Mars and Mohawk have been conference foes for only two seasons.

But if the two football squads are looking to form a rivalry, they're off to a good start.

Last season, the teams met in the regular-season finale with a playoff spot at stake.

Mohawk prevailed, 14-7, and Mars missed postseason play for the first time in four seasons.

This year, both teams already have qualified for the WPIAL Class AA playoffs.

But still to be decided is the matter of the Tri-County North Conference title.

A Mohawk win would give the Warriors (7-1, 6-0) the conference crown outright. A Mars win would give both teams a share of the title.

"If we win, they'd consider us co-champs of the conference," said Planets coach Scott Heinauer. "But we would get the higher seed in the playoffs."

It would be the first conference crown for Mars (5-3, 5-1) since 2001, when the Planets tied Apollo-Ridge for the top spot in the Allegheny Conference.

After defeating the Planets last season, Mohawk was dealt an early exit in the playoffs, getting shutout 14-0 by South Park in the first round.

But Mohawk's players were determined to make 2005 a successful season.

The team's lone defeat came in Week 2 against Beaver Falls. The Warriors have outscored their conference opponents 205-32, the latest win coming by a 35-0 shutout of Neshannock last week.

"I knew our kids were capable of something like this," said Mohawk's third-year coach Jason Long. "Whether or not they went out and did it was up to them."

"Since Jason has taken over up there, he's turned (Mohawk) into a winning football program," said Heinauer. "They can do whatever they need to on offense, whether it's running or passing. And the defense is solid as well.

"I knew they had a good team entering this season," Heinauer added. "And they've soundly beaten most of their opponents."

To say the Warriors' defense has been stingy is an understatement. Still, its biggest challenge yet will be a Planets offense averaging 410 yards and 39 points over its last four games.

"From what I've seen and heard of Mars' offense, I can't sit here and say that they won't come up with a few big plays," said Long. "They're definitely the most balanced team we will have faced. They execute very well."

As for Mohawk's offense, senior running back Jesse D'Amico is the biggest threat.

"He's got both power and speed," said Long. "And he's rushed for 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns this season."

Mars' defense has given up some big plays this season, but the vast majority of those came in the team's first four games, during which the team went 1-3. The Planets are 4-0 since then and their defense has given up an average of only 159 yards per game in that span.

The latest performance saw the Planets give up 103 yards to playoff-hopeful Riverside in a 44-0 win last Friday.

"Our defense has been suspect from time to time this season," said Heinauer. "But we played very well last week."