Turner interception caps KC's night
CLARION — Christian Turner’s heart stopped when he saw the football in the air.
“I was going to help Adam (Whited) on the tackle, and then I saw the ball go up in the air,” said the sophomore linebacker on the Karns City football team.
Turner snagged the fumble by Chestnut Ridge backup quarterback J.D. Weyant that was forced by Whited out of the air and was pushed 6 yards into the end zone amid a mass of bodies for what was the decisive score in the Gremlins’ 35-29 victory over the Lions in the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs at Clarion University Friday night.
“I just wanted to make a play and get the ball,” said Turner, smiling. “My teammates just pushed me into the end zone. Everybody on the defense was behind me pushing me.”
It was a clutch play from a Karns City defense that made several of them in the second half after struggling during the first two quarters.
After being gouged for 240 yards rushing in the first half by Chestnut Ridge, the Gremlins’ defense stiffened in the second half.
The unit kept Chestnut Ridge from scoring on a time-consuming 15-play drive in the third quarter. That march ended with a miss on a 36-yard field goal attempt.
Karns City also forced a three-and-out following Turner’s fumble return for a score.
“Our defense did not play well in the first half,” said Karns City coach Ed Conto. “I’m just proud the kids came out in the end.”
Dalton Bly had 17 tackles and Wyatt Everetts added 14 stops for the Karns City defense, which was on the field for a staggering 31 minutes, 42 seconds in the game and 76 offensive plays from the Lions.
The final defensive snap came with 21 seconds remaining and the season hanging in the balance. Dakota Mohney pulled down an interception on a fourth-and-15 from the KC 40 to seal the victory.
“We had to do what we knew how to do and that’s to play Karns City football,” Turner said. “It was all attitude. We just had to be more disciplined, wrap up and bring those tough runners down.
“Our D-line played hard,” Turner added. “Bly made all the right calls and put us right on the ball.”
Special teams also played a big role for the Gremlins in the second half.
After Chestnut Ridge took a 29-23 lead midway through the third quarter, Matt Conto returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown that tied the game at 29-29.
In the first half, Conto had a 66-yard kickoff return that set up a Karns City touchdown and Zach Moore booted a 24-yard field goal to give the Gremlins their first lead of the game.
“We thought special teams were going to be very, very important,” Ed Conto said. “We need that (kickoff return touchdown). We said we needed to have something big happen on special teams tonight because we thought we had an advantage there.”
Karns City certainly did, and its defense and special teams provided its only scores in the second half.
“Football is a game about motivation and momentum,” Turner said. “Once you get it, you’re good.”
