KARNS CITY — For games, four lopsided decisions.

Karns City and Moniteau appear to be on an early-season collision course when their football teams meet for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday night in Clarion.

The Gremlins (2-0) have outscored their first two opponents 92-21 while the Bobcats (2-0) have vanquished their first two foes by a composite score of 112-14.

“This is going to be a test, for sure,” Karns City coach Joe Sherwin said. “We're going to find out where we stand in this league and we're excited about it.”

Clarion is a co-op of Clarion, North Clarion and now Clarion-Limestone. Among the players the Bobcats have picked up from C-L is running back Austin Newcomb, who ran for more than 2,000 yards a year ago.

“He's a special athlete who came in here with a great work ethic,” Clarion coach Larry Wiser said. “Austin is working very well within our system.

“I live only a mile and a half from this (Clarion) high school and I drive right by C-L to get here. Putting this program together is the right move for these kids. They all grew up together. They all know each other.”

Newcomb scored four touchdowns — two rushing, two on pass receptions — in Clarion's 42-8 win over Moniteau last week. Quarterback Cal German threw for 246 yards and four TDs in that game.

“Cal was in competition for our starting job last year,” Wiser said. “He's a good basketball player, an extremely good athlete who worked hard this off-season.”

Sherwin sees Newcomb as the key to Clarion's offense.

“He's a great back. We're hoping to contain him the best we can. He's not the kind of back you can totally shut down.

“We have to make him — and their offense — earn every single yard. We don't want to give up the big play. Clarion's had a bunch of those so far.”

Ethan Burford is the Bobcats' deep threat in the passing game.

“We can't let him get behind us,” Sherwin emphasized. “He's already scored three or four times on deep passes behind the secondary.”

Defensively, Wiser lauded the play of middle linebacker Ben Smith, linebackers Kyle Bottaro and Cutter Boggess, among others.

The Bobcats play a 43 defense “that's predicated on allowing our linebackers to roam around and make tackles,” the coach said.

Karns City quarterback Anthony Kamenski threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 107 and a score in last week's 49-7 win over Punxsutawney. Brayden Christie caught two TD passes and Kaden Scherer scored twice, once on a kickoff return.

Nathan Waltman and Luke Garing at linebacker, Scherer in the secondary, Riley Davis and Colton Craig on the line have been standout players for the Gremlins defensively.

“Anthony's decision making has been much better this year,” Sherwin said. “He's making the right reads on his pre-snaps.”

Wiser described the Gremlins as “a typical Karns City football team.”

“They're well-coached, as always,” the coach said. “They block and tackle well. Waltman is very solid at linebacker and tight end, the quarterback makes plays and they have some new sophomores running the ball.

“(Running back) Mitchell Kelsea is a force to be reckoned with, too. This is going to be a tough football game.”

Karns City leads the series between the teams 26-21-1. Clarion has won the last two meetings, 21-7 last year and 44-17 in 2017.