NATRONA HEIGHTS — Through five weeks of the season, Aaran Randolph wasn’t at the top of Highlands’ list of offensive playmakers.

He most certainly was Friday night.

The junior accounted for six touchdowns — four rushing, one passing and one receiving — in the first half of a 54-22 Greater Allegheny Conference win over Mars at Golden Rams Stadium.

The Rams put up 33 points in the second quarter alone, with Randolph, a wide receiver, taking snaps from the Wildcat formation.

He had two touchdowns in a win over Indiana in Week 5, but his talent had gone largely untapped until Friday.

“We hadn’t put him in much, but he’s an athlete and we have to find ways to get him the ball,” said Highlands coach Matt Bonislawski. “He can run, throw and pass and was phenomenal tonight.”

He rushed for 178 yards on just 10 carries, one of them going for a 65-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter. A number of Planets had a chance to bring him down on the play.

“I think he broke eight tackles on that play,” said Mars coach Eric Kasperowicz. “I thought we had guys in position to make the plays, but we made him look like Barry Sanders tonight.”

The Golden Rams (6-0, 3-0) scored on the opening drive of the game, a six-play march that covered 70 yards. They ran the ball exclusively until the final play, a 19-yard pass from Chandler Thimons to Randolph.

Mars tied the game with an impressive 97-yard drive during which featured quarterback Eric Kasperowicz hitting Aidan Alessio three times for 59 yards before connecting with Jacob Maple for a 17-yard score.

With the game tied at 7-all, the Rams unleashed Randolph in the Wildcat and Mars scrambled for answers. He scored from 13 yards out and the Rams quickly got the ball back when Montrell Johnson intercepted Kasperowicz.

On the very next play, Randolph scored on a 24-yard run.

Mars’ offense did not help matters, failing to pick up a first down on its final four drives of the first half. Jack Hull recovered a fumble in Highlands territory shortly before halftime, but the Planets turned the ball over on downs.

“I think you come out sometimes and you’re too excited,” Bonislawski said of his defense giving up that long drive earlier in the game. “Once we settle down, we’re OK.”

Mars (4-2, 1-1), which trailed 40-7 at halftime, scored in the third quarter on Carlos Orr’s one-yard plunge and in the fourth period on a 67-yard pass play from Kasperowicz to Gabe Hein.

Bombalski rushed for 108 of his 147 yards in the second half.

“Highlands was more physical and they took it to us tonight,” said Coach Kasperowicz. “We have to go back to the drawing board.”

The loss could prove costly beyond the scoreboard. Mars running back Evan Wright (nearly 800 rushing yards this season) and kicker/punter/safety Mason Childress both left the game with an injury.

Mars hosts Kiski Area Friday in another Greater Allegheny Conference meeting.

Mars 7 0 7 8 — 22

Highlands 7 33 0 14 — 54

First Quarter

H — Aaran Randolph 19 pass from Chandler Thimons (Burton Babinsack kick), 8:21

M — Jacob Maple 17 pass from Eric Kasperowicz (Mason Childress kick), 2:48

Second Quarter

H — Randolph 13 run (kick blocked), 11:48

H — Randolph 24 run (Babinsack kick), 10:45

H — Randolph 19 run (Babinsack kick), 8:32

H — Randolph 65 run (Babinsack kick), 6:30

H — Thimons 56 pass from Randolph (run failed), 4:03

Third Quarter

M — Carlos Orr 1 run (Childress kick), 8:43

Fourth Quarter

H — Luke Bombalski 1 run (Babinsack kick), 10:27

H — Ashton Hatajik 6 run (Babinsack kick), 8:59

M — Gabe Hein 67 pass from Kasperowicz (Rafael Bartley pass from Kasperowicz), 7:55

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Mars, Evan Wright 3-5, Eric Kasperowicz 7-(-10), Rafael Bartley 1-6, Carlos Orr 14-7, Kyle Organ 1-(-2), TEAM 1-(-3). Highlands, Luke Bombalski 19-147, Chandler Thimons 5-(-5), Aaran Randolph 10-178, Ashton Hatajik 2-14, Julius Saunders 2-3, TEAM 2-(-5).

Passing: Mars, Eric Kasperowicz 15-23-174-1. Highlands, Chandler Thimons 1-2-19-1, Aaran Randolph 1-2-56-0.

Receiving: Mars, Aidan Alessio 5-70, Jacob Maple 2-33, Rafael Bartley 1-3, Nathan Ewing 1-0, Carlos Orr 1-(-3), Noah Nesselroad 2-3, Gabe Hein 3-68. Highlands, Aaran Randolph 1-19, Chandler Thimons 1-56.