Taking Charge
ADAMS TWP — Mars used a strong third quarter, scoring 16 points en route to a 38-13 football victory over Greensburg Salem at the Mars Athletic Complex Friday night.
The Planets found themselves in a 15-6 game heading into the second half and needing a stop on defense on a fourth-and-1 on their 29-yard line. They got some help from the Golden Lions, who took a delay of game penalty. Then a pass went over everyone out of bounds to force a turnover on downs.
From there, the Planets' rushing attack took over and they went on a five-play 75-yard drive capped off by a Matt Parrish 13-yard touchdown run.
On the ensuing possession, Greensburg Salem quarterback Brady Mason threw a pass high over the middle of the field that was intercepted by Travis Ganter, who returned it 42-yards for a touchdown.
“That's what a good team has to do,” Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. “They have to take control of the game and we were able to do that tonight.”
The Golden Lions took the next kickoff and were only able to return it to their own 10. They were unable to move the ball and set up to punt when the snap went way over the punter's head and out of the end zone for a safety, giving the Planets a 31-6 lead.
The safety was actually Mars' second of the night. They opened the scoring on the final play of the first quarter when the Planets were able to stop Greensburg Salem running back Dominique McKinley, tackling him in the end zone.
“I don't know if Mars football has ever had two safeties in a game,” Heinauer said. “That was pretty awesome to have that happen tonight.”
The Planets took the free kick to start the second quarter out to midfield, but a block in the back penalty set them back to their own 40. It didn't deter them, though, as a quick five-play drive ended when Jason Lozzi found a hole in the middle of the Golden Lions' defense and went 40 yards for a touchdown to put the Planets up 8-0.
After each team punted, Mars added another touchdown in the second quarter when Josh Schultheis scored on the first play of a possession on a 45-yard touchdown run with three minutes remaining in the half.
The Golden Lions responded on the next possession, using the no huddle and the pass, as Mason found Marvin Barclay in the end zone for a 14-yard TD connection.
“We were able to execute on that drive and changed up formations a little bit,” Greensburg Salem coach Dave Keefer said.
Both teams added a touchdown in the fourth.
Mars scored when Lozzi found the end zone on a 28-yard run for his second touchdown of the night.
Greensburg Salem answered when running back Ryan Zepeda ran down the sideline for a 75-yard gain to the Planets' 5-yard line, setting up a McKinley score.
“(McKinley) works his tail off for us and he's done everything we've asked of him this season,” Keefer said. “Our kids are playing hard, we've just got to find ways to win games.”
The win brings the Planets to 4-1 on the season and Greensburg Salem fell to 1-4.
“Things worked out tonight, and our kids are getting better from a football standpoint,” Heinauer said.
