Mars set to give Class 5A opponents a taste of Wing-T offense

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 | 9:45 PM

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Ten years ago, Mars made the move up from Class AA to AAA in WPIAL football.

The Fightin’ Planets continue to rise up the classification ladder, and success has continued to follow them.

So in the eyes of longtime coach and athletic director Scott Heinauer, why has Mars continued to win as the school has continued to grow?

“We have been successful because of our coaching staff has been together for 24 years,” Heinauer said. “I also think our kids believe in our system, which is the Wing-T offense. The offense can adapt to our players’ needs and strengths every year.”

In this day and age of spread offenses and teams throwing the ball all over the field no matter what the conditions are, the Wing-T is definitely a throwback to the days of yesteryear when the mentality for most football coaches was 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Back when fields actually had dust.

With each stop in a higher class, the Fightin’ Planets have remained one of the most successful programs in the district with 21 trips to the WPIAL playoffs since Heinauer took over 26 years ago.

Now Mars moves up in class again this fall as a member of the Northern Conference in Class 5A.

Expect the Fightin’ Planets to contend with the likes of Penn Hills, North Hills, Fox Chapel, Kiski Area, Shaler, Armstrong and Hampton with six starters back on offense and seven returning on defense.

The man with the sleight of hand running the Wing-T is senior quarterback Tyler Kowalkowski, who threw for 910 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago.

Leading rusher Garrett Reinke also returns. The senior gained 533 yards in a balanced ground attack that saw four runners gain at least 200 yards. One of those returning backs is senior Chuck Green, who rushed for 474 yards and three touchdowns in 2017.

Reinke also led the team in scoring with nine touchdowns.

Senior Tom Sheehy was second on the team in receptions with 14 catches for 236 yards and three scores.

Up front, senior offensive tackle Hunter Boyd and junior tight end Michael Carmody lead the offense.

Carmody was a post player on the Mars basketball team that won WPIAL gold this past winter. While he is listed as a receiver, he knows his role on offense.

“In the Wing-T, I’m a glorified offensive tackle playing tight end.”

On the flip-side, Boyd, Carmody and senior defensive end Chase Lambert make for a big and experienced trio on the line, while Kowalkowski, Green, Sheehy and junior Drew Schlegel are returning defensive backs.

In their two years in Class 4A, Mars finished with a combined record of 14-8 and made the playoffs both years. However, their postseason trips ended in the quarterfinals.

Carmody thinks success will follow the Fightin’ Planets as long as they continue to play their trademark physical brand of football.

“As long as we can come together and be aggressive, I think anything can happen with the Wing-T,” he said, “especially since nobody from 5A has seen it yet.”

Schedule

Coach: Scott Heinauer

2017 record: 6-5, 5-3

All-time record: 405-508-32

Date, Opponent, Time

8.24, at West Mifflin, 7:30 p.m.

8.31, Moon, 7 p.m.

9.7, at Greensburg Salem, 7 p.m.

9.14, Penn Hills*, 7 p.m.

9.21, Armstrong*, 7 p.m.

9.29, at Shaler*, 1 p.m.

10.5, North Hills*, 7 p.m.

10.12, at Fox Chapel*, 7 p.m.

10.19, at Kiski Area*, 7 p.m.

10.26, Hampton*, 7 p.m.

*Class 5A Northern Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Tyler Kowalkowski

50-137, 910 yards, 8 TDs

Rushing: Garrett Reinke

117-533 yards, 9 TDs

Receiving: Cade Hetzler*

22-523 yards, 5 TDs

*Graduated

Don Rebel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Don at .

Tags: Mars