Mars would have liked treats on Friday night, but host Central Valley opened its door with a trick.
Zachary Benedek’s Planets got on the scoreboard first in the 41-21 loss, with Nate Walker’s 32-yard touchdown pass to Kellan Garvin, but turnovers and a tough second quarter doomed Mars.
Mars’ Kellan Garvin reaches for a pass during the Planets’ 41–21 loss at Central Valley. Garvin caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Nate Walker in the first quarter.
Central Valley’s Garrett Wersing returned a Walker interception 27 yards for a touchdown later in the frame before the Warriors pinned up 27 straight points in the next one, including another Walker pick-six, this one returned by George Lewis. Central Valley quarterback Braddock Ambrose then threw three touchdowns, including one on a trick play, before the midway point, pushing his side ahead 34-7.
The Warriors (3-7, 1-3) scored on a 99-yard fumble recovery and return early in the third quarter before Jameson Garvin surged in from three yards out with 2:37 before the fourth. Ryan Walker scooped up a fumble and brought it to the house for an 84-yard touchdown.
“I feel like, looking back on everything we’ve been through this season, we faced a lot of adversity, and it was really a family that went through a lot of hardship … and I think just kept coming together and getting closer, even through the rough times, which was really awesome to see,” Benedek said.
Benedek knows his players will apply the lessons learned this go-round to their own daily lives.
“You learn who they are as people by facing that adversity and continuing to fight throughout the season,” Benedek said. “It’s a long season and it’s hard to stay focused every single week when you’re not getting the results that you want. Seeing how they responded to that and stayed focused throughout the 10 weeks of our season just showed how they’re gonna attack life.
Mars quarterback Nate Walker completed 14 of 35 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted four times in the Planets’ 41–21 loss to Central Valley.
“I told them tonight, ‘Yeah, the season didn’t go how we wanted. It’s very rough.’ And I said, ‘I don’t even really have the words for football right now, but really, if you take anything from this season, it’s life is gonna throw some crazy things at you, and you’re not gonna be ready for everything. But when those things come, it’s how you respond to adversity and (get) back on track and keep moving forward.”
For Mars (2-8, 0-4) Nate Walker finished 14-for-35 for 197 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted four times on the night. Garvin had 49 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, while Joe Bandzak added 37 yards on eight attempts of his own.
Mars quarterback Nate Walker completed 14 of 35 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted four times in the Planets’ 41–21 loss to Central Valley.
Brady Brennan, meanwhile, had 12 receptions for 169 yards. The Planets will have a lot of returning players next season with varsity experience, along with around 30 more moving up from the middle school ranks.
“I’m very excited about the growth that we had,” Benedek said. “Coming together as a family, if we keep doing that, it doesn’t matter what’s thrown at us next season or the offseason — whatever that may be — that’s gonna be a recipe for success.”
