Gremlins focus on getting better after 34-12 defeat in home opener
KARNS CITY — Almost there.
Despite a 34-12 loss in the home opener against Clarion Saturday evening, Karns City football coach Ed Conto believes his team isn't all that far away.
“There's a lot of things we're working on,” Conto said. “We're a young team and we're only at about 60 percent of where we want to be. In a couple of weeks from now, we are going to be all right. We knew it was going to be a struggle tonight.”
Still, after losing two fumbles and having two punts blocked in the first half, the Gremlins went into the break trailing just 14-12.
Tyler Kepple found Logan Moroney for a 23-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Tristan Rhoades sliced into the end zone from 4 yards out with 8 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give Karns City some momentum.
“First half, we had turnovers and blocked punts. We really shouldn't have been in the game,” Conto said. “Our kids fought back. I'm proud of them.”
“In the second half, they hit us and we went a little flat.”
Clarion came out throwing after halftime. Bobcat quarterback John Katis threw three touchdown passes in the first 14 minutes of the second half to put the game away.
Katis was in a QB rotation with Antonio Troese, but took the majority of the snaps against the Gremlins.
“John got hot there,” said Clarion coach Larry Wiser. “He was throwing the ball well. He had a good week of practice. I thought that was the right move.”
Katis got Clarion going with a 34-yard hookup with Camron Kirkland on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. Five plays later on a third-and-goal play, Katis found T.J. Armstrong wide open in the left flat for an 8-yard score.
Katis also threw TD passes of 24 and 23 yards to Cody Hearst.
Karns City was able to move the ball against the Bobcats, but often self destructed.
The Gremlins lost a fumble at the Clarion 14 late in the first half.
“We're making too many mistakes,” Conto said. “We'll look at film and get better.”
Clarion scored first on a 2-yard TD plunge by Armstrong.
Karns City, though, answered with Kepple's scoring toss.The sophomore finished with 50 yards passing and a team-leading 73 yards rushing for the Gremlins.Armstrong scored again on a 4-yard run and Katis found Damien Slike on a two-point conversion pass for a 14-6 lead midway through the second quarter.Karns City also had an extra point blocked.The game was originally scheduled for Friday night, but frequent lightning forced a postponement until Saturday.Conto said the delay was no factor.“Actually, it should have affected them more,” Conto said.The only thing Karns City needs, Conto said, is time.It may not get it depending on what happens at Moniteau, the Gremlins' opponent next week.The Moniteau school board voted to forfeit games against Karns City and Clarion because of a hazing incident, but still wants to play the games.A board meeting is scheduled at Moniteau tonight and the forfeit policy will be discussed.Karns City's school board is also deciding whether or not to play the game should Moniteau uphold the forfeits and its desire to still play.“We need to be playing. We need to be on the field,” Conto said. “I've been through this before with teams. Each week, we knock off a few things (that we need to improve) and then the next week a few more things. This team is going to be all right.”Clarion 34, Karns City 12Clarion 6 8 14 6 — 34Karns City 6 6 0 0 — 12C KC15 First Downs 1640-149 Rushes-Yards 38-216148 Passing Yards 507-10-1 Comp.-Att.-Int 6-13-1297 Total Yards 2662-0 Fumbles-Lost 3-26-40 Penalty Yards 6-36First QuarterC — T.J. Armstrong 2 run (kick failed), 4:20KC — Logan Moroney 23 pass from Tyler Kepple (kick failed), :58Second QuarterC — Armstrong 4 run (Damien Slike pass from John Katis), 9:31KC — Tristan Rhoades 4 run (run failed), :08Third QuarterC — Armstrong 8 pass from Katis (Antonio Troese kick), 8:46C — Cody Hearst 24 pass from Katis (Troese kick), 5:20Fourth QuarterC — Hearst 23 pass from Katis (Troese kick), 10:57Individual StatisticsRushing: Clarion, T.J. Armstrong 17-70, Damien Slike 9-43, Ian Corbett 7-30, Camron Kirkland 5-13, John Katis 1-(-6), Team 1-(-1). Karns City, Tyler Kepple 11-73, Tristan Rhoades 6-53, Matt Conto 4-26, Wyatt Everetts 4-21, Cody Deal 1-16, Dan Filges 3-15, Zach Moore 5-11, Brandon Bauldoff 1-2, Dakota Mohney 3-(-1).Passing: Clarion, John Katis 7-9-148-0, Antonio Troese 0-1-0-1. Karns City, Tyler Kepple 5-11-49-1, Cody Deal 1-2-1-0Receiving: Clarion, Cody Hearst 3-77, Camron Kirkland 2-62, T.J. Armstrong 1-8, Ian Corbett 1-1. Karns City, Logan Moroney 2-40, Adam Whited 1-9, Matt Conto 1-4, Dan Filges 1-1, Wyatt Everetts 1-(-4).
