KARNS CITY — While everyone around him shuffles in and out — tackles and guards, tailbacks and fullbacks and even quarterbacks — Reese Barger is the one constant.

And the center of attention for the Karns City football team.

Literally.

The senior center has a lot on his plate. He makes the offensive line calls — even though he doesn't always know who is lining up on either side of him.

“I don't think there is anyone else who can do what he does,” said Gremlins' senior fullback Maverick Kelsea. “He definitely knows what he's doing. He's the leader of this team and he's been doing it for four years now. He's something special.”

Barger is one of a select few who have started games as a freshman for the Karns City football team.

Barger cracked the playing-time rotation early in his freshman year, starting the final 10 games of that season.

In a 43-6 win over Moniteau in the District 9 Class AA title game last week, Barger became the first player in district history to start on four championship teams.

“It was definitely a big accomplishment for me,” Barger said. “It was just huge for me that the team won again for the fourth straight year. But usually, freshmen don't start a lot for us.”

Barger said he was shocked when he was told early in his freshman year that was elevated to No. 1 on the depth chart.

“It caught me off guard,” Barger said. “It was right after a JV game that I was told I was going to be starting varsity.”

Barger has rarely left the field since.

Karns City coach Ed Conto said there was a simple reason why Barger earned a starting spot so soon in his high school career.

“His intensity and his football smarts,” Conto said.

Barger, who is just 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, is also a standout at defensive end where he has more than 50 tackles and a team-leading eight sacks.

He had two sacks against Moniteau last week.

“At defensive end, he's good at getting off iso-blocks and traps,” Conto said. “He's always focused on what he needs to do.”

Barger needs to be well conditioned and that's something he focuses on a great deal before and during the season.

“I have to be ready to go at 100 percent every play,” Barger said. “I have to be in good shape to do that. But it's a lot of fun. It's a lot of fun blocking for the backs we have because they make us look good. I think it really helps that we are smaller and conditioned because we do a lot of pulling and getting down field to block.”

Barger, though, doesn't hesitate when asked what side of the ball he prefers to play.

“Defense,” he said. “You get to hit people more. And you get a running start before you get to hit people.”

Barger and the Gremlins will host Bedford Friday in a PIAA Class AA inter-district game.

Barger knows his high school run will end eventually.

When it does, he said there is one thing he will always remember, more than the wins and the action on Friday night.

“Just being around the guys,” he said. “We are a close group. We are like brothers. This team is like a family.”