Expectations were high coming into the season. After the third game, they only got higher.

The Karns City ninth-grade football team was coming off an undefeated season the year before as eighth graders, and the players were determined to do it again.

"The first week of the first game, the kids were pretty confident about another undefeated season," said assistant coach Mike Gifford. "I said, 'OK, if you think you can do that, then maybe you can hold all your opponents to no scores.'"

As it turned out, the team went 7-0 with five shutouts. They allowed just three touchdowns all season and outscored their opponents 241-22 in the process.

After a 58-0 win over Brockway and a 32-0 triumph over Moniteau to start the season, Karns City played South Side Beaver, which it knew nothing about.

"They won the state championship four or five years ago," said Gifford. "They're a good team and are well-coached.

"We had some doubts about holding them to no score, but when we did (22-0), we though we had a legit shot at it."

The team then embarked to St. Marys and came away with a 20-16 win.

"We played well, but we had a couple of breakdowns in the second half," said Gifford. "They took a kickoff return after we had scored."

Karns City went on to defeat Brookville 40-0, Clarion 49-0 and ended the season with a 20-6 win over Moniteau.

To Gifford, there's nothing this team can do that will surprise him.

"I've worked with these kids since they were 8 years old," said Gifford. "The team has so many weapons.

"So many coaches have commented to me after the games 'How do you have so many good players?'

"We have a strong line, fast, powerful running backs and receivers who can catch the ball," Gifford added.

Key offensive skill players include quarterback Anthony Stimac and running back Josh Stimac.

"Anthony's so talented," said Gifford. "He can throw 55 yards in the air and can run, he and running back Josh Callender.

"Our tailback, Ben Pyle, is just as fast. There's so much speed, there's almost not enough footballs to go around," he added.

They also are no strangers to the weight room. Corey Gifford, can bench-press 240 pounds and dead-lift 400.

Rounding out the rest of the team are Tyler Barger, Matt Barrow, Levi Buck, Brett Callihan, Devin Collins, Shane Dillon, Ray Emery Earl Everetts, Cory Lakin, Marcus LaVan, Zach McGregor, Carl Oshlik, Ben Peters, Chris Price, Nick Sypulski and Cody Williams.

Todd Weibel is the head coach and Steve Bly is the other assistant coach.

Gifford has noticed a big difference since its perfect season a year ago.

"This year's team understands the offense and the defense a great deal more than last year," he said. "We run the same system from the seventh grade through 12th grade, and the kids are picking up where they need to be and what they need to do.

"Mentally, they've grown great. They have such a better grasp than they did last year," Gifford added.

That should bode well for next season because the sky could be the limit for the Karns City football program.

"I'm excited because these kids will move to the varsity team next year," said Gifford, "so the next three, four years should be good."