KARNS CITY — When the playoffs arrive for the high school fall sports season, Clay Garing and Jake Friel will be busier than most.

Both are senior two-way starters on the Karns City football team. Garing plays running back and safety, Friel center and outside linebacker.

The Gremlins are 5-3 and headed for the District 9 playoffs.

Garing is also a first-year forward, Friel a first-year defender on KC's boys soccer team. That unit is 11-6 and headed for the playoffs as well.

“Hopefully, it won't be a problem. It hasn't been so far,” Garing said.

Freshmen football players Kaden Scherer and Brayden Christie are on the soccer team as well.

“Clay started playing with us in some indoor games last (school) year and really fit in well,” KC soccer coach Jim Grenninger said. “He brings speed to our lineup and decided he wanted to try to play.

“Jake joined us during Sunday night pick-up games in the off-season and wanted to give it a go, too. He brings size and a physical presence to our back line.”

Football came first for both players. But the teams practice at different times, which made playing for both teams feasible.

“I give those kids credit,” KC football coach Ed Conto said. “Their bodies seem to be holding up OK. They may have a soccer game Thursday night, football Friday night, then soccer again Saturday.

“It seems like a lot, but they're handling it OK. I haven't seen any signs that they're tiring.”

“Football practice is right after school and soccer practice is in the evening, almost right afterward,” Gremlins athletic director Brian Markle said. “There are times those guys go over to soccer practice, shed their pads and start practicing.

“It's not easy. It makes for long days after school. I admire them for doing it.'

Garing and Friel have not made every soccer game. But they haven't missed very many practices.

“Even when we practice at Sugarcreek Elementary, those guys jump in the car after football and get up there for what's left of our practice,” Grenninger said. “They are very dedicated.

“Clay has scored nine goals for us and has probably missed six games. Jake has become one of our key defenders Believe me, we miss those guys when they're not there. But they can't possibly be there all the time.'

Garing has rushed for more than 500 yards for KC's football team. He had 27 carries for 134 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 35-34 win over Clarion-Limestone two weeks ago.

Center is the only position along the offensive line that Karns City doesn't rotate players in.

“That's one of the reasons Jake's presence is so important at football practice,” Markle said.

“It gets pretty hectic doing both sports,” Friel admitted. “Whenever I do get an off day, I don't do much of anything. I just rest.”

Garing said he primarily does his homework at school.

“Study hall, lunch, home room ... That's when I get it done,” he said.

Conto described the pair as “good kids and good students. They go hard in practice every day. I never have to worry about them.”

Christie is the quarterback, Scherer a running back on the freshman football team.

“It takes a lot of effort for all of these kids to do what they're doing,” Grenninger said. “Our overall numbers are dropping, so their participation has been great for us.”

Markle knows about that type of effort first-hand. His daughter, Sydnee, is a captain of the girls soccer team and cheerleading squad. She's sidelined with a broken ankle now.

“They have friends on both teams and they enjoy both sports,” he said of Garing and Friel. “If they can handle the workload — and they can — there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to do both sports.”