Injuries already taking a toll
KARNS CITY — Karns City hasn't played a game yet, but already it has faced a formidable opponent: the injury list.
Senior lineman Josh Williams, junior running backs-defensive ends Brett Green and Dan Everetts, and junior running back-linebacker Joey Everetts all suffered noncontact knee injuries so far this pre-season.
Williams, the lone senior offensive lineman, will miss at least six weeks, Dan Everetts most likely is out for the season and Green will miss two to three weeks.
"That what we're trying to recover from right now," said Gremlins coach Ed Conto. "We think we can overcome it. Our problem is youth and inexperience."
The Gremlins sport seven seniors and seven juniors, but they also have 27 sophomores.
"We have a great 10th grade group of kids coming in.," said Conto. "We were hoping to bring them along. I don't know how many teams would have five sophomore offensive linemen. We could have three at tackle and three at guard because we have more than five that can play."
That group will try to protect senior quarterback Matt Endlish, who has bided his time behind Steve Black the previous two seasons.
"Matt is really doing a great job," said Conto. "He didn't get much time last year, since we didn't have a junior varsity team.
"He's been picking things up quickly, including the option. That gives us what Steve Black did, which could help the linemen," he added.
Green was set to be the starting fullback while Roy Beham, Joey Everetts (322 yards last season) and Marcus Lavan all will be in the mix in the backfield.
At receiver, Mike and Matt McConnell will line up at split end, while Chris Reeves, Stephon Conto, Justin Switzer (14 catches for 252 yards) and Cameron Turner (10-143) all return to give Endlish (3-of-11, 62 yards, 1 INT) an experienced group of targets.
On defense, a quick return by Green will help the linebacking corps to pair with Switzer, an All-KSAC selection, plus sophomores Josh Stimac, Lavan and Ben Pyle will provide depth.
Turner, another all-conference pick, will be back at defensive end, along with Beham and three more sophomores in Earl Everetts, Cody Williams and Levi Buck.
"They all know the position and feel we're solid there," said Conto.
Matt and Mike McConnell, who will handle the kicking and punting duties, respectively, also will play at the two corner positions, and Anthony Stimac, the backup quarterback, can play at corner.
Stephon Conto and Reeves will play at safety.
Williams will be missed on the defensive line until he returns, while Joey Everetts, who will play without an ACL, will play at nose tackle. Bob Stobert, a senior transfer from Apollo-Ridge, also will see action, as will sophomores Jarrett Lavan, Corey Gifford, Nick Sypulski, Devin Collins, Carl Oshlick and Shane Dillon.
