ADAMS TWP - It didn't matter who was lined up at quarterback, or behind him, for Mars Friday night.

Summit Academy couldn't find a way to shut down the Planets' ground attack.

Paul Ferrese, who had 99 rushing yards at halftime, finished with 110 and four touchdowns. David Pisarcik added 71 yards and, in mop-up duty near the end of the game, Billy Bair tallied another 74 yards and a touchdown as Mars (2-3, 2-1) ran away from Summit Academy, 38-8.

"We need to run the football to be successful," Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. "You have to have a good running game to have a good passing game."

The Planets' ability to throw the ball might have been in doubt early in the game after starter D.J. Cannon was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Cannon was hurt following a 15-yard run on the fourth play from scrimmage.

Tim Frye entered the game in relief and kept the Knights (1-4, 0-3) from stacking the line against the run. Frye completed 4-of-7 passes for 53 yards, which allowed the running backs room to work.

"He did a good job," Heinauer said. "He's a good athlete. He's a kid who can make plays and make things happen, and that's why he can play (quarterback)."

Frye's teammates took the pressure off him with their 290 rushing yards.

"(The line) is blocking all right up front," said Ferrese, who also grabbed two passes for a team-high 36 yards. "The guys are getting on bodies, giving me seams to run through. I'm just making good cuts."

Ferrese said the physical play of his line made it easier to find holes.

"The guys are getting on bodies and knocking people down," he said. "It helps a lot when you have a line in front of you."

Summit Academy coach Steve Sherer said big plays did his team in.

"We made some mistakes," he said. "We weren't consistent. We stopped them and then they got the big play. You can't do that. You need to stop them for three plays."

One of the instances Sherer was referring to happened in the third quarter, just minutes after Summit's Bradley Walker returned the second-half kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to cut the Planets' lead to 22-8.

Facing third-and-8 from the Knights' 29-yard line, Ferrese sprinted around the right side for a 20-yard gain. Three plays later, Ferrese was in the end zone for the fourth time, capping an 11-play, 59-yard drive that thwarted Summit's momentum.

For a team that didn't win a game last season and has been beaten soundly in three of its four losses, Sherer said he focuses on more than the scoreboard.

"We're not as much concerned about winning and losing, but it's how you play the game," Sherer said. "That's what we're trying to teach these guys, to come together, play hard and let (everything) out on the field. Nobody can fault them for that."

Mars, which missed the playoffs last year, hosts conference opponent Neshannock next Friday in what Heinauer described as an important game.

"We approached this game (Summit Academy) as a must win," the 13-year head coach said. "It's going to be the same next week. It's a must-win game. We need to win that game. We can't afford to lose anymore (conference games)."