ADAMS TWP — One play does not a football game make.

But it sure can turn one.

Mars junior linebacker Billy Shrock short-circuited a Butler drive by returning an interception 65 yards for a touchdown with 14 seconds left in the first half Friday night at the Mars Athletic Complex.

The Golden Tornado were in position to make it a one-score game at the time. Shrock's play gave the Planets an 18-point halftime lead en route to a 42-10 victory.

“A very big play,” Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. “It changed the direction of this game.”

The Planets (5-2) had a 14-3 lead when Butler took possession at its own 19-yard line with 1:22 left in the half. Trevor Wideman ran for 12 yards, the Planets were whistled for a personal foul and Canan Roskovski caught an 11-yard pass.

Tornado quarterback Zach Rader spiked the ball and Butler had a second down at the Planets' 38-yard line. That's when Shrock made his play.

“I read it and jumped the route,” Shrock said. “Our guys did a great job of blocking downfield for me.

“Scoring just before halftime like that ... It definitely lifted us up.”

“It certainly didn't help,” Butler coach Clyde Conti said of the interception return. “But it was only one play.”

Mars went on to dominate the third quarter, rolling up nine first downs while allowing none. The Planets scored on drives of 60 and 70 yards in the third period.

Freshman Joshua Schultheis — his team's leading rusher with 63 yards — scored on a 4-yard run and Owen Nearhoof tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brian Cassidy.

Nearhoof completed eight of nine passes for 103 yards on the night.

“There was a lot to like about this game tonight,” Heinauer said. “We wanted to come out and run the football because that's the trademark of this program. Our kids fed off that.”

Nine different players carried the ball for the Planets, who mustered 220 yards on 47 carries overall.

Mars scored on its second possession of the night, Jason Lozzi's 5-yard run capping a 10-play, 61-yard drive. The Tornado (2-5) countered with a 54-yard march of their own — 40 on a Rader to Wideman pass connection — before settling for a 30-yard Colin Williamson field goal.

Jacob Wright returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to the Butler 20. Defensive stops by Tanner Wahler, Austin Grupp, Jacob Como and Vernick forced the ball to be turned over on downs from there.

Shortly thereafter, an Alex Smith interception triggered a 58-yard Mars drive that ended with a Wright 21-yard scoring burst for the aforementioned 14-3 lead.

“We had no trouble getting up for this game,” Shrock said. “Section or non-section doesn't matter. It's a blessing to be able to play this game on Friday nights.”

Butler's lone touchdown was a pass of 12 yards from Tom Jendesky to Roskovski midway through the final quarter. Rader played the first half at quarterback, Jendesky the second for the Tornado.

Mars racked up 21 first downs on the night.

“This wasn't very encouraging,” Conti said.

Both teams return to section play next week. Mars hosts Valley while Butler is home to McDowell.

“I feel for Clyde Conti right now,” Heinauer said. “He's doing a good job and he's a good coach. People up there need to be patient and give him time.”

“Mars is a young team. They play hard. They're a year away from being very, very good,” Conti said.