CLARION — On a night when nothing else came easy for the Karns City offense, two long runs from Josh Callender proved to be the difference.

Callender ripped off scoring jaunts of 59 and 85 yards to lift the Gremlins to a 13-0 win over Clarion at Memorial Stadium.

He ended the game with 188 yards on 10 carries.

The first touchdown came early in the second quarter and the second late in the third period.

They were two highlights on an otherwise subpar night for KC's offense.

"We didn't play as a unit tonight," said KC coach Ed Conto. "I think our kids were worried about getting up and saying, 'Look at the play I just made.' They played with big heads tonight.

"I do think we played well defensively," added Conto.

And the Gremlins had to, as the offense fumbled away its first two possessions of the game.

The first turnover occurred in Clarion territory and the Bobcats quickly punted the ball right back to the Gremlins.

But the next miscue, an errant pitch from quarterback Anthony Stimac to Markus LaVan, set Clarion up at the Gremlins 22-yard line.

An encroachment penalty on KC turned a fourth-and-4 into a first down for the Bobcats at Karns City's 10.

But four plays later, KC stuffed Kevin Grejda on fourth and goal from the 1.

KC's offense was unable to get a first down and the ensuing punt gave Clarion great field position once again, this time at the Gremlins 34.

The drive stalled at the 10 and Jon Kemmer's 28-yard field goal attempt was tipped at the line and fell short.

"That would have made the game for us right there," said veteran Clarion coach Larry Wiser, thinking of his team's early missed opportunities.

"It's a slight edge when you're talking about the mental aspect of the game."

Following Kemmer's missed field goal, the Gremlins began the four-play 80-yard drive that ended with Callender's first scoring run.

"Once I saw the hole, I thought I could take it all the way," said Callender. "But for the most part, we just weren't clicking tonight."

J.J. Grenninger's extra point made it 7-0 with 9:20 left in the first half.

Clarion's offense continued to struggle as the unit comes of age under freshman quarterback Brandon Heeter, who completed 4 of 8 passes for 14 yards.

"We're working on getting reps and getting the timing down in our passing game," said Wiser. "What it came down to tonight was our inability to get things going on offense."

Even after Callender's second touchdown, which came on a first-and-27 play after a penalty on Karns City, the Bobcats (4-3, 4-3) had their share of chances.

Early in the fourth quarter, junior running back Bubba Rue picked up a 33-yard gain for Clarion's biggest play of the night.

The run set the Bobcats up at the KC 43-yard line. But on fourth down from the 39, Heeter's pass to Erik Hartle fell a yard short of a first down and the Gremlins took over on downs.

Clarion's last gasp was a drive that started at its own 12-yard line with 5:04 to play.

Two personal foul penalties on KC aided the Bobcats, but Heeter was intercepted by Carrick Harp with 2:22 to play.

The Gremlins (7-0, 7-0) will host undefeated Moniteau next Friday.

"I don't think the kids were looking ahead to next week," said Conto. "They just have to get back to knowing their assignments and doing what they're told."

Notes: Stimac completed six of 14 passes for 65 yards and rushed the ball 12 times for 52 yards. ... LaVan had 52 yards on 13 carries. ... Grenninger had a 36-yard field goal attempt blocked in the second quarter and was short on a 43-yard attempt shortly after missing an extra point in the third quarter. ... KC was penalized 13 times for 115 yards.