The Mars Planets and Hopewell Vikings were each put through a serious test during their opening games last week.

For different reasons, both teams had experiences with players being subjected to a higher level of football than they had faced before.

Both teams passed ... with flying colors.

Mars, playing its first game at the Class AAA level after moving up from Cass AA, dominated Moon Area on the road in a 35-0 win.

Hopewell, fielding a young roster with few returning starters, also pitched a shutout. The Vikings beat a Knoch team that had advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals last season, 20-0.

"We didn't start the game the way we wanted to, but after we got settled down we got back on track," Planets coach Scott Heinauer said. "The biggest thing about moving from Double-A to Triple-A is that not just the amount of kids you're playing against, it's that the kids are bigger, stronger, faster.

"We were able to move the football, and the defense played very well."

The Planets held the Tigers to only seven first downs and 73 yards of total offense, forcing four turnovers. Impressive as that is, the young Vikings were about as good, limiting the Knights to 76 total yards and only three first downs.

"We had some young guys starting for the first time, including seven juniors starting on defense and a freshman tailback that had three touchdowns," Vikings coach Dave Vestal said.

"Knoch is a good football team, but we just got off to a good start. The kids played very hard, but we know we have to keep getting better this week, because Mars won't make it any easier."

Each team hopes to continue its early-season success when they play 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Mars in a non-conference game.

Hopewell's youth -- the Vikings returned only three starters on offense and four on defense from last season-- is perhaps most exhibited by the player who scored all three of the team's touchdowns.

Rushel Shell is only a freshman, but he had 87 yards rushing on only six carries and scored on runs of 55, 8 and 15 yards.

"He's a kid we brought up this year to take a look at," Vestal said. "He's very mature for his age, 6-foot, 210 pounds. He's a tough kid and should be a great leader. We rotated him at tailback, and every time he touched the ball he made some things happen. He did a great job.

"He's unselfish. We're unselfish as a team; everybody has a role. We have three good running backs, but we're going to try to get [Shell] some more touches after what he did in Week 1."

Senior Drew Howard and junior Brendan Taylor are the other primary ball-carriers in the Vikings' system. Each also starts at linebacker, a corps that includes experienced starters Jake Bauder, Jesse Klesser, Pat Matty and Dane Smith.

Bauder also starts on offense, where the team broke in a new starting quarterback in Tyler George last week. George, a senior who had made some spot starts at the position due to an injury to Mark Javens last season, completed 5 of 12 passes for 62 yards and no interceptions.

"He's doing a good job and is being a great leader for us," Vestal said.

"Our big emphasis is on team. Everybody can be successful because of somebody else.

"Rushel had success, but it was also the offensive line and people in front of him. I think we have a great feel for what the team is, and that team concept is what helps us get better each week and hopefully will allow us to have success and be as good as we can be."

Mars also has new featured tailbacks, ones who carry quite a weight on their shoulders: Replacing the WPIAL's leading rusher. Bill Bair, who has graduated, Mars' running game didn't miss a beat in the season opener.

Senior Shane Kaclik rushed for 138 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns. Sophomore Austin Miele rushed for 66 yards on eight carries and also scored twice.

"Shane is a very good running back, an elusive runner who does a great job of cutting," Heinauer said. "He's not Bill Bair, but I don't think we'll have another running back like that here.

"Austin has great talent. He's a kid people will take notice of real soon. He can take a game over."

Other than the notable loss of Bair, the Planets returned the vast majority of their starters, including senior quarterback John Brake and a veteran, talented offensive line.

"We have a lot of guys coming back, and that helps," Heinauer said.

"Hopewell is a very physical football team. It will be another challenge for us. Last year [in Class AA], we might have some breathers on the schedule. I don't think there are any breathers on the schedule now. We'll have to be ready to play Friday."The game

• What: Hopewell at Mars Area in a WPIAL Class AAA non-conference game.

• When: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.

• Where: Mars Area Athletic Complex.

• The skinny: Mars is in its first season in Class AAA and won its opening game last week in impressive fashion against Moon Area. Hopewell has been a strong program under coach Dave Vestal. The Vikings will provide a stern test for the Planets in their home opener.