CHERRY TWP — The playoffs started early for Moniteau. The playoffs are a foregone conclusion for Karns City.

The Warriors (4-3) host the Gremlins (7-0) in the annual renewal of their neighborhood rivalry at 7 p.m. Friday.

The teams split two games last year. Karns City avenged a regular season loss by hanging a 42-9 defeat on Moniteau in the District 9 championship game.

"They've had a system in place for a long time there and those kids buy into that system," Moniteau coach Jeff Campbell said. "The kids playing for them now sat behind the previous group for two years.

"Those kids were hungry and they're showing it."

The Warriors are trying to win enough games to qualify for the District 9 playoffs again. They're coming off a much-needed 30-12 win at Brookville.

"We're starting to figure some things out now," Campbell said. "It's Week 7 ... better late than never. The 43 defense is a better fit for us, but with any change comes growing pains.

Sophomore quarterback Kyle Armagost has improved each week for the Warriors, throwing for 251 yards in a loss to Keystone and rushing for 73 yards against Brookville.

"Kyle has made major strides in recent games," Campbell said. "He and TonyCampbell are hooking up for some deep passes now and this is a good time for that to start happening."

Armagost has thrown for 696 yards and six touchdowns and run for 378 yards and seven scores.

But the key to the Moniteau offense is James Shope, who is getting more involved as the season has gone along.

Shope carried the ball 33 times against Brookville for 173 yards. This season, Shope has rushed for 917 yards and 14 TDs and is closing in on the school rushing record of 3,299 yards.

"I think the thing is they are finally getting the ball to Shope," said Karns City coach Ed Conto. "Earlier in the year, he wasn't getting it as much. He's a kid who only has one foot on the ground at a time and bounces off guys."

Shope has gotten 55 carries in the last two weeks after getting 71 touches the first five weeks.

"He's been so consistent and productive and beyond that, he's a great kid," Campbell said. "He thrives in a two-back or single-back set."

Karns City has been thriving in any set — and situation.

The Gremlins have won games with defense, by passing the ball and by grinding it out with the running game, as they did on the way to 28 unanswered points and a 35-13 win over Clarion.

"I think what we found out is we are capable of doing anything," Conto said. "We can run option, pound the ball, pass. They are going to take something away. We have to find out what that is quickly."

Junior quarterback Dylan Hipple has been the key to the efficiency of the Karns City offensive this season.

Hipple has completed 63 percent of his pass attempts this season for 607 yards and six TDs.

Running back Aaron Markle has been just as effective in the ground game, averaging more than six yards per carry and scoring 13 touchdowns.

Markle also has thrown for a pair of scores on halfback passes.

Campbell said Karns City plays disciplined football "and when they need that one block to spring a play, they get that one block.

"They have a lot of talent and they know how to use it."

But this is a rivalry game and in rivalries, sometimes things go awry, Conto said.

"Kids get crazy," Conto said. "Emotions get involved. You don't know what the kids are going to do."

Conto pointed to the regular-season loss to Moniteau as an example of that.

The Gremlins had breakdowns caused by "kids freelancing," Conto said.

"They abandoned what we taught and then things explode on you."

Conto has stressed to his players this week to keep their emotions in check.

"We can't get all hyped up and forget what we are taught," Conto said.