Power Game
BROCKWAY — Every now and then, things just need to be simplified. Why complicate it when the answer is to go straight-forward?
In the second half of a matchup with Ridgway at Brockway's Varischetti Field, Karns City (11-1) got back to the basics and staked claim to its second straight District 9 Class 2A crown by a 35-7 decision.
“The score does not indicate the type of game this was,” Karns City coach Joe Sherwin said. “It was a battle.”
Courtesy of rushing strikes by Nate and Luke Garing, Karns City powered out to a 13-point advantage early in the second quarter. Instead of folding like it had in the two teams' meeting last month, Ridgway (8-4) showed signs of life.
One play after Jack Benninger ended an 11-play drive with a missed field goal try, the Elkers' Camron Marciniak came up with an interception and, soon after, would pull in a Dominic Allegretto touchdown pass to get Ridgway going.
Down six coming out of halftime, the Elkers' momentum carried them as far as the KC 14-yard line. The march ended with another unsuccessful field goal attempt and, from there on, the Gremlins took hold.
“We went back to normal Karns City football,” senior tailback Luke Garing said. “Running the ball.”
Like a sledgehammer pounding away, the Karns City offense repeatedly slammed into the Elkers' stacked defensive front. On a 17-play series — all runs — the Gremlins moved 80 yards and picked up a half-dozen first downs. Garing put the exclamation mark on the possession with a three-yard scoring surge with under 11 minutes to go.
“They just took it right to us,” Ridgway coach Mark Heindl said. “It was a physical game. That's been their bread and butter all year. They lined up, you knew where they were running the ball. It was just a matter of if you can stop them. They did a great a job.”
“We just wanted to get back to what got us here,” Sherwin said. “I don't know if we've ever had a 17-play drive. We just keep churning it out.”
The Elkers responded with a three-and-out, leaving a weary defense to go back out and try to stop a ground game with a head of steam. Sophomore Luke Cramer made them pay, adding to the lead with a four-yard burst.Again, a Ridgway three-and-out followed. Then another Karns City rushing score, this time by Jayce Anderson. Anderson and Luke Garing both surpassed 1,000 rushing yards this season in the contest. They combined for 205 yards on the night.“I give all the credit to the offensive line,” Garing said. “I think there was 11 different offensive linemen that jumped in this year. Credit to all of them.”In the final 24 minutes alone, the Gremlins rumbled for 167 yards. They didn't pass once in that span. Luke Garing finished the game by intercepting Allegretto for the second time.“There were a couple times tonight that we put ourselves in position to get back in this football game,” Heindl said. “To see what Karns City did there various times, it's hard to beat a team twice in one season. Good football times find a way to win and they obviously did that in the second half.”“When the line gets a five-, six-yard push and we run that clock out, that makes a short second half,” Garing said. “That's what we did.”Ridgway 0 7 0 0 — 7Karns City 7 6 0 22 — 35First QuarterKC — Nate Garing 34 run (Zach Kelly kick), 7:58Second QuarterKC — Luke Garing 1 run (kick failed), 10:59R — Camron Marciniak 16 pass friom Dominic Allegretto (Jack Benninger kick), :53Fourth QuarterKC — Luke Garing 3 run (Luke Garing run), 10:49KC — Luke Cramer 11 run (Kelly kick), 5:00KC — Jayce Anderson 7 run (Kelly kick), 2:43Individual StatisticsRushing: Ridgway, Eric Salberg 4-16, Dominic Allegretto 17-46, Camron Marciniak 4-9, TEANM 1-(-5). Karns City, Jayce Anderson 14-126, Luke Garing 15-79, Eric Booher 7-61, Nate Garing 5-50, Luke Cramer 1-11, Cooper Coyle 4-6, TEAM 1-(-3).Passing: Ridgway, Dominic Allegretto 10-22-111-2. Karns City, Eric Booher 0-3-0-2.Receiving: Ridgway, Eric Salberg 4-75, Camron Marciniak 5-38, Will Howard 1-(-2).
