It's hard to figure out what's more scary, the fact that Clarion-Limestone is still a very strong team in the Keystone Shortway Conference or that this year's team has just four seniors, all of which are team captains.

Despite the loss of Hayden Johnston to graduation (Ohio University, baseball), the Lions (2-0) still pack a punch, thanks to the versatility of junior quarterback Scott Davis and senior running back David Brooks.

"Brooks is having a really good year," said Clarion-Limestone coach Todd Smith. "He came in to quarterback in the second half of the Moniteau game (an 8-7 Lions' win). He's running and catching the ball real well.

"Scott was injured in that first game and then against A-C Valley (a 34-0 win last Friday), we didn't want to overuse him. We want him healthy," Smith added.

Davis completed 10 of 17 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for another score.

Brooks - who co-captains along with Sheldon Champion, Neil Reynolds and Kaleb Klosky - totaled 112 yards on the ground on 16 carries and scored three times.

Matt Hetrick pulled in the scoring pass and also added a conversion run.

"Hayden's gone but Davis is at quarterback and he's a very accurate passer and runs well," said Karns City coach Ed Conto, whose Gremlins travel to Clarion-Limestone for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday.

"Brooks is a tight end, a wideout, a running back. They move him around.

"They run a lot of formations, a lot of motion. They'll confuse and if you screw up, they'll hit you," he added.

The Gremlins (1-1) are coming off a tough 35-14 loss to Class A Sharpsville last Friday.

In two games this year, the Gremlins have rushed for a workmanlike 329 yards on 75 carries (a 4.4 yards per carry average). Their leading rushers are Roy Beham (89 yards) and Wayne Harris (72).

"They had (Josh) Fiscus the last couple of years. He was such a force to run the ball," said Smith. "We've played a lot of physical games over the years against Karns City.

"Ed Conto is a real good friend of mine and I enjoy talking to him. Karns City is a well-coached team and (quarterback Steve) Black is a fine athlete.

"It won't be easy. Karns City has a good group of football players," Smith added.

Black has completed 15 of 31 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions this year. His 56 yards rushing is third best on the team.

Conto knows his team is still a work in progress, especially having such a young squad.

"I'm sure our kids will be up for this game since it is the first league game," said Conto. "They have a couple of games under their belt and hopefully they'll take the bull by the horns.

"(Clarion-Limestone) doesn't seem to be as physical this year. They're definitely more of a finesse team because they're throwing the ball three times more than usual," Conto added.