CLARION — Karns City is getting healthier. Punxsutawney is getting better.

And their District 9 Class 3A football playoff game is being played earlier than most.

The two teams will kick off at 7 p.m. Thursday at Clarion University's Memorial Stadium.

“We're off school the next day and so are they,” KC coach Ed Conto said. “The winner gets an extra day to prepare for the next round and this frees up another facility for use on Friday.

“Plus, we're both coming off bye weeks, so why wait?”

This game will be a rematch between the Chucks (4-6) and Gremlins (6-4). Karns City claimed a 42-32 win Sept. 22 at Diehl Stadium. KC's Dalton Beham ran for 279 yards and five touchdowns that night while Punxsy quarterback Dylan Ishman threw for 303 yards and four TDs.

Chucks receiver Tyler Richardson had eight catches for 191 yards. He has 51 catches for 909 yards and 12 touchdowns on the year.

“It was a wild shootout that night,” Punxsutawney coach Brad Wright said. “It could have gone either way.”

Conto remembers the game well.

“We had a chance to finish them off and we didn't,” he said. “We need to do that this time, if we get the chance.”

Wright is in his third year as head coach of the Chucks. Punxsutawney was 3-7 in his first year, then slipped to 2-8 last year as the team had only four seniors.

This year's team has four wins and 10 seniors. Wright was a substitute teacher for a year at Karns City before taking the Punxsutawney job.

“I was never on the (KC) staff, but Ed let me get involved with the weight room and coming out on the field a little bit,” Wright said. “I learned a lot from him during my time there.

“I have a lot of respect for the job he does and the program they run.”

Karns City has won eight of its nine meetings all-time against Punxsutawney, the lone loss being a 31-0 decision in 2010.

Before the 42-32 decision this year, Karns City had dominated the Chucks by scores of 56-6, 43-16, 62-6 and 47-0 from 2013-16.

“That team can throw the football,” Conto said. “They gave us a lot of trouble the last time. We're getting Erik Pfeifer back for the first time this season and he could make a difference for us. We'll see how well he shakes off the rust.”

Pfeifer was projected to be the Gremlins' top receiver and cornerback this season, but he broke an ankle during preseason camp and had been out until now.

KC is getting a few other players back as well, including defensive back Hunter Rowe from a concussion. Nose tackle Blaine Wilson is still a question mark with a calf contusion.

“We've had Dalton back for a couple of games now from his sprained ankle, but he's looking like he's 100 percent now,” Conto said. “That burst seems to be back.”

Beham has rushed for 1,031 yards and 21 touchdowns on the year. Sebastian Troutman has 575 yards and six TDs rushing, Clay Garing 572 yards and eight scores on the ground.

Karns City has rushed for 3,177 yards and 45 touchdowns as a team.

“They're always good that way. We can't let them control the game,” Wright said.

Ishman, a second-year starter as a junior, has thrown for 1,441 yards and 22 TDs on the season while tossing only four interceptions. Stone Smith is the Chucks' leading rusher with 505 yards and six TDs.

“Dylan has come a long way this year,” Wright said. “He's identifying blitzes, making checks at the line, making calls at the line of scrimmage to change plays,” Wright said.

Defensively, the Chucks have generated 29 takeaways — 12 interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries — and end Adam Neal has eight QB sacks.

“We've been opportunistic on defense,” Wright said. “Our problem has been letting a bad play linger. We'll make a mistake on a play and let it affect us for an entire quarter.

“This program hasn't won a district championship since 2009. These kids are looking to make history.”

Karns City QB Anthony Kamenski has thrown for 708 yards and four touchdowns. He has thrown only two interceptions in 114 passes.

“Our passing game has improved a lot,” Conto said. “We're making plays there now and it will be interesting to see what kind of impact Pfeifer may make there for us.”

Thursday's winner will face the winner of the District 10 title game between Mercyhurst Prep and Sharon.