Fourth-quarter interception helps Mars hold off Shaler

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 29, 2018 | 10:42 PM

In a game dominated by lengthy, time-consuming drives, the key play led to a two-play, 4-yard scoring drive as Mars came back to defeat host Shaler in front of a large homecoming crowd at Titans Stadium.

Senior Garrett Reinke rushed for 160 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns as the Fightin’ Planets improved to 5-1 with a 21-12 victory over the Titans.

With Shaler driving and trailing by two early in the fourth quarter, quarterback Darin Mizgorski made one of his few miscues by overthrowing his target as the pass sailed into the waiting arms of Mars junior defensive back Drew Schegel, who returned the pick 51 yards to the Titans 4-yard line.

“Huge interception,” Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. “We talked at halftime, we need to make a big play, somebody has to step up. Who’s the guy that’s going to step up and change the flow of the game? He (Schlegal) did a great job intercepting the ball.”

Two plays later, Reinke scored off left tackle from 1 yard to put the Fightin’ Planets up 21-13.

Shaler drove inside the Mars 5 with less than 4 minutes left in regulation when Mizgorski was sacked on fourth-and-goal, ending the Titans last hope.

Both teams scored touchdowns on the game’s first three possessions.

Shaler capped off the first drive of the game when Joey Kremer scored on a 7-yard run. Brandon Berdick’s point after touchdown kick was blocked, keeping the score 6-0 Titans.

Mars answered with a time-consuming drive that ended when Reinke scored on a 2-yard plunge. Blake Edwards added the extra point that gave the Fightin’ Planets a 7-6 lead after one quarter.

The second quarter started with Shaler marching down field again. Mizgorski rolled right and lofted a pass into the end zone to an open Joe Impovido to put the Titans back on top.

Shaler second-year coach Jim Ryan decided to go for two points and the conversion failed when Mizgorski was stopped at the 1-yard line after rolling left to keep the score 12-7 Titans.

In the first half, the Titans had success running between the tackles, but that option was not as successful in the second half.

“We did a good job in the second half,” Heinauer said. “We made some changes up front, and they worked for us. We brought some guys on stunts because they had gouged us in the first half.”

Mars continued to move the ball, eating up a chunk of the third quarter with a drive that led to them taking the lead for good.

Following a Mars timeout, senior quarterback Tyler Kowalkowski rolled right after play-action and found Andrew Recchia wide open in the right corner of the end zone for the lead.

The win lifts Mars to 2-1 in the Northern Conference, good for third place and a game behind North Hills, who they will host on Friday.

Shaler falls to 1-2 in the conference and into a tie with Armstrong for fifth place. The Titans visit the River Hawks on Friday.

A pleased Heinaur summed up his Saturday afternoon.

“Anytime you go away, it’s a tough win,” he said. “We’re happy.”

Don Rebel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Don at drebel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TheDonRebel.

Tags: Mars, Shaler