Scott Park knows better.

The Karns City football team that his Raiders defeated 44-0 a few weeks ago was not the real Karns City football team.

“I can't explain what happened that night,” Park said. “That wasn't even the Karns City team we saw on film leading up to that game and they've gotten much better since we played them.”

The Gremlins (5-2) take on unbeaten Brookville (7-0) for the District 9 Class 2A championship at 7 p.m. Friday at Brockway.

“That was our worst game of the year,” Karns City coach Joe Sherwin said of the loss at Brookville. “But (defensive back) Kaden Scherer didn't play that game. Two-way tackle Cole Hilliard didn't play that game. We had six turnovers.

“I don't think that will happen again. We expect a different game this time.”

Karns City rushed for 281 yards in defeating Central Clarion, 34-9, in the first round of the playoffs last week. Luke Garing ran for 123 yards, Jayce Anderson 59 and Cole Coon 51. Quarterback Eric Booher threw for 103 yards and ran for 38.

Scherer had three interceptions on defense.

“They've found their running game and that's a much more confident football team now,” Park said. “We've been drilling that into our kids this week. We better be ready.”

“Our offensive line has settled in now,” Sherwin said. “We've had a lot of guys go in and out of our lineup up front. And we're more committed to running the football now.”

Brookville has been held below 42 points only once this season — a 35-13 win over DuBois — and quarterback Jack Krug has thrown for 2,203 yards, 30 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Krug is a fourth-year starter behind center and has 8,196 career passing yards.

“He's had our school career passing record since he was a sophomore,” Park said. “We've got 14 seniors, including five who have been on the varsity since they were freshmen and have been three-year starters, at least.”

Those five are Krug. Robert Keth, Elliot Park, Nathan Taylor and Wyatt Thrush. Keth has 34 catches for 558 yards, fellow senior Ryan Daisley 33 for 324 and sophomore Brayden Kunselman 28 for 524.

Eight different Raiders have caught touchdown passes and Brookville has rushed for 876 yards this year.

“This is the best running game we've had in years. That's helped our passing game, too,” Park said.

Sherwin said his defense has to stay disciplined to contain Krug.

“We need to apply pressure, but have to stay in our lanes,” he said. “If that quarterback sees a hole, he's gonna take off and run.

“We have to cover their guys on routes. They can throw the ball to a lot of people.”

Defensively, Brookville is led by inside linebackers Keth and Taylor, defensive end Park, tackles Thrush and Jake Becker, safety Kunselman and cornerback Kyle Macbeth.

<b>Seneca Valley (4-2) at North Allegheny (5-0)</b>7 p.m., FridayThis is a WPIAL Class 6A semifinal playoff.Seneca Valley fell in overtime last week, 28-27 to Mt. Lebanon. North Allegheny's scheduled finale against Hempfield was not played after the Spartans canceled their final two games due to concerns over COVID-19 exposure.SV's Ethan West, a difference-maker at RB/WR/LB, has been out with a leg injury for the last four games. Coach Ron Butschle said West has practiced this week and could play Friday.NA senior Khalil Dinkins (6-4, 220) has played WR/RB/QB on offense and LB/DE on defense. The recent Penn State commit leads the Tigers in rushing and receiving.Both teams have used the Wildcat formation on offense, with Dinkins taking snaps for the Tigers and WR Connor Lyczek doing so for the Raiders.The Raiders and Tigers were supposed to open the season against each other Sept. 4, but COVID concerns at Seneca Valley forced the game's cancellation. ... The last two times SV made the WPIAL championship game (2016 and 2018), the Raiders upset NA in the semifinals.<b>Mars (6-1) at Thomas Jefferson (5-1)</b>7 p.m., FridayMars closed the regular season last week with a 34-22 win at Indiana. Thomas Jefferson suffered its first loss of the season, 20-14 to visiting McKeesport. TJ has gone at least 19 seasons without losing consecutive home games.Mars senior RB Teddy Ruffner has rushed for 1,560 yards and 23 TDs this season. His 4,458 yards in his varsity career have him 245 yards shy of breaking Bill Bair's school record of 4,702 yards.The Planets run the ball 82 percent of the time. Junior QB Quinn Fuller has completed 24 of his 62 pass attempts this season for 353 yards with 1 TD and 5 INTs.TJ senior QB Jake Pugh is averaging 200 passing yards per game with 14 TDs and 3 INTs.TJ, the defending WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A champion, has played in 5 straight WPIAL championship games.<b>Freeport (3-2) at Elizabeth Forward (6-0)</b>7 p.m., FridayThis will be the first football game played between these Class 3A schools.The sixth-seeded Yellowjackets are led by sophomore QB Ben Lane, who has thrown for 586 yards and 4 TDs, rushed for 352 and 6 scores. ... WR Vinnie Clark has 19 catches for 368 yards and 3 TDS. ... MLB Jackson Reiser leads the team, with 9.8 tackles per game and returned an interception for a score against North Catholic last week ... The Yellowjackets had 16 quarterback sacks in their first four games this year. Cole Charlton and freshman Colton Otterman had four each.While No. 3 seed Elizabeth Forward is undefeated, three 4-3 teams played the Warriors tough. Southmoreland dropped a 35-19 decision, South Allegheny a 20-14 game and Mount Pleasant a 16-14 decision. ... The Warriors are led offensively by QB Evan Lewis and RB Nico Mrvos. Lewis has rushed for 298 yards and Mrvos has 12 catches for 177 to go with 350 yards on the ground. ... RB DaVontray Brownfield leads the team with 446 yards and 6 TDs rushing.<b>Mount Pleasant (4-3) vs. North Catholic (7-0)</b>7 p.m., FridayMars Athletic ComplexMount Pleasant enters the postseason on a 2-game losing skid, losing 30-19 to South Park last week. North Catholic closed the regular season as undefeated Allegheny Seven Conference champion, topping Freeport 26-14.Aaron Alaskan leads the Vikings with 549 yards rushing and is averaging 6.8 yards per carry. ... QB Asher O'Connor has passed for 539 yards with 5 TDs and 5 INTs.North Catholic junior QB Joey Prentice, who has passed for 1,088 yards with 14 TDs and 4 INTs and added 520 rushing yards and 12 TDs, left last week's game with a thumb injury on his throwing hand. Backup Carson Laconi entered the game and completed both his pass attempts for 38 yards and also added two rushing TDs.

<b>Slippery Rock (2-5) at Hickory (6-0)</b>7 p.m., FridayThis is a rare third meeting in the same season between two teams. ... Hickory won the first two clashes, 45-0 and 28-7. ... Hickory QB Michael Henwood completed 39 of 53 for 615 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions in those two games combined. He connected with Ramarion Whitehead 17 times for 315 yards and three touchdowns in those two games.Slippery Rock QB William Mokel had a better game in the second meeting, but has struggled against the Hornets' defense. Mokel has put up good numbers this season, completing 103 of 189 for 1,142 yards and six touchdowns.

<b>Moniteau (2-5) at Warren (3-3)</b>7 p.m., SaturdayMoniteau is coming off a 28-14 win over Punxsutawney in a game in which the Warriors rushed for 183 yards and threw the ball just twice. ... Mason Mershimer gained 66 yards on 11 carries and leads Moniteau with 710 yards on 117 carries and six TDs. ... James Swanson leads the Dragons with 698 yards and six rushing TDs. He also leads the team with 15 receptions. ... Mershimer is also having a strong season on defense for Moniteau with 38 tackles, seven for a loss, and a sack.