Owen Kaufman takes off, and Karns City football cruises to easy 4-0 start in win vs St. Marys
KARNS CITY — Traditionally, Karns City football likes the running game.
But the Gremlins offense took flight Friday night, connecting on three long touchdown passes in a 28-7 District 9 victory over St. Marys at Karns City’s Diehl Stadium.
Quarterback Cole Johnston connected with Brock Dittman from 46 yards out to break a 7-7 tie in the second quarter.
Johnston then found Owen Kaufman for TD strikes of 77 and 36 yards in the third period to break the game open. The 77-yard play came on the snap following an 86-yard Bryce Galan scoring run that was wiped out by a holding penalty.
“Our running game has been going pretty well, so (head coach Joe Sherwin) wanted us to work on the passing game,” Johnston said. “They were in single coverage on the outside, and we took advantage of it.”
The Gremlins (4-0) entered the game with 870 rushing yards, averaging 8.2 yards per carry. KC did run for 140 yards on 32 attempts Friday.
But Johnston threw for 209, completing 9 of 14 passes.
“If teams are going to give us single coverage like that, we're gonna take our shots,” Sherwin said. “First off, we have a lot of confidence in Cole. And our receivers are gonna catch the ball and make plays.”
Defensively, the Gremlins allowed a 61-yard scoring drive midway through the second quarter that knotted the game. But KC slammed the door after that.
Bryce Galan intercepted a pass and returned it 21 yards to the Flying Dutch 31-yard line. That set up a short scoring drive, ending with a 1-yard Tyson Fraser touchdown run in the first quarter.
St. Marys (0-3) turned the ball over on downs inside the KC 15 twice.
On third down from the Gremlins’ 24, Dutch quarterback Brody Wehler was sacked by Aidan Hann. A fourth-down pass in the end zone was incomplete.
Late in the fourth quarter, Cody Thompson was tackled by Galan after a 2-yard gain on fourth-and-3 from the KC 9.
“Our defense was resilient tonight,” Sherwin said. “When they had to crack down and get stops, they did.
“ (Linebacker Shane Emrick) had a great game tonight. People think the line and linebackers are responsible for stopping the run. … The secondary has to get in there, too. Those guys were flying to the ball.”
KC's defense has allowed only 42 points all season.
“We work together. Everyone has to do his job,” Galan said. “We take pride in keeping people out of the end zone.”
St. Marys 0 7 0 0 — 7
Karns City 7 7 14 0 — 28
First Quarter
KC — Tyson Frazer 1 run (Trevor Rumbaugh kick), 3:26
Second Quarter
SM — Bruno Sager 12 run (Remy Smith kick), 9:18
KC — Brock Dittman 46 pass from Cole Johnston (Dittman kick), 8:38
Third Quarter
KC — Owen Kaufman 77 pass from Johnston (Rumbaugh kick), 5:34
KC — Kaufman 36 pass from Johnston (Dittman kick), 1:29
Individual Statistics
Passing: St. Marys, Brody Wehler 12-15-65-1. Karns City, Cole Johnston 9-14-209-0.
Rushing: St. Marys, Brody Wehler 12-41, Gus Herzing 3-6, Bruno Stager 13-66, Matthew Gilmore 4-21, Cody Thompson 2-10, Julian Bauer 1-6. Karns City, Cole Johnston 12-67, Tyson Frazer 5-23, Bryce Galan 10-43, Bodey Anderson 1-9, Owen Kaufman 4-16.
Receiving: St. Marys, Landyn Buhler 1-0, Chris Thompson 4-55, Bruno Stager 2-(-3), Matthew Gilmore 3-10, Chase Herzing 2-3. Karns City, Brock Dittman 4-77, Owen Kaufman 3-123, Tyson Frazer 2-9
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Karns City's Owen Kaufman (24) catches a pass and runs it in for a touchdown in a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Cole Johnston (7) runs the ball in a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City players bring down a St. Marys ball carrier in a football game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brock Dittman (84) kicks the ball in a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Bodey Anderson (27) runs the ball in a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Cole Johnston (7) is knocked over along the sideline in a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Owen Kaufman (24) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City players tackle St. Marys' Cody Thompson (18) in a football game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Tyson Frazer (8) makes a run with the ball in a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City players bring down St. Marys' Cody Thompson (18) in a football game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler
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Karns City's Bryce Galan (25) runs the ball in a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Bryce Galan (25) jumps over St. Marys' Matthew Gilmore (12) in a football game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Owen Kaufman (24) catches a pass and runs it in for a touchdown in a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City football head coach Joe Sherwin high-fives players as they return to the sideline in a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Tyson Frazer (8) brings down St. Marys' Cody Thompson (18) as Cole Johnston (7) attempts to steal possession of the ball in a football game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler
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Karns City's Brock Dittman (84) blocks a pass intended for St. Marys' Chase Herzing (6) in a football game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brock Dittman (84) shakes hands with veterans attending the game as special guests during a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Bryce Galan (25) celebrates with a teammate after scoring a touchdown in a football game against St. Marys Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
