Mars airs it out
ADAMS TWP — Mars has made its history by running with the football and throwing it only when needed.
On Friday against Derry, the opposite proved true.
Planets quarterback Owen Nearhoof came out slinging, attempting 14 first-half passes — completing seven for 143 yards — taking advantage of Derry's crowding of the box in a 56-0 Greater Allegheny victory over the Trojans.
Mars, however, did revert back to the ground game, rolling up 377 yards on 30 carries, led by Josh Schultheis' 147 yards and four touchdowns.
“When Mars saw we had more men in the box, they went to cross patterns,” Derry coach Al Gaiardo. “They're a (heck) of a team. They're physical, they executed their offense, played great defense.
“We met a better team tonight,” Gaiardo added.
Mars coach Scott Heinauer was confident in Nearhoof's abilities to pass away.
“They put all their guys in the box,” Heinauer said. “They bring these guys up and we're more than capable of throwing the football. We had a couple of drops and I wasn't happy about that, but overall, I was happy.
“We ran the ball in the second half when they dropped back,” Heinauer added.
The Planets (2-0, 2-0) scored on their first four possessions, starting with a 10-play, 55-yard drive culminated by an 11-yard scoring run by Nearhoof.
Nearhoof connected on a 16-yard pass to Garrett Ashbaugh on the next Planets drive as Mars doubled its lead. The drive was highlighted by a 28-yard pass to Alex Smith on a third-and-7 from the Mars 40.
The Trojans (1-1, 1-1), facing a third-and-13 from their own 16, used a 63-yard pass play from Robbie Hebenthal to Josh Wannamaker to set up a first-and-10 at the Mars 11.
Three plays later, Heberthal fumbled when Jake Tumminello forced a fumble and Chris Panza recovered to give Mars possession just before the end of the first quarter.
Schultheis then took control of the game, adding scoring runs of 6 and 13 yards in the second quarter, then added touchdowns of 13 and 7 yards as Mars opened up a 42-0 lead with 4:57 left in the third quarter.
With the mercy clock in effect after Schultheis' third score, the Planets continued to run as Nolan Skirtich and Sam King added scoring runs of 5 and 11 yards, respectively.
“Ninety percent of things are mental,” Gaiardo said. “The guys not executing their assignments. We've got to be a physical team and execute.”
Mars totaled 267 rushing yards in the second half alone. King finished with 87 yards, Lozzi 65 yards and Alex Smith 33 yards on a combined 10 carries.
“Some people think we have a lot of depth and that's a big factor,” Heinauer said of his team's ground game. “Those guys all know the offense. No one complains. We try and spread the ball around. What we think is there, we'll call.
“Our kids up front, our whole offensive line and defense, special teams, did a great job,” Heinauer added.
Notes: Wannamaker, who rushed for more than 140 yards and five touchdowns last week, was held to one carry for 2 yards, although he did pull in three passes for 95 yards. ... Mars honored its five newest members of the school's Hall of Fame: Jeff Danner, Rob Fester, John Reismeyer, John Schlessler and Kent Shoemaker.
