NEW CASTLE — Having seen Neshannock score before halftime, Mars coach Scott Heinauer wanted that score back early in the third quarter.

What he got was more than he expected.

The Planets scored three touchdowns on their first three possessions in a four-play span of the third quarter and rolled to a 42-6 Tri-County North victory over the Lancers (1-6, 0-6).

The win clinched a WPIALClass AA playoff berth for Mars (6-1, 6-0), which was backed by 217 yards and three touchdowns from Bill Bair and a scoring pass and run by John Brake.

Shane Kaclik returned the second half kickoff to the Neshannock 40. Four plays later, he scored from 13 yards out to give Mars a 28-6 lead.

"We talked about that at halftime," said Heinauer. "We got the ball in the second half and we needed to score a touchdown. We wanted to set the tone right away."

And set it they did. Neshannock's ensuing drive fizzled at the Mars 31. After the Planets' took over on downs, Brake found a wide-open Corey Slater down the middle on the first play and outkicked the defender to open a 35-6 lead.

"John Brake is capable of throwing the ball," said Heinauer. "We don't throw a lot but they brought a lot of people up to the line."

On the Lancers' second play of their next drive, Mars' Ryan Schroth intercepted an Emmanuel Mitos pass and returned it 35 yards to the Lancers 2.

Two plays later, Bair punched it in for his third touchdown of the game with 4:22 left in the third quarter to close out the scoring.

The mercy rule was in effect the remainder of the game.

"These kids, we're trying to teach the fundamentals," said Lancers coach Pat Cuba. "We're a Class A school and we're trying to build the program. I'm not using that as an excuse. Mars is a very good team."

Bair ran for 185 yards in the first half on 14 carries. He opened the scoring with a 16-yard run on the first Mars drive and Brake scored on a 20-yarder on the following possession.

Bair added a 62-yard scoring run gave the Planets a 21-0 lead.

Mitos, however, led a six-play, 58-yard drive with 38 seconds left before the half, capped by his 41-yard scoring strike to Anthony Tommelleo.

Notes: Bair needs nine yards to become the 36th player in WPIALhistory to amass 4,000 yards. ... Brake passed for a season-high 97 yards.