Look at the Forest Hills football team this season and be impressed. Look at its history with coach Don Bailey and be amazed.

The Rangers will play host Karns City at 7 p.m. Friday as the schools prepare for a Week 10 non-district matchup, a precursor to the upcoming postseason.

Forest Hills (7-2) is averaging 35.9 points per game and surrendering about 16. Its only blemishes were a two-point loss to Bishop McCort in Week 2 and a 34-30 loss to Penn Cambria Oct. 13.

Bailey, who also serves as the superintendent of schools at Forest Hills, is in his 33rd season with the Rangers, amassing a 274-73-8 record. He's led the team to six District 6 titles and one trip to the state championship in 1994. The Rangers lost to eventual Class AA champion South Park in last year's state semifinals.

"I know every year they are a state-caliber team," said Karns City coachEd Conto. "They've been in the state playoffs, and I know they are big and physical.

"They're just very powerful, the biggest line I've ever coached against. They have a tackle (Mike Katrancha) who is 6-feet-1, 330 pounds and can run. They have a guard (Josh Sewalk) who's 6-4, 290. Most of their line runs about 260 pounds," Conto added.

Bailey said it's that line that sets a tone for the offense.

"We like to keep the balance offensively as much as possible," said Bailey. "I thought we'd be a better throwing team than a running team coming into the year, but we've got two good running backs.

"We have four returning starters on the offensive line. They're the ones that make it go. It all starts with them," Bailey added.

Senior quarterback Travis Rearick is a three-year starter and has completed 98 of 156 passes for 1,562 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He's also rushed for 126 yards and six more scores.

"He's been thrown into the belly (of the beast) before," said Bailey. "He's been through the playoffs."

Jared Kostan (116 carries, 796 yards, 11 TDs) and Scott Mehall (68-636-8) lead the rushing game. Rearick has four solid receivers in Ross Carpenter (31 catches, 518 yards, six TDs), Joshua Shope (23-384-6), Mehall (22-355-4) and Ricky Gelles (14-226-2).

"Jared played last year, but he missed the first five games," said Bailey. "Once he came back, he started the rest of the season. He's a small fullback at 185 pounds.

"Scott was a surprise. We knew he was good in junior high. He's a playmaker. He runs inside, runs outside. He does everything," Bailey added.

Conto said his team must slow down that offensive firepower.

"Their forte is to line up and power you off the football," said Conto. "They're not fancy. They play a lot of play action after blowing you off the football. Our biggest kid is about 230; they average about 280."

Conto is hoping the Gremlins, the KSAC champions, will counter the threats the Rangers will pose. That's something Bailey already has noticed in game tapes of the Karns City's past two opponents, A-C Valley and Union.

"They play outstanding defense and they do that all year round," said Bailey. "They have good team speed and good skill players, offensively.

"If things don't happen, they make things happen to win. They seemed to dominate their last two opponents, but to be 9-0, you have to dominate more than just two teams,"Bailey added.