NATRONA HEIGHTS — There are tough ways to end a season.

But tough doesn't begin to describe the manner in which Mars' 2005 campaign came to a close.

By the time the Planets picked up their initial first down against Burrell, they were trailing 36-0 on the scoreboard.

It was that kind of night for Mars, which bowed from the WPIAL Class AA playoffs with a 36-7 loss Friday night at Highlands High School's Golden Rams Stadium.

"We certainly didn't play the way we're capable of," said Planets coach Scott Heinauer. "But that's not taking anything away from Burrell because they're a good football team."

Mars was beaten soundly in every aspect of the game.

The team's offensive line was ineffective, leading to fullback Paul Ferrese's two yards on eight carries.

In contrast, the Bucs' ground attack totaled 164 yards, led by Tyler Henderson's 87 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns.

But it was Burrell's passing attack that had the Planets on their heels in the early going.

Sophomore Seth Napierkowski completed 10 of his first 11 pass attempts for 134 yards and a touchdown.

He ended the game with 236 yards through the air and two scores.

"He did a lot of growing up tonight," Burrell coach Tom Henderson said. "He played very well."

The Planets' misfortune began on the first drive of the game.

After gaining just three yards in three plays, Mars punted from its own 33-yard line.

Punter Tim Wirtz dropped the snap, picked it up and got off a punt of only five yards, setting up the Bucs at the Planets' 38-yard line.

From there, Burrell made easy work of Mars' defense, moving 37 yards in six plays before Henderson scored on a 1-yard run.

Wirtz's next punt was a good one, pinning the Bucs deep inside their own territory at the 4-yard line.

But Burrell methodically drove 96 yards in 16 plays, with Napierkowski completing seven of eight pass attempts on the drive for 77 yards. The last strike went to wide receiver Aaron Brown for a 7-yard score that gave Burrell a 14-0 lead with just 13 seconds gone in the second quarter.

"To beat Burrell, you need to stop Henderson and Brown," said Heinauer. "That's a difficult task."

Steve Carney (9 yards) and Henderson (2) added scoring runs in the second quarter for the Bucs.

"Their quarterback didn't play like a sophomore tonight," Heinauer said. "But the story of the game is their defense shut us down."

With the Planets' running game proving ineffective, the pressure fell to quarterback D.J. Cannon.

But the junior was unable to provide a spark, misfiring on all six of his first half pass attempts.

The Planets walked to the locker room at halftime with no first downs, just three offensive yards in 16 plays and on the wrong end of a 28-0 deficit.

"Our defensive performance tonight was beautiful," said Henderson. "The kids are playing with a lot of intensity and running well to the ball."

Following Mars' unsuccessful onside kick to begin the second half, Carney closed out the scoring for Burrell with a 49-yard touchdown catch. That brought the mercy rule into effect.

Mars (5-5) finally picked up a first down late in the third quarter.

Cannon hooked up with Josh Keil on a 93-yard scoring pass with 1:25 to go in the game, accounting for the Planets' lone score.

Burrell (9-1) will take on Ford City, a 39-8 victor over Center, in the WPIAL quarterfinals.