ADAMS TWP — Youth is not always a bearer of bad news when it comes to high school football.

Take the Mars and Highlands football teams, for instance.

Both squads have a number of first-year starters on both sides of the ball, but have a combined record of 8-2 after five weeks of play.

The Planets (4-1, 2-1) and host Golden Rams (4-1, 1-1) will battle in a crucial Greater Allegheny Conference clash Friday with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

Highlands went 5-5 overall last season and qualified for the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs, but lost 20 seniors to graduation.

Still, veteran coach Sam Albert had high hopes before 2011 got under way.

“We wanted to do well in our conference and make the playoffs,” he said. “Those are aspirations every team has.

“We’ve got a lot of young kids starting for us, but I’d say we’re a bit ahead of where we were this time last year.”

One area where the Rams do have experience is the offensive line. Seniors Reiley Shane (center), Chris Russo (left guard) and Jake Witucki (left tackle) are all in their second year of starting.

Witucki (6-feet-5, 280 pounds) is a Kent State recruit.

“You can always do better,” said Albert of his line, “but they’ve been good so far.”

The Rams, who run a multiple scheme on offense, converted speedy wideout Jerrial Carver (6-0, 190) into a running back this season.

Carver caught 18 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns in 2010. In last week’s 35-0 victory over Plum, he rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown.

Junior quarterback Gage Clark (6-3, 205) showed his mobility, gaining 119 yards and scoring twice on the ground.

“Sam gives you a lot of different schemes to defend,” Mars coach Scott Heinauer said of Albert. “They have a lot of weapons and scored a lot of points last week. That’s a concern to us.

“Defensively, we’re bend but don’t break,” said Heinauer. “We feel if we can do that, we’ll be in a lot of ball games.”

In a 40-7 victory over Kittanning last week, Mars received a combined 223 rushing yards and four touchdowns from fullback Jason Lozzi and wingback Alex Smith.

Smith, a 6-feet, 172-pound junior, scored on an 81-yard run last Friday. For the season, he has 234 yards and two scores on 29 attempts.

“He’s been there all year for us,” said Heinauer, “but some games are fullback games and some are wingback games. We have multiple ways of attacking a defense.”

Albert is well aware of that.

“Mars is always coached well,” said Albert. “They’ve got some good skill kids.”

Mars beat Highlands last season 21-0.

Moniteau (5-0, 3-0) at Union (3-2, 1-2) 7 p.m., Thursday

The coaches: Moniteau, Jeff Campbell; Union, Dave Louder

Last week: Moniteau trampled St. Marys by a 39-15 margin. Union blasted Clarion-Limestone 36-7.

The numbers: Moniteau sophomore RB Dustin Geagan ran for a school-record 306 yards and scored four times in last week’s win. ... Moniteau QB Kyle Armagost rushed for 187 yards on 16 totes against St. Marys. ... Joey Deal recorded three sacks for the Warriors last week. ... Union QB Taylor Smith passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more against Clarion-Limestone. ... Union RB Mikey Harris totaled 96 yards rushing and 28 receiving last week and also led the Golden Knights in tackles with nine. ... Cody Kline caught a 50-yard TD pass in last week’s victory.

Notes: Moniteau beat Union 34-0 last season. ... Union leads the all-time series 30-20, but Moniteau has won 10 straight over the Golden Knights.Karns City (3-2) at Hickory (4-1) 7 p.m., Friday

The coaches: Karns City, Ed Conto; Hickory, Bill Brest

Last week: The Gremlins edged Punxsutawney 21-20 while the Hornets were eked out by Wilmington 28-27.

The numbers: Alex Kinkela scored two touchdowns, including a 13-yarder with 5:14 remaining to close out the scoring. ... Of the Gremlins’ 221 total yards, 215 came from rushing. ... The Hornets were led by DeShawn Coleman, who had 15 carries for 210 yards, including scoring runs of 60 and 86 yards that staked the squad to an early 14-0 lead. He also caught a scoring pass from Michael Nardone. Nardone, who threw for 175 yards on 13-of-17 passing, also threw a touchdown pass to Andrew Smith.

Notes: The Greyhounds scored the next 28 points before Hickory scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns but misfired on the potential game-tying extra point. ... In his first season as coach last year, Brest guided the Hornets to the District 10 Class AA championship game. ... The Hornets prevailed 28-14 in last year’s contest.Sharon (1-4) at Slippery Rock (4-1) Friday, 7 p.m.

The coaches: Sharon, Bob Fromm; Slippery Rock, Brendan Hathaway

Last week: Sharon lost to Warren (Ohio) JFK 44-10; Slippery Rock downed Corry 21-12.

The numbers: Slippery Rock’s four-game winning streak is the longest since 2008. ... Sharon is led by senior QB Jason Ondic, who put up most of his 865 rushing yards and 531 passing yards in the playoffs as he missed most of the regular season due to injury. ... Sharon RB Jesse Rodgers is also a threat. ... Despite not having anyone in the Top 12 in the county in rushing, Slippery Rock is averaging more than 200 yards on the ground per game.

Notes: Sharon won the District 10 Class AA championship a season ago before losing to Forest Hills 21-7 in the first round of the PIAA playoffs. ... The Tigers routed the Rockets 56-8 last year. ... Sharon’s 43-7 loss to Hickory in September was called in the fourth quarter because of a melee that broke out between Sharon and Hickory players on the Hornets’ sideline. ... The Tigers are in danger of suffering their first losing season since 2007 and only the third since 2000.Freeport (3-2, 2-1) at Apollo-Ridge (1-4, 1-2) 7:30 p.m., Friday

The coaches: Freeport, John Gaillot; Apollo-Ridge, John Skiba

Last week: The Yellowjackets beat Ford City 28-3 while the Vikings fell to Burrell 48-32.

The numbers: Freeport limited Ford City to 97 total yards, but needed three fourth-quarter touchdowns, all on passes by Brendan Lynch, to pull away. ... Lynch finished with 110 yards passing to give him 425 for the year and six scores. ... Speaking of 110, Damon Smith had that many yards on 25 carries and scored the Yellowjackets’ first points of the game. Sean Carson caught three passes for 71 yards, including two for TDs. ... Brad Campbell rushed for 156 yards on 12 carries and one TD. He leads the squad with 550 yards rushing and six scores. ... Receiver Anthony Bozzarelli is a multitalented player. Last week he threw for one score and rushed for two more. He lead the Vikings with 19 catches for 445 yards and is second with 136 yards rushing and three TD.

Notes: Freeport won 35-7 last year. ... The Vikings lost starting quarterback Josh Zelonka in Week 1, but have received a strong effort by Zach Long (33-of-78, 497 yards, four TD).Grove City (5-0) at Wilmington (5-0), 7 p.m. Friday

The coaches: Grove City, Jeff Bell; Wilmington, Terry Verrelli

Last week: Grove City crushed Meadville 56-7; Wilmington edged Hickory 28-27

The numbers: Grove City has outscored its opponents 285-35 this season. ... The Eagles are averaging 374 yards rushing per game. ... Wes Phipps lead the Eagles with 515 yards on only 44 carries and has scored 11 TDs. ... Grove City’s top four rushers, Phipps, Foster Reznor, Harold Price and Cody Williams, are all averaging better than 10 yards per attempt.

Notes: Wilmington needed a blocked extra point by Tyler Donati with 55 seconds left in the game to nip Hickory. ... Grove City beat Wilmington 7-3 last year.Summit Academy (3-2, 3-0) at Ford City (2-3, 1-3) 7:30 p.m., Friday

The coaches: Summit Academy, Steve Sherer; Ford City, John Bartolovic

Last week: The Knights captured their third consecutive win in a 30-10 triumph over Deer Lakes Saturday. The Sabers dropped a 28-3 decision to Freeport.

The numbers: Chris Highsmith continued his recent hot streak with the first three scores of the game, giving him 10 in the past three weeks. Highsmith finished with 148 yards on just 11 carries and also pulled in a touchdown pass. ... The Sabers’ lone score came on an Andrew Huska 37-yard field goal. ... Devan Willyard leads the Sabers with 350 yards rushing as well as in receptions (15) and yards (241). ... Quarterback David Lattanzio has completed 30 of his 52 passes for 385 yards.

Notes: Ford City won last year’s contest, 34-16. The squad went on to an 11-1 record, 7-0 in winning the Allegheny Conference title and reached the WPIAL Class AA semifinals. Nine starters from that team was lost to graduation.