KARNS CITY — In Ed Conto's mind, the game was there for the taking.

Aliquippa's defense was stacking the line of scrimmage, deployed to take away the vaunted Karns City running game in last year's PIAA Class AA quarterfinals.

“We had them right where we wanted them,” KC coach Conto recalled. “All we had to do was hit a couple of passes and we win that game, but we couldn't do it.”

Fast forward to this season — and more emphasis on the passing game.

“Running the football will still be a big part of what we do,” Conto promised. “I just want to see us work in a little more passing and take advantage of speed we'll have on the outside.

“We want to be able to be as versatile as we can.”

The Gremlins involve plenty of personnel in their offensive and defensive packages every year. Returning starters — at least, part-time starters — are always prevalent.

Jacob King and Cullen Williams divided time at quarterback last year as KC polished off a perfect regular season before the Aliquippa playoff loss ended its campaign at 12-1. Both King and Williams return.

King will be the primary quarterback in 2016, however. He threw for 634 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions last season. Williams averaged nearly 10 yards a carry in rushing for 500 yards last season and has been shifted to running back.

Chandler Turner (853 yards, 13 TDs, 10.4 yards per carry) returns to join Williams in the backfield. Senior Kaiden Powers will be a flanker back and provides additional speed in the open field.

“We've got a lot of explosiveness there,” Conto said.

Carter Dunmyre, a tackle last year, is moving to center. Jesse Allen is moving from guard to tight end. Dalton Jones is a guard coming off shoulder surgery. Eric Dodds will play a key role at fullback.

Karns City has plenty of competition along the offensive line, including tackles Alec Bard, Lucas Williams, Mason Nolan and Bryant Oddo, guards Nathan Boomhower, Jake Sirich and Ed Cheesman.

“They're all going to play,” Conto said. “We just have to figure out what the combinations are going to be.”

Wideouts Jimmy Thompson and Noah Kepple will join Powers in catching the football.

Defensively, the Gremlins will play a 43 with the same names along the offensive line manning the defensive front, along with Allen and Blaine Wilson.

Linebackers will come from Thompson, Brayden Fedorek, Clay Garing, Trevor Knox and Sebastian Troutman. Thompson had 65 tackles and 7.5 quarterback sacks last season.

Powers and Williams are the corners with Turner at safety. Turner led the team with seven interceptions in 2015.

“Our strength is in our seniors,” Williams said. “That's the way it is at Karns City. Seniors set the example and teach the younger players how it's done here.”

Turner said the closeness of the team helps the Gremlins' ongoing successas well.

“We're all friends. We all like each other,” he said. “Football is much more fun to play when it's that way. The motivation is just there.”

Turner will handle the punting duties while Powers returns as place-kicker.

“We've got athletic kids, tough kids,” Conto said. “We've got a lot of hitters defensively. Getting them all in the right groups is the challenge right now.

“This is a team that's going to get better as the year goes on and the pieces fall into place. After Armstrong (season opener), we play all league games until we close with Clearfield, which will be a tough game.

“I'm optimistic about the potential of our team. We've got a lot of talent here,” Conto added.