PINE TWP - Pine-Richland got its jitters out of the way on opening night - just in time for opening day.

The Rams held a 13-0 lead with 5:46 left in the second quarter of their season-opening football game against Mars Friday night when heavy lightning forced suspension of play until Saturday morning.

"We looked jittery Friday night," Pine-Richland coach Clair Altemus said. "We were taking penalties, fumbling the ball, not executing all that well."

Pine-Richland looked more like the defending WPIAL Class AAA champions Saturday, scoring touchdowns on its first four possessions en route to a 48-6 triumph over the Planets.

"They have a great program with a great system," Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. "They showed it today."

Senior running back Tim Newman - who didn't start the game Friday - wound up with 16 carries for 107 yards and five touchdowns.

Newman scored on runs of 16, 2, 1, 7 and 2 yards. Jeff Gonano started in his place Friday night.

"Tim had been walking around reading his own press clippings a little bit," Altemus said. "He wasn't really into things during practice.

"He needed a jump-start. He came in and scored five touchdowns … looks like we pushed the right button."

Mars was limited to 140 yards offensively with 97 of those coming on two plays. Trailing 48-0 and the mercy rule well into effect, the Planets fell victim to a 61-yard punt that was touched down at their 1-yard line.

On second down from there, Paul Ferrese got loose for a 51-yard run to the Rams' 48-yard line. The play marked Mars' lone possession in Pine-Richland territory.

On fourth-and-10 from there, quarterback D.J. Cannon connected with Josh Keil on a 46-yard pass, setting up Ferrese's 2-yard TD plunge and a 99-yard scoring drive with 23 seconds left in the game.

Ferrese had 17 carries for 99 yards to lead the Planets.

"That was a sophomore throwing to a sophomore," Heinauer said. "It was nice, but it didn't mean all that much.

"You have to execute when it's time to execute. That's at the beginning of the game, not the end. We fumbled the ball way too much. You just can't be doing stuff like that."

The Planets lost four fumbles. One of them was returned 19 yards for a score by Ryan Breen late in the third quarter.

Pine-Richland rolled up 18 first downs in the first three quarters before turning things over to its second unit.

"My biggest concern was how we'd come out today in terms of intensity," Altemus said. "I talked to the kids about that. I was very pleased by how focused they were."

The victory gives Pine-Richland the St. Barnabas Medical Center Cup - which goes to the winner of this annual rivalry - for the fifth consecutive year.

Pine-Richland has outscored Mars 104-13 in their last three meetings.

"Mars always has a very competitive team and their school is nearby," Altemus said. "I like playing Scott's teams and he likes playing us. The atmosphere was tremendous Friday night. There were 7,000 people here before Mother Nature put an end to that."

Mars plays its first home game Friday night when it hosts Center.

"We'll work on things and we'll be ready to go," Heinauer said.

Mars 0 0 0 6-6

Pine-Richland 7 20 21 0-48

First Quarter

P-R - Andy Moore 4 pass from Billy White (Tom Randazza kick), :24

Second Quarter

P-R - Tim Newman 16 run (kick failed), 8:15

P-R - Newman 2 run (Randazza kick), 4:02

P-R - Newman 1 run (Randazza kick), :40

Third Quarter

P-R - Newman 7 run (Randazza kick), 7:56

P-R - Newman 2 run (Randazza kick), 4:36

P-R - Ryan Breen 19 fumble return (Randazza kick), 3:26

Fourth Quarter

M - Paul Ferrese 2 run (kick failed), :23

Individual Statistics

Passing

: Mars, D.J. Cannon 3-6-49-0. Pine-Richland, Jake Long 4-11-69-0.

Rushing

: Mars, D.J. Cannon 4-(-9), Matt Kennedy 4-6, Paul Ferrese 17-99, Dave Pisarcik 2-(-6), Alec Mundy 4-7, Stephen Jackson 1-(-6). Pine-Richland, Tim Newman 16-107, Jeff Gonano 4-46, Brandon Halaja 10-28, Brendan O'Mahony 7-32, Chris Joseph 2-3.

Receiving

: Mars, Matt Kennedy 1-4, David Pisarcik 1-(-1), Josh Keil 1-46. Pine-Richland, Bill Massaro 3-52, Matt Klimczyk 1-17.