INDIANA — A lot can be said for experience — and a lot of games can be saved because of it.

In Friday's Greater Allegheny football matchup between Mars and Indiana, the Planets had youthful exuberance on their side, but the Indians relied on their seniors.

The Indians scored touchdowns on three successive possessions in the second quarter and went on to post a 30-15 victory at Andy Kuzneski Field.

Quarterback Logan Weaver connected on 9-of 10 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns to Tyrayl Veney and added an 87-yard run late in the third quarter when the Planets appeared to have grabbed back the momentum.

“(Indiana) has a very good football team,” said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. “They've got kids who can make plays and they got the ball to them to make the plays.

“They broke our back on that run. We had him pinned down,” Heinauer added.

Mars trailed 23-8 at halftime, but came out with an impressive 17-play drive that chewed up eight minutes. However, the Planets turned the ball over on downs at the Indiana 8-yard line.

On the ensuing play, Kyle Decker fumbled and Mars recovered at the 8.

On a fourth-and-1, Mars sophomore quarterback Owen Nearhoof scored from a yard out to make it 23-15 with 1:43 left in the quarter.

After the Planets' kickoff put the Indians (4-0, 2-0) at their own 13-yard line, Weaver ripped off his big run after breaking three tackles near the line of scrimmage.

“It was absolutely the tipping point,” said Indiana coach Mark Zilinskas. “Our kid made a great play. The bottom line is we had to strike back. Having that 15-point lead changed the composure of the game.”

Mars had a nine-play possession, but turned the ball over on downs again. Then the Planets went on a 12-play drive, this one stalling at the Indiana 17 with 2:42 to play that sealed the game.

“We're a young football team and they're a veteran team,” Heinauer said. “I don't want to take anything away from Indiana. You can't afford to make mistakes and they've got guys that can take advantage.”

In the first half, Decker fumbled on the Indians' first possession and Mars drove down the field, but kicker Ryan Gralish missed on a 32-yard field goal attempt.

After holding the Indians to a three-and-out, Mars (3-1, 1-1) needed six plays to go 44 yards, capped by a 6-yard Alex Smith run.

Jacob Wright's conversion run gave Mars the 8-0 lead with 1:56 left in the frame.

But Indiana scored on its next three possessions — on drives of 80, 69 and 65 yards. Edgar scored on a 17-yard run with 10:46 left in the half, then Veney caught passes of 25 and 50 from Weaver, the latter with 2:19 left to open up the first 15-point advantage.

Nearhoof was intercepted twice in the second quarter, including one in the end zone in the closing seconds before the break.

“I was not pleased with how my kids played,” Heinauer said. “That team has more weapons than we did.

“(Weaver's) a good passer. And they have a better receiver than we do. (Veney) is the best receiver in the conference and they took advantage of him.”

Notes: Nearhoof finished with 12-of-23 passing and 17 yards. ... The Planets ran 74 offensive plays to the Indians' 37, including a 30-11 advantage in the second half.