No matter what happens Friday night in the heart of steel mill country, the Karns City football team already has proven to be as strong and tempered as a girder.

By now, the story of the Gremlins’ season has been well documented.

Overlooked. Ravaged by injuries. And then a late resurgence that has landed Karns City in a PIAA Class AA quarterfinal tussle with undefeated and WPIAL champion Aliquippa at Central Valley High School in Monaca Friday night.

Few, if any, thought this Gremlins team would be 10-3 and among the final eight teams in the state.

As Glenn Toy said, no one thought Karns City would even win the District 9 title with the 1,300-yard runner from a season ago.

When Toy was lost for the season with a knee injury, pundits thought it even more clear that this simply would not be KC’s year.

The Gremlins proved them all wrong.

This is only the second Karns City football team to win a state playoff game.

Now, it faces arguably the best team in the state in Class AA in Aliquippa — a Quips team that has outscored its opponents 658-49 this season, that held Washington’s 2,600-yard rusher Shai McKenzie to 33 yards on 18 carries and rolled up 505 yards on the ground themselves against that same Prexies’ team.

Karns City has to go up against that? Talk about David vs. Goliath matchups.

The Gremlins are used to being counted out, though.

It’s almost a state-wide hobby to overlook District 9 football teams.

In 2008, Karns City went on the road to take on undefeated Wilmington — a team that at the time had gaudy numbers like Aliquippa this season.

All it did was come home with a 22-21 victory — Wilmington’s only loss in a state-championship campaign.

Even this season, after a loss at home to Oil City, many thought they would not even make the playoffs.

Things change.

Sports are crazy like that. You never know what is going to happen.

Unfortunately, the Scoopster has to be realistic with his picks. He has to pick with his head, not his heart.

This Aliquippa team is unlike any other Karns City has faced — probably ever.

Running backs Terry Swanson and Travon Henry both have well over 1,000 yards rushing. Quarterback Malik Shegog is a threat with both his arm and his feet.

But it’s the Aliquippa defense that make the Quips great.

Only one team, Ellwood City, has scored more than one touchdown in a game against them.

Karns City’s offense is potent and diverse, but the Quips can shut down anyone.

That’s why I think the Gremlins’ tremendous season and playoff run is going to come to an end this week.

No shame in that, however. Karns City maxed out its season. ... Aliquippa 44, Karns City 8.

Scoop is ready to play quarterback for the Steelers this weekend.