CLARION — Three weeks into the season, both the Karns City and Clarion football teams are in their familiar roles.

As dominant teams.

Clarion is 3-0 and has outscored its opponents 147-26.

Karns City is also 3-0 and has outscored its foes 138-21.

When the two teams clash Friday at Memorial Stadium in Clarion, something will have to give.

Even the two coaches have the same assessment of each other's teams.

“They always just play good, sound, fundamental football,” said Karns City coach Ed Conto.

“They're so well-coached and their kids are so unselfish,” said Clarion football coach Larry Wiser. “I think that says a lot about that program and that coaching staff.”

Karns City leads the series against Clarion with a record of 24-19-1, including a 16-6 victory last season.

In that game, the Gremlins threw the ball well, passing for 243 yards.

Karns City also has a two-quarterback system in place this year in Jacob King and Cullen Williams.

By now, Conto had hoped to settle on one, but the play of both QBs has made that difficult.

“Each quarterback is getting better and better each week,” Conto said. “Both seem to have stepped it up.”

The duo have combined to complete 18 of 32 for 382 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Meanwhile Clarion has senior quarterback Brendan Miller back from injury. Last year in the game against the Gremlins, Miller injured his knee and missed the remainder of the season.

Miller has had limited opportunities to throw, completing 8 of 32 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.

“I don't think you'll ever see me being Air Wiser,” Wiser said, laughing.

Instead Clarion relies on a running game that has already produced 854 yards on just 110 carries and 14 touchdowns.

The explosive Ian Corbett has graduated, but the Bobcats have sophomore Colton Rapp, who has rumbled for 384 yards on just 42 carries this season.

Seven backs have scored at least one touchdown for Clarion.

That's a page out of the Karns City book. The Gremlins have 12 players who have carried the ball at least once and six who have scored at least one touchdown.

Karns City's ground game is led by a trio of backs: Collin Dunmyre, who has 274 yards on 24 carries; Maverick Kelsea, who has 242 yards on 22 carries; and Chandler Turner, who has 190 yards on 15 carries.

Still, Conto is hoping to see better play from his offensive line against Clarion.

“We've not done well with our combo blocks,” Conto said. “We're doing OK doubling up, but we're not slipping off and picking up the linebackers. We have to do a better job.”

While it's hard to quibble with the results so far, Conto said he is always looking for improvement.

“I'd say we still have a long way to go,” Conto said. “You win on Friday night and you're happy with the score, but then you see the film and you see some of the things and you wonder, 'How'd we get away with that? How'd we get away with that?'”

Mistakes will be magnified in a game like this.

Conto relishes that challenge.

“That's why you play teams like this,” Conto said. “You need games like this.”