KARNS CITY — What can Karns City do for an encore after reaching the District 9 Class AA championship game last season with a banged-up team and a slew of sophomores leading the way?

Aim higher this year.

"Expectations are cautiously high," said Gremlins coach Ed Conto. "A lot of kids gained experience ... but we're still young. We're expecting the kids to do well. Everyone's expecting that.

"We just hope they play well,"Conto added.

With only seven seniors and seven juniors last year, 27 sophomores had to make their presence felt early in the campaign.

The results? An undefeated record in the Keystone Shortway and a 9-0 start before a nonconference loss to District 6 power Forest Hills. The Gremlins defeated Moniteau 32-29 in the District 9 semifinals before losing to Brookville 21-3.

The team returns just five seniors, but the group is a talented one — Cameron Turner, Stephon Conto, Brett Green, Matt McConnell and Mike McConnell.

Turner was a KSAC first-team all-star as a linebacker and led the team in receiving with 16 catches for 368 yards and two scores. Conto averaged just over 20 yards per catch and Green almost 6 yards per carry in limited action due to a pair of injuries.

The McConnells combined for 18 catches and three touchdowns with Matt totaling 63 points, including five field goals and 26 extra points, and Mike handled the punting duties.

"All five of those guys are solid players and they do a nice job with the leadership role," said Conto.

Gone is the team's quarterback, Matt Endlish (1,338 yards, nine TDs) and running back Roy Beham (533 yards, eight TDs), but Anthony Stimac and Chris Price are battling for the quarterback spot and a bevy of running backs return.

Marcus Lavan, Green, Stimac, Ben Pyle and Levi Buck each rushed for at least two scores last season. In all, 18 different runners carried the ball at least once for the Gremlins.

"Last year, we had a running back by committee and it could be the same this year," said Conto. "We have five or six kids we'll put in. We'll rotate them all unless someone comes out and stands out above the rest."

Price injured his knee, so Stimac has been getting more work. But either way, Stimac will find a place on the field because of his versatility.

The McConnell brothers and Cody Williams highlight the receiving corps, while Stephon Conto, Josh Callender and Dan Wolf will solidify the flanker spot.

"We're more experienced and we have more threats," said Turner. "We have more things in the offense.

"If everyone stays healthy we have a chance to win the District 9 title and make the state playoffs,"Turner added.

The linemen on both sides of the ball are young, so that may be the Gremlins' weakest link early in the season, but the defense should improve with a year's experience under their belt.

"I'm excited about our defense," said Conto. "We should be quick and explosive. I'm just worried about our depth. Our secondary should be stronger. We had some bad pass games last year."

The special teams and kicking game made a big difference last season and Conto would expect that to continue.

"We felt last year the kicking game won us four games," said Conto.

The Gremlins won five games by five points or fewer and had to rally in the second half in those games.

Conto knows hard work and effort made the difference. He also knows it will be required again.

"Coming in last year, we were thinking we could be anywhere between three to six wins, depending on how things shook out,"said Conto. "We were young and inexperienced.

"This year, if our heads got big, we can be in trouble."