ADAMS TWP — Mars senior Ori Rinaman laughed off the blood sitting underneath his nostril. During one of his 26 carries against Gateway Friday night at the Mars Athletic Complex, his helmet had popped off and he landed face first on the turf.

But Rinaman represented what Mars football coach Scott Heinauer was looking for: a tough, gritty performance. The Planets held the Gators to negative-2 yards of total offense in teh first half of a 36-7 Greater Allegheny Conference win.

Rinaman finished with four touchdown rushes and a game-high 185 yards on the ground.

“We knew we had to fire off the ball,” Rinaman said. “We had to deliver the hit. We weren't taking any hits. We really took it to them.”

Mars (4-2, 3-2) has positioned itself back toward the top of the conference after a 1-2 start. The Planets are now tied with Indiana, who beat Mars 29-26 Week 1, for third place.

Planets quarterback Jake Rosswog thinks Mars is headed in the right direction.

“I think early in the season with Josh (Schultheis) getting hurt we were scared what was going to happen,” Rosswog said. “We came together as a team and are working harder in practice every week and we were able to come out and win.”

Mars' Nate Sablowski forced a big turnover five plays after the kickoff. Gateway quarterback Mike Loffredo was scrambling in the pocket and was hit by Sablowski. Rosswog pounced on the ball at the Gator 33-yard line.

“Our defensive people up front do a great job,” Heinauer said. “Our motto is we know we have to be physical. We know we have to be physical.”

Eli Brooks scored on a 12-yard pass from Rosswog four plays later.

Rosswog then converted a two-point conversion to put Mars ahead 8-0 with 8 minutes, 27 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

After forcing a three-and-out, a bad Gateway punt set Mars up at the Gateway 34. Rinaman finished off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to put the Planets ahead 15-0.

“Even before the game started we were fired up,” Rinaman said. “When they gave us the field like that, we knew we were punching it in.”

Gateway (2-4, 2-3) rotated between Laffredo and Roy Quez McNair at quarterback.

Neither had much success.

The Gators only generated 121 yards of offense, including 40 yards passing from McNair.

Adam White led Gateway in rushing with 81 yards.

“They are a big, physical and very aggressive team,” Gateway coach Tom Nola said. “They are the best team we've played so far and we've played Hampton.”

Rosswog, who passed for 75 yards, set up Mars' last score of the first half with a 47-yard pass to Rob Carmody.

Rinaman then scored from two yards out to put the Planets up 22-0 at the half.

“We knew that we had to come off the ball firing and had to take it to them,” Rosswog said. “We had to come off the ball and be the more physical team.”

Marshall Robinson and Max Chizmar also recorded sacks for Mars. Rinaman added two more touchdown runs of 9 and 4 yards to start the mercy clock with 10:47 left in the fourth quarter.

Gateway's lone touchdown came on a 4-yard run by Loffredo with less than four minutes remaining.

Heinauer wouldn't go as far to say everything came together for Mars, but feels his team has improved.

“We have a long way to go,” Heinauer said. “I don't know if it's coming together, but it's starting to come together. We just have to play football the way we know how to play football.”