From left, Mars’ Ethan Kresinski, Ayden Yocum and Zach Dentel during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Mars had struggled all night to put points on the board. That ended in the fourth quarter.

Down 10-3 to Bethel Park entering the final 12 minutes, the Planets’ finally found pay dirt when Ethan Kresinski picked off an Evan Devine pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to tie things up.

Then, with 15 seconds to play, Liam Corcoran plowed into the endzone from 3 yards out to cap a game-winning drive for a 17-13 road victory Friday night.

Corcoran, who finished with three carries and 13 yards, then iced the game two plays later when he picked off Devine and bled the final seconds off the clock.

Corcoran’s go-ahead TD came at the end of a long Mars drive after Xavier Jackson put the Black Hawks up with 2:51 left on a 21-yard field goal.

For Mars (2-0), running back Ayden Yocum finished with 176 yards on 29 carries, and Gabe Hein caught two passes for 11 yards and recorded an interception on defense. Dom DeBasi drilled a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Mars visits North Hills next week.

Freeport 49, Derry 6 — Quarterback Drew Ross and running back Amos Glenn led the way for the Yellowjackets in this runaway win.

Freeport scored on its first two possessions as Glenn found the end zone on a 25-yard run less than two minutes into the game. Ross ended the ’Jackets’ second possession with a 7-yard scoring burst. Freeport had a 28-6 lead by halftime.

Ross rushed for 68 yards and threw for 120. Glenn had 122 offensive yards and two touchdowns. Ross also returned an interception 80 yards for a score.

Port Allegany 66, Moniteau 14 — The Warriors were handed a tough break one week after snapping an 18-game losing streak, facing a PIAA runner-up in Week 2.

The Gators triggered a running clock at the start of the second half as Moniteau fell to 1-1.

Brendin Sankey ran for 51 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, and caught two balls for 24 yards. And freshman quarterback Weston Cook completed 7 of 19 passes for 124 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Cook also ran four times for 25 stripes. Blaine Jamison caught two passes for 53 yards, as well.

Moniteau hosts Bucktail next week.

New Brighton 42, Summit Academy 14 — The Knights fell to 0-2 on the road. They visit Freedom Area in a Week 3 matchup next.