PIAA football: Karns City can’t sustain early push vs Nebraska commit Juelz Johnson, Farrell in first round

November 14, 2025 Last Updated: November 14, 2025 11:54 PM Sports

Karns City’s Sean Slaugenhoup (52) becomes emotional after losing to Farrell 48-20 in a PIAA Class 2A football first-round game Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

KARNS CITY — Just as Karns City received a much-needed spark, Juelz Johnson doused it with a superb individual effort.

Hunter Scherer had just cut Farrell’s lead to 26-13 on a short touchdown run with 6:05 left in the third quarter of Friday’s PIAA Class 2A first-round football playoff game at Diehl Stadium.

Johnson, who had already scored twice in the game, took the ensuing kickoff and raced 88 yards for a touchdown. He added a fourth score later in the period as District 10 champion Farrell ended Karns City’s season with a 48-20 decision.

“He does so many things for us, is so dynamic and he showed it tonight,” Steelers coach Anthony Pegues said of Johnson, a University of Nebraska commit.

Entering the game averaging 154 yards rushing per contest, Johnson was held to 78 yards on 19 carries, though he did score twice on the ground.

But he also showed his versatility. Aside from his long kickoff return, Johnson caught seven passes for 124 yards, including a 44-yard scoring reception from Aaron Pegues that put the Steelers (11-2) up 26-7 in the third quarter.

“I thought we held him in check running the ball, but he did a lot of damage receiving and with that return,” KC coach Joe Sherwin said.

The Gremlins (9-3) succeeded in making an early statement. They won the coin toss, chose to receive and embarked on an 11-play, 63-yard drive that was kept alive with Cole Johnston’s 7-yard run on fourth-and-3 from Farrell’s 39.

Karns City’s Owen Heginbotham (22) fights off a Farrell defender in a PIAA Class 2A football first-round game Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Johnston later scored on a 10-yard run. He completed three passes on the march totaling 42 yards to Keagan Schrecengost, Brock Dittman and Bryce Galan.

The drive took 5:16 off the clock.

“That gave us so much confidence,” Scherer said. “We knew we would have to play smash-mouth football to win tonight, and we did that early on. But we started to fade after that.

The Steelers scored three touchdowns by halftime, and their defense intercepted Johnston four times in the game, three of them by junior defensive back Dorean Cain.

“Karns City is a tough team,” Anthony Pegues said. “We knew their quarterback can run and throw. … They’d be giving it their all, especially playing at home. We needed to match their intensity, and we did.”

Johnston rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries. His 50-yard jaunt through Farrell’s defense in the third quarter set up the first of Scherer’s two touchdown runs.

The Steelers advance to play the winner of Saturday’s District 6 championship game between Bishop McCort and Richland.

The Gremlins carried a six-game winning streak into the game. They reached the state playoffs by winning their first District 9 title in four years.

“It was a great season,” Sherwin said. “We lost to Punxsutawney (22-19 on Sept. 19), and we put our foot on the gas after that.”

Scherer is one of 12 seniors who played their final game for the Gremlins.

“I’m going to remember the guys on the line the most,” he said. “Everything starts with them, and they’re the heart and soul of the team.”

Farrell 8 12 22 6 — 48

Karns City 7 0 6 7 — 20

First Quarter

KC — Cole Johnston 10 run (Brock Dittman kick), 6:42

F — Juelz Johnson 3 run (Nemo Jones pass from Johnson), 3:13

Second Quarter

F — Jason Marshall 4 run (pass failed), 9:27

F — Jones 8 pass from Aaron Pegues (run failed), 1:42

Third Quarter

F — Johnson 44 pass from Pegues (pass failed), 8:38

KC — Hunter Scherer 1 run (run failed), 6:05

F — Johnson 88 kickoff return (run failed), 5:48

F — Johnson 3 run (Marshall run), :53

F — Safety, Johnston intentional grounding in end zone, :12

Fourth Quarter

F — Marshall 41 run (pass failed), 9:10

KC — Scherer 1 run (Trevor Rumbaugh kick), 6:07

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Farrell, Juelz Johnson 19-78, Aaron Pegues 5-(-3), Jason Marshall 5-61, Jadon King-Vincent 1-4, Gavin Tsolo-Petitford 2-8, D’Mar Russell 1-1. Karns City, Owen Heginbotham 3-13, Bryce Galan 3-9, Cole Johnston 11-100, Hunter Scherer 9-84, Nathan Hess 7-17, Riley Hamilton 1-2.

Passing: Farrell, Aaron Pegues 14-16-222-0, Gavin Tsolo-Petitford 0-2-0-0. Karns City, Cole Johnston 7-18-68-4.

Receiving: Farrell, Dorean Cain 3-52, Nemo Jones 4-46, Juelz Johnson 7-124. Karns City, Bryce Galan 2-16, Brock Dittman 1-10, Keagan Schrecengost 1-18, Hunter Scherer 2-16, Nathan Hess 1-8.

Rob McGraw

Karns City’s CJ Emrick (51) becomes emotional after losing to Farrell 48-20 in a PIAA Class 2A football first-round game Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Karns City quarterback Cole Johnston (7) celebrates the first touchdown of the night against Farrell with fellow teammates Mason Bell (56) and Carter Farren (82) in a PIAA Class 2A football first-round game Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Karns City’s Owen Heginbotham (22) fights off a Farrell defender in a PIAA Class 2A football first-round game Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Karns City’s Sean Slaugenhoup (52) blocks a Farrell lineman in a PIAA Class 2A football first-round game Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw