Other worldly
ADAMS TWP — The idea of Mars looking past a midseason, nonconference game against a young, struggling squad?
Not on Planets coach Scott Heinauer's watch.
The Planets amassed 380 yards rushing on 37 carries — including 202 yards on 15 carries and four touchdowns from Josh Schultheis — in a 44-0 victory over Uniontown Friday.
“Our kids have talked about this,” Heinauer said. “We did not have a great week of practice. Sometimes you can become complacent.
“Our kids read the papers. They see Uniontown has just one win and sometimes you can go through the motions. You still have to show up and play,” Heinauer said.
After Uniontown (1-5) opened the game with 47 yards on its first five plays from scrimmage, the Planets (6-0) did, snuffing the rally.
“We're a spread team and we started running out at tailback,” Red Raiders coach John Fortugna said. “We knew we had to do some quick stuff and hit right away.
“Mars made the adjustments. They're bigger and stronger. We have eight sophomores, but I don't want to use that as an excuse.”
The Red Raiders went three-and-out on their next five possessions as Mars built a 34-0 lead.
Josh Schultheis scored from 1 yard out — the drive highlighted by a 41-yard pass from Owen Nearhoof to Billy Shrock — then added a 60-yard scoring run on the first play off Mars' next possession to take a quick 13-0 lead with 5:10 left in the first quarter.
An Alex Smith 17-yard scamper and a 44-yard run by Schultheis opened up a 27-0 first-quarter advantage.
On the Planets' next possession, Jason Lozzi opened the drive with a 57-yard run.
Nolan Skirtich and Schultheis followed with runs of 6 and 10 yards, respectively, before Lozzi culminated the drive with an 8-yard run.
With the huge halftime lead, Heinauer wanted the defense to finish the job.
“It's like (Pittsburgh Steelers coach) Mike Tomlin says, 'The standard is the standard,' who's ever in the game,” Heinauer said. “We wanted no points on the board for Uniontown in the second half.”
The defense did its job, limiting the Red Raiders to 36 second-half yards.
Schultheis added a 2-yard run and Matt White, who converted all five of his extra-point attempts, booted a 22-yarder with 4:39 to play in the third quarter to close out the scoring.
Next up, Mars will host Knoch (4-2, 3-2), which comes in having lost consecutive games to Hampton and Franklin Regional.
“The last time I looked, the last Greater Allegheny Conference champion is the Knoch Knights,” Heinauer said. “We lost to them last year and we have a lot to prove.
“Mike King's a great coach. We've got to have a good week of practice. Mike King will have those kids ready to play,” Heinauer added.
