KARNS CITY — After a touchdown in the final minute by Saint Marys knocked Karns City from the ranks of the unbeaten last week, the Gremlins had to be champing at the bit to play their next game.

First things first, however, and KC benefitted from a strong week of practice.

“When you get beat like we did last week (allowing 35 points), it exposes some weaknesses,” said Gremlins' coach Joe Sherwin. “We worked on some things in practice this week. The kids took that and ran with it.”

KC (5-1, 6-1) allowed some big plays to Kane Friday night, but only one score prior to the mercy rule taking affect as the Gremlins bounced back in a big way with a 41-12 victory at home.

Offensively, KC's vaunted ground game chewed up 245 yards. Jayce Anderson led the way with 107 yards and two touchdowns.

Luke Garing added 91 yards and two scores.

The Wolves (3-4, 3-4) started Ricky Zampogna at quarterback after starter Harley Morris was injured in last week's loss to Central Clarion.

Zampogna completed 20 of 33 passes for 170 yards. He had several big completions early, but the Wolves turned the ball over on downs on their second and third possessions at the KC 28 and 44, respectively.

“I thought he had a heckuva game, considering this was his first start at quarterback,” Kane coach Todd Silfies said of Zampogna. “But Karns City has a tough (defensive) front and they're so physically dominant. We had trouble running the football tonight.”

One exception was Zampogna's 66-yard jaunt for a touchdown with seven minutes left in the first half.

The play was only a brief reprieve from KC superiority.

The Gremlins built a 28-0 lead. Garing scored two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter, the second one from 33 yards out.

Micah Rupp snagged a 31-yard scoring pass from Eric Booher on the first play of the second quarter.

Rupp then turned in a huge play on defense. Following Zampogna's 17-yard pass to Shane Ackley, Rupp stripped the receiver of the ball and raced 56 yards to set Booher and the Gremlin offense up at Kane's 19.

Jayce Anderson scored on a short run four plays later for a four-touchdown lead.

“I wish we would've forced a few turnovers against Saint Marys last week,” Sherwin said with a grin. “Other than that game, we've done pretty well with forcing them.”

Anderson added his second rushing score before halftime, at which point he had 105 yards on just eight carries.

“He's our primary tailback and the offensive line is doing a good job of opening holes for him,” Sherwin said. “Obviously, that's something we want to continue.”

Zampogna was intercepted once and it came early in the third period when he was hit by Josh Griffiths just as he was letting go of the ball, which was picked off just beyond the line of scrimmage by Austin Brown.

Luke Cramer scored KC's final touchdown on a short run in the third quarter.

The Gremlins travel to play Ridgway next Friday.

Kane 0 6 0 6 — 12

Karns City 15 20 6 0 — 41

First Quarter

KC — Luke Garing 1 run (Zach Kelly kick), 9:27

KC — Garing 33 run (Garing run), 3:35

Second Quarter

KC — Micah Rupp 31 pass from Eric Booher (Kelly kick), 11:53

KC — Jayce Anderson 1 run (kick blocked), 8:11

KA — Ricky Zampogna 66 run (kick blocked), 7:01

KC — Anderson 5 run (Kelly kick), 2:58

Third Quarter

KC — Luke Cramer 1 run (kick failed), 8:19

Fourth Quarter

KA — Zampogna 5 run (kick failed), 3:41

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Kane, Reece Bechakas 6-16, Ricky Zampogna 11-80, Addison Plants 4-7, Shane Ackley 2-0, Kane Scharba 1-3, Sam West 2-17, Kyle Zook 1-(-11). Karns City, Jayce Anderson 9-107, Luke Cramer 5-15, Luke Garing 5-91, Nate Garing 1-19, Eric Booher 3-(-1), Cooper Coyle 1-14.

Passing: Kane, Ricky Zampogna 20-33-170-1, Kyle Zook 0-1-0-0. Karns City, Eric Booher 6-10-66-0.

Receiving: Kane, Landon Darr 7-80, Addison Plants 2-5, Sam Lundeen 3-14, Shane Ackley 7-71, Scott Szymanski 1-0. Karns City, Cooper Coyle 1-3, Micah Rupp 5-63.