required buckling down on defense. Mars (8-1, 7-1) went through a full cycle of emotions during the game.
The Planets saw their 17-point lead disappear in the fourth quarter when Ross Andersson found Owen Gally for an 80-yard score with 5 minutes, 44 seconds remaining.
Gally's touchdown reception tied the game at 23. It was the first time Hampton — which was held to 17 yards rushing and 131 yards of total offense — recorded a first down in the second half.
The Talbots built their comeback — Mars went ahead 17-0 following an 8-yard touchdown rush by Isaiah Johnson with 3:21 left before halftime — on big plays. Hampton scored on a 45-yard interception return by Brad Gable and 96-yard kickoff return by Shane McMillen.
Hampton's offense has struggled since they lost leading rusher Matt Rech for the season. Talbots coach Jacque DeMatteo was pleased with the fight.
“Given all the adversity our team has endured and to have them keep fighting and battling the way they did you can't coach that,” DeMatteo said. “We didn't finish the way we wanted to, but with the circumstances we have right now we're going to keep going.”
Josh Raymundo reenergized Mars on the ensuing kick-off. He ran the ball back 89 yards to set the Planets up at Hampton's 6-yard line.“They were up and down, peaks all day long,” Heinauer said. “We fortunately were able to hold the ball in the end and do what we do, which is run the football. That was the biggest factor.”Johnson scored the game-winning touchdown four plays later on fourth-and-goal from the Talbots 1. Johnson took the handoff and was met at the goal line by a Hampton defender, but he broke the tackle and scored with 3:58 remaining.“We came together and we talked,” senior offensive lineman Alex Tumminello said. “This is our home stadium and we have all the power. We're not going to let anything take us down.”Tuminello and Castello took down Andersson to sink Hampton. Tuminello sacked Andersson on first down of the following possession for a 5-yard loss.“We ran the special blitz where we cross,” Tumminello said. “I got out there and saw him and went for it.”Castello, who also intercepted a pass in the second quarter, sacked Andersson again on second down and Hampton (6-3, 5-3) turned the ball following two incomplete passes.“Fortunately, our kids sucked it up,” Heinauer said. “We had to move the ball at the end of the game and we did what we needed to do. We showed a little resilience.”Mars built its 17-0 first-half lead behind touchdown runs of 1 and 8 yards from Johnson, who finished with 127 yards on 33 carries. Caleb Brake also contributed made three field goals for the Planets of 21, 29 and 34 yards.Gable's interception return and a 21-yard field goal by Sam Werling made it 17-10 by halftime.Thanks to Mars not panicking, and Gateway, the Planets had another reason to celebrate.“Our team has a lot of heart,” Castello said. “We want to play hard and win so bad. It really got to us.”
