Mars quarterback Owen Nearhoof has been one of the young Planets that has helped the team get into the WPIAL playoffs this season. Mars opens up the playoffs against West Mifflin Friday night.

Scott Heinauer's Mars football team weathered the storm and earned the program's seventh straight WPIAL playoff appearance.

Now, standing between the Planets (6-3) and a sixth consecutive trip to the quarterfinal round is a formidable West Mifflin squad, which will host Mars in a Class AAA first-round game at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Titans are fresh off a 27-14 win over Big Eight Conference foe Thomas Jefferson, ending the latter's 37-game conference win streak.

The win earned for West Mifflin (8-1) a share of the conference title. The team's lone setback this season was a 22-13 loss to Trinity Sept. 30. Since then, West Mifflin has earned four wins in a row.

The Titans rely heavily on their ground game and senior running back Shamar Greene (5-foot-7, 175 pounds) has been a workhorse this year, rushing for 1,116 yards on 161 carries. He has added 13 total touchdowns.

In 2010, Greene amassed 1,268 yards and 18 touchdowns.

“He runs well in between the tackles, but is more of a slasher,” said West Mifflin coach Ray Braszo.

Kevin Clarke has been solid in a supporting role, rushing for 575 yards and seven scores.

Quarterback Derrick Fulmore has added 364 yards and 10 touchdowns with his legs.

The junior has completed just 30 passes all season, but they have gone for 591 yards, an average of 19.7 yards-per-completion.

“His numbers don't show what a great leader he has been for us,” Braszo said of his signal caller. “He can hurt you with his arm and his feet.”

“They've only lost one game all year,” said Heinauer of the Titans. “They have speed, are well-coached and are a very good football team.”

“We have to play well defensively, something we didn't do last week,” Heinauer said of his team giving up 395 offensive yards to Knoch in a 28-3 loss. “If we can play well defensively, who knows what can happen?”

Heinauer has seen a lot of promise in his young team, which opened 2011 with three straight victories.

“When you lose all the seniors we did from last year, you know you're not going to have a lot of starters back,” he said. “I'm sure a lot of people didn't expect us to make the playoffs, but it's important to get there. It's a point that a lot of teams don't get to.”

Leading the youth movement are sophomores Owen Nearhoof at quarterback and Jason Lozzi at fullback.

Nearhoof has thrown for 746 yards and five scores, while Lozzi has rushed for 742 yards and nine touchdowns.