The Karns City football team seems to find itself in unfamiliar territory this season - and it's only the second week.

First, it opens the season with two non-conference games and doesn't play a Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference game until Sept. 16.

Second, it faced an unfamiliar opponent in Class AAA St. Marys Friday and another one in Class A Sharpsville, who it must face on the road at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

And thirdly, it fell behind St. Marys 14-0 in the first quarter before rebounding for a 19-14 win.

"We had to come from behind to win, and any coach will tell you that takes great character," said Karns City coach Ed Conto.

"We fell behind by 14, and that's a new experience. We didn't feel out of it. We were making mistakes, jumping offside, not running the defense correctly. We felt at the half we could take control of the game," Conto added.

Matt Stimac's 1-yard run with 27 seconds before the half cut the deficit in half, then the Gremlins used a Kory Kusick fumble recovery and a Wayne Harris scoring run to account for the team's other two touchdowns.

Now, the Gremlins turn their sights to the host Blue Devils.

"It's evolved in the last eight years from no non-league games, then one, then two and spread out through the schedule. This is the first time it's back-to-back to open the year," said Conto.

"This gives us a good chance to develop. A different district (District 10), they play a different style of offense, a different style of defense. It's interesting," he added.

The Blue Devils are coming off a 42-7 victory over Eisenhower. R.J. Golum rushed for 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Aaron Reddix had three touchdowns, two on punt returns and another on a 67-yard run.

Quarterback P.J. O'Connor also broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run.

"They are a very good team," said Conto. "They return a lot of people. They're more of a running team, but they have the ability to pass. (O'Connor's) a great runner, but he can throw."

"We're predominately a running team, but we sometimes pass out of necessity," said Sharpsville coach Paul Piccirilli. "That's how we started last year.

"We'd like to throw 12 to 15 times a game, but it's been more like five a game so far," he added.

O'Connor is in his first year under center and has the quickness the Gremlins must defend well.

"He will be a good passer, but he's very fast," said Piccirilli. "He's 6-foot-2, 6-3, and he had an 80-yard run in the scrimmage, too. He can run the ball as well as our other backs."

The Blue Devils are coming off an 11-1 season, including an unbeaten regular season.

Piccirilli and Conto are familiar with each other, as both are members of the Mercer County Coaches Association.

"(Karns City) joined the association about seven years ago, so I know their coach," said Piccirilli, who also serves at Sharpsville's athletic director.

"We've kept tabs on them over the years against teams like Sharon and Wilmington.

"Karns City is always well-coached. They're a little down than in the past. They're not as big, but they're quick."