Football - Kiski Area vs Mars

Planets Align for Mars in 38-0 Road Win at Kiski Area

Kiski Area had a lot to play for as they took the field for their game with Mars. Combined with the emotion of seniors playing their last home game for the Cavaiiers, Kiski Area was in a win-and-you're-in situation with their WPIAL playoff prospects. A win over one-loss Mars would snap a 4-game losing skid and punch the Cavaliers' ticket to the post-season. But playoff dreams would have to wait another week for the Cavaliers, who couldn't find a way to stop the Fightin' Planets, who rolled to a 38-0 win in Kiski Area's final game of their inaugural season at Richard J Dilts Field on the Kiski Area campus.

Mars' first points of the game came at 7:03 of the first quarter after Kiski Area botched a snap from punt formation, setting up Mars deep in Cavaliers' territory. Garrett Reinke carried into the endzone from 15 yards out on the next play to give Mars a 7-0 lead after the Blake Edwards PAT kick. A 29-yard pass completion from Tyler Kowalkowski to a wide open Andrew Recchia put Mars up 14-0 with the Edwards kick as 1:41 remained in the opening quarter. Edwards, who was perfect all night on PAT kicks, added a 19-yard field goal at 4:40 remaining in the second quarter and it was 17-0. Mars finished the first half scoring with a 4-play, 80-yard drive, capped by a 43-yard touchdown reception by Reinke with 29.4 seconds on the clock, to head to the locker room with a 24-0 lead at intermission.

After the Mars band performed and the Cavaliers' band honored their seniors, Reinke picked up where he had left off in the first half, rushing for a touchdown at 9:21 of the third quarter to make the score 31-0. A final 64-yard romp to the endzone by Reinke, his fourth of the game at 7:50 of the fourth quarter, invoked the mercy-rule running clock just as a rain shower began. Both teams gave backup players some field time as the game ended with Mars winning 38-0.

Mars improves to 5-1 in conference, 8-1 overall, with their only blemish coming at the hands of undefeated Penn Hills. The Fightin' Planets, who have already clinched a playoff spot, will close the regular season next week at home with a conference game against Hampton. Kiski Area falls to 2-4 in conference, 3-6 overall, as they travel to Armstrong next Friday in a must-win game for their playoff hopes.           

Watch this link for a full gallery of action photos available for purchase or sharing the day after the game.