Mars has turned in an impressive first half of the high school football season under first-year coach Eric Kasperowicz.

If it weren’t for a late field goal in a 15-14 loss to Blackhawk in Week 3, the Planets (4-1, 1-0) would be undefeated. The offense is being led by a very effective ground game and the defense has been stout. Both were on full display in last week’s 51-7 defeat of Moon.

Now the Planets face a string of games — five straight Greater Allegheny Conference contests — that will determine if they will qualify for the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs.

First up is a date Friday in Natrona Heights, where an unbeaten Highlands team awaits.

The Golden Rams (5-0, 2-0) are coming off a 31-0 blanking of Indiana and have outscored their opponents 133-39.

“They’re undefeated and that says a lot right there,” Kasperowicz said. “Their quarterback (Chandler Thimons) can throw and run and they run the ball very well. They’re a tough team and we have our work cut out for us.”

Thimons, a senior, has been starting since his freshman season. He passed for over 1,300 yards in each of the last three years and is now the all-time passing leader at Highlands. He’s thrown for 401 yards and five touchdowns this year.

“We haven’t thrown the ball a whole lot and that’s been dictated by us holding sizable leads in the second half of games,” said Highlands coach Matt Bonislawski. “But Chandler runs the offense really well and he rushed for over 100 yards against Chartiers Valley earlier this season.”

Junior running back Luke Bombalski heads the Rams’ ground attack with 624 yards and has scored nine touchdowns.

“He’s (5-foot-10, 205 pounds) and is a straight-ahead guy,” Bonislawski said. “He’s starting to understand blocking schemes more than in the past and we’re being patient with him.”

Bombalski, a linebacker, and defensive end Daniel Long lead the Rams on that side of the ball.

They and their teammates on defense will have a lot to contend with against Mars, which features Evan Wright and his 773 yards and 11 TDs on the ground.

Quarterback Eric Kasperowicz had his best game yet last week, completing seven of 12 passes for 209 yards and three TDs.

Gabe Hein has emerged as another weapon for the sophomore signal caller. In the last two games, Hein has caught six passes for 85 yards and two scores.

“He’s only a freshman, but that doesn’t matter,” said Coach Kasperowicz. “He’s athletic, is making plays and plays for the team. That’s the kind of guy we need.”

Kasperowicz lauded the play of his linebacking corps, specifically starters Jacob Maple, Jack Hull and Cole Yoshioka.

North snapped a two-game losing streak last week with a 33-21 win against Kiski Area. Armstrong is coming off a 19-6 win over Hampton.

Against winless Kiski, the Trojans had their best offensive game of the season, totaling 378 yards (228 rushing/150 passing). Junior RB Jack Fennell has scored 5 of his team's 14 TDs. He had 170 rushing yards and 3 total TDs last week.

Armstrong senior QB Cadin Olsen, a Penn commit, led the WPIAL in passing yards last year (2,501). This season, he has 1,153 yards, 17 TDs and 5 INTs and has added 300 yards and 3 TDs on the ground. Armstrong (a consolidation of Kittanning and Ford City high schools) is in its 8th season of existence. The River Hawks earned their first playoff win last year, a 27-16 decision over Montour.

KC defeated Moniteau last week, 35-6. Central Clarion clobbered Bradford, 48-7.

Gremlins' senior QB Eric Booher had a cast on his right wrist removed prior to last week's game. Throwing the ball for the first time in four games, he passed for 93 yards and 3 TDs. Cooper Coyle totaled 128 yards from scrimmage vs. Moniteau while rushing for a TD and adding a scoring reception. The Gremlins rushed for 194 yards on just 27 carries last week.

The Wildcats are fueled by sophomore QB Jase Ferguson, who has thrown for 1,170 yards, 15 TDs and 6 INTs this season. On defense, he has 4 of his team's 13 interceptions.

KC defeated the Wildcats twice last year, 37-13 in the regular season and 35-7 in a district semifinal.

The Falcon Knights beat Kane last week, 37-19. Redbank downed Ridgway, 42-33.

Since being outscored 86-13 in back-to-back losses to Keystone and Central Clarion in Week 2 and 3, respectively, Union/ACV has rebounded with league wins over Brockway and Kane. Senior WR Skyler Roxbury leads the Falcon Knights in receptions (16), receiving yards (239) and receiving TDs (2).

Redbank has won 14 straight regular-season games dating back to last season, last losing to Keystone in the 2021 opener. Senior QB Cam Wagner has passed for 1,353 yards, 22 TDs and just 3 INTs.

The Bulldogs took down the Falcon Knights twice last year, 28-6 in the regular season and 28-21 in the District 9 Class 1A title game.

The Knights are still searching for their first tally in the win column after losing to Elizabeth Forward, 42-0, in their only true home game of the year last Friday. Deer Lakes came out on top in a low-scoring affair with Southmoreland, 9-0.

Sophomore passer Codi Mullen is at the forefront of Knoch’s attack. Through the first four weeks of the campaign, he’d thrown for nearly 800 yards. Senior tight end Jake Murphy pulled in a pair of passes for 48 yards against the Warriors.

The Lancers trot out junior Derek Burk behind center. Both he and sophomore Zier Williams have rushed for 230 yards thus far. Knoch won last year’s matchup, 21-13.

Moniteau couldn’t keep up with backyard rival Karns City at home, falling 35-6, last week. The Owls bowed to visiting Central Clarion, 48-7.

The Warriors’ rushing attack was largely held in check against the Gremlins, with senior Hunter Stalker leading the way with 60 yards on 15 totes. He paces the team with 334 yards on the ground this fall.

Bradford’s last win came in Oct. 2019, meaning they’ve fallen short in 23 straight contests. The Warriors came out on the right side of a shootout between these teams last September, notching a 44-38 victory. It also happened to be their only triumph of 2021.

The Knights traveled to Northgate last week and lost, 33-0. The Rams come into this one after a 55-6 win over Quaker Valley.

In their four defeats this campaign, Summit Academy has been outscored, 209-20. All but one of those shortcomings were shutouts.

South Side has outscored its five opponents, 189-26. Juniors Ryan Navarra and Brody Almashy and senior Alex Arrigo have combined for 840 rushing yards. Almashy and senior Parker Statler have both registered seven TDs.