Karns City's Chandler Turner evades the grasp of a Moniteau defender Friday night in Cherry Township. Turner left with an injury early, but the Gremlins still rolled to a 44-10 road win.

CHERRY TWP — Karns City's running backs led their team Friday night in a 44-10 Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference Large School Division victory at rival Moniteau.

Karns City's leading rusher, Chandler Turner, collapsed on the field after a 14-yard run early in the first quarter. He did not return.

Karns City coach Ed Conto said Turner has been initially diagnosed with a strained Achilles, but the running back will be examined to determine the severity of the injury.

“I don't know how bad it was,” Karns City coach Ed Conto said. “Hopefully it's nothing major.”

Karns City managed to move the ball on the ground despite Turner's absence. The Gremlins ran the ball for 308 yards and for six of their seven touchdowns.

Conto said he was pleased that the other running backs found success in their time of need.

Running back and kicker Kaiden Powers scored two touchdowns with 45 yards and fullback Eric Dodd scored once with 86 yards, but running back Cullen Williams led the Gremlins with two touchdowns and 104 yards.

“That's what we expected out of (Williams),” Conto said. “He was hurt earlier in the year, transitioned to tailback, and he's learning and getting better and better every day.”

Conto said their strategy on the offensive line also played a role in their large rushing numbers.

“We came in using two offensive lines tonight,” he said. “Our kids adjusted pretty well.”

After Dodd scored his touchdown on a 60-yard run with 10:30 remaining, the Gremlins had a 44-0 shutout in sight, but Moniteau scrapped together two onside kicks and was able to overcome a second-string defense to put up 10 points.

Earlier in the game, the Warriors turned the ball over on four of their seven fumbles.

“A good team like Karns City is going to capitalize on those turnovers,” Moniteau coach Wade Vogan said.

Vogan said he thought the poor conditions on their own field would give them the advantage, though that didn't pan out.

“They're a fast speedy team,” Vogan said. “If anything, I thought the weather was going to help us today.”

Vogan said the fourth quarter began to look like the team he knows it can be.

“From a coaching standpoint, I was happy to see them not give up,” Vogan said. “We need to play 48 minutes of that, not just five minutes.”