JEFFERSON TWP — Mars drew a line in the sand. Knoch couldn't cross it.

The Knights were denied scores inside the Mars 5-yard line twice in the second half as the Planets held on for a 7-3 football victory Friday night.

The win left Mars (6-3, 4-1) with the Greater Allegheny Conference title. The loss left Knoch (3-6, 3-2) believing it deserved a share of it.

"We did everything we needed to do to win this football game," Knoch coach Mike King said.

A fumbled punt — recovered by the Knights' Jed Whisler at the Planets 16-yard line — led to a 28-yard Kevin Wood field goal and a 3-0 Knoch lead with 8:14 left in the first half.

Mars responded with a 9-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a 36-yard D.J. Delucia pass to Randy Seebacher and concluded with a Seth Geyer 1-yard run with 3:38 left before halftime.

From there, the Planets had to hold on. Austin Miele, the team's 1,000-yard back, suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter and Seebacher went out with a knee injury.

"We had to shuffle some people around and rely on our defense," Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. "I told the kids at halftime that it was going to take effort from every kid on the field for us to win this game.

"I wasn't going to bring those two kids back in the game. The doctor told me they'll be fine for next week, so I couldn't take a chance."

Knoch drove to the Mars 20 on the first possession of the third quarter. On fourth-and-3 from there, quarterback Kyler Kenyon was stopped for a yard loss by Eric Gillette.

The Knights regained possession at the Mars 45 and started to drive. On second and goal from the 4-yard line, Kenyon was spun around and the ball popped out. Seth Geyer recovered for the Planets.

Mars went three-and-out again, however, and Knoch regained possession at the Planets' 35. A 31-yard pass to James Zellhart moved the ball to the 1-yard line.

Three straight quarterback sneaks failed to get into the end zone before John DeWalt took a handoff on fourth down and was nailed for a yard loss by Geyer, Shane Smith and other defenders.

"Our line just stood its ground," Heinauer said. "They were determined not to let them in. We've got the best defense in the conference. We beat Franklin Regional pretty much the same way."

King wasn't planning on trying a QB sneak on third down — until he walked out to talk to his players during a timeout.

"I saw the ball sitting on the two-inch line," King said. "I asked the kids if they could punch it in and they felt they could. They felt they did.

"Our kids believe they scored on one or two of those sneaks. I don't know. I'll have to look at the film, but my heart tells me we should be conference champions.

"Hindsight's always 20-20, but when the ball is two inches from the goal line, why step two yards back to hand it off? Just punch it in," King added.

Heinauer wasn't expecting a third quarterback sneak.

"I figured it'd be an option or the fullback," he said. "That's what I told our defense to look for. They responded anyway."

When Mars took over on its own 2-yard line with 6:52 left in the game, Knoch had run 27 plays to its six in the second half. But the Planets churned out four first downs, moving the ball to the Knights 35 before relinquishing possession with 18 seconds left.

"We're league champions and I'm proud of our kids, especially the way we had to get this done," Heinauer said.

Both teams wound up with 194 yards of offense in a game dominated by defense. Miele led the Planets with 41 yards rushing — all in the first half.

Kenyon rushed for 56 yards and Adam Tuzikow added 50 for Knoch.

"Our kids are down right now and they should be," King said. "Having a share of the conference title, getting a plaque for the school, another banner in the gym — that's the story they wanted to write here.

"We came so close."