KARNS CITY — Glenn Toy still wears a bulky brace on his left knee.

The senior on the Karns City football team shuffles while leading the team to the field out of the locker room.

He limps out to midfield for the coin toss as a captain and hobbles along the sideline during the game, offering advice and words of encouragement to his teammates.

Toy desperately wants to be on the field with his friends on Friday night.

His knee won't let him.

Toy, though, has found a myriad of other ways to help the Gremlins on their playoff run.

“He's our best leader,” said Karns City football coach Ed Conto. “He's still with us. I don't know if any other kid could have done this other than Glenn.”

Toy was coming off a 1,300-yard season as a junior, but just before his senior campaign, his knee buckled during a passing scrimmage.

Soon after he was diagnosed with a torn ACL.

Even that didn't stop him. Instead of having surgery, he elected to rehab his knee in the hopes of seeing the field again this year.

He did, carrying the ball five times for 32 yards against Union on Sept. 21, before his knee gave out again.

“When I played, I also tore my meniscus in two spots,” Toy said.

He didn't regret it, however.

“I'll tell anyone to try,” he said. “It was the best game of my life.”

Now, relegated to the sidelines, Toy is still finding ways to help the Gremlins, who will tangle with WPIAL Class AA champion and undefeated Aliquippa Friday in a PIAA quarterfinal playoff game.

“Glenn's a great guy and a great friend,” said junior quarterback Tyler Kepple. “It's tough seeing him on the sideline because he's a great player and a competitor and he loves the game.”

Toy had surgery on the knee five weeks ago, but insisted on doing his therapy with the Karns City trainer so he could attend every practice.

On game days, he is an extension of the coaching staff, watching his teammates and offering technical advice. He also serves as one part cheerleader and one part emotional center.

“He's like having another assistant coach,” Kepple said. “When I come off the field after a series, he is the first one there to greet me and give me a tap on the helmet and words of encouragement. His injury has not affected his leadership at all.”

Conto has been impressed by the command Toy has had over the team.

“You can see it. He has an aura about him,” Conto explained. “Probably because he's a hard worker and they saw what he tried to do to come back.”

Even with Toy, Karns City was not projected to reach the Elite Eight in the state.

Throw in a slew of other injuries, and Karns City's district title and first-round PIAA win last week over Chestnut Ridge became even more unexpected.

“Everything they have accomplished this year is just amazing,” Toy said. “People didn't predict us to (win the District 9 championship) with me. To do it without me and with all the other injuries we suffered, it's really special.”

Toy, though, still finds it difficult to be on the sidelines, particularly now as his team gets set to take on the Quips, who many pundits predict will rout the Gremlins Friday.

Whatever happens, Toy said he will do whatever he can to help his friends this week.

“I love these guys to death,” he said. “After football season, I don't know what I'm going to do without them. They've showed me so much support.”