DUBOIS — For nearly three quarters, Karns City stood toe-to-toe with defending District 9 Class 2A football champion Ridgway.

In the end, however, Paul Gresco's right arm proved too much for the Gremlins.

The senior passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns as the Elkers advanced to the district championship game with a 34-27 win in a semifinal playoff Saturday afternoon at Mansell Stadium.

The back-breaker came late in the fourth quarter. Nursing a 28-20 lead and facing a 4th-and-3 from KC's 14, Gresco found Alex Bon open in the left corner of the end zone. Though Luke Garing blocked the point-after attempt, Ridgway held a 34-20 edge with just 4:04 remaining.

“Their passing game really hurt us,” said Gremlins' coach Joe Sherwin. “They have so many deep receivers and we were unable to get some of the matchups we wanted.”

Needing two scores, KC marched 59 yards in 11 plays, with Garing scoring on a 6-yard run that cut the deficit to seven points. With just 1:37 left, KC attempted an onside kick and the Gremlins' Owen Graff came out of the pile with the ball. But the officials ruled that a Ridgway player had possession of the ball on the ground before contact from a Gremlin popped the ball loose.

“I was not given an explanation,” said Sherwin. “To me, if you come out with the ball, it's your's.”

KC used its last two timeouts and forced a punt with 43 seconds left, but time ran out with the Gremlins at their own 40.

It was the second time the Elkers (10-1) prevailed in a tight game against KC this season. They earned a 19-13 victory at Diehl Stadium last month.

“I give credit to Karns City,” said Ridgway coach Mark Heindl. “That team plays so hard and is physical. They made us a better team today.”

Behind quarterback Anthony Kamenski, who rushed for 151 yards and a score, the Gremlins matched Ridgway's two touchdowns in the first half. But the senior also made crucial plays in the passing game. His 28-yard scoring strike to Kaden Scherer tied the game at 14 with 40 seconds left in the second quarter.

“He's been doing it all year,” Sherwin said of his quarterback. “He worked hard in the offseason to get where he is and we're lucky to have him.”

“I was happy with how our offense moved the ball,” said Kamenski. “We got the passing game going. Kaden, he's my top receiver.”

Scherer proved that by catching each of Kamenski's five completions for 78 yards.

Ridgway opened the second half with a 6-play, 55-yard drive that Jake Wickett capped with a 9-yard scoring run.

The Gremlins were on the verge of tying the score once again, but following Kamenski's 2-yard touchdown run, a bad snap spoiled the point-after attempt and KC trailed 21-20.

Gresco's first touchdown pass of the game, a 52-yarder to Matt Dush, came on Ridgway's ensuing drive.

Dush finished the game with eight catches for 165 yards.

The Elkers, who won the District 9 Class A title in 2016 and 2017, will play for their second straight Class 2A crown when they meet Clarion next Saturday.

“We have a chance to win our fourth straight championship,” said Heindl. “It doesn't get any better than this.”

Sherwin appreciates the effort of his players to get the Gremlins (8-4) back to prominence on the gridiron after not making the postseason last year, a rarity at Karns City.

“We had kids who were injured in practice on Thursday, but still gave everything they had today,” he said. “I can't fault the effort. We fought to the end and that's all you can ask for.”

“The younger players got a taste of the playoffs,” Kamenski said. “Hopefully, they can build on that over the next few years.”

Karns City 0 14 6 7 — 27

Ridgway 0 14 14 6 — 34

Second Quarter

R — Matt Dush 25 run (Paul Gresco kick), 8:52

KC — Luke Garing 1 run (Owen Collwell kick), 5:24

R — Jake Wickett 7 run (Gresco kick), 2:02

KC — Kaden Scherer 28 pass from Anthony Kamenski (Collwell kick), :40

Third Quarter

R — Wickett 9 run (Gresco kick), 9:05

KC — Kamenski 2 run (run failed), 5:02

R — Dush 52 pass from Gresco (Gresco kick), 1:21

Fourth Quarter

R — Alex Bon 14 pass from Gresco (kick blocked), 4:04

KC — Garing 6 run (Collwell kick), 1:37

Individual Statistics

Rushing:Karns City, Hunter Rowe 8-40, Garing 8-20, Kamenski 28-151, Scherer 5-38. Ridgway, Gabe Watts 7-22, Wickett 8-33, Tyler Watts 2-2, Dush 7-45, Gresco 4-12.

Passing:Karns City, Kamenski 5-10-78-0. Ridgway, Gresco 19-23-328-0.

Receiving:Karns City, Scherer 5-78. Ridgway, Dush 8-165, Austin Green 4-66, Gabe Watts 1-(-2), Bon 4-53, Wickett 2-46.