Owen Kaufman ‘makes a difference’ again with 4 TDs in Karns City football’s win vs Port Allegany
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Karns City's Owen Kaufman (24) attempts to tackle a Port Allegany runner in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Owen Kaufman (24) battles a Port Allegany defender to advance the ball in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Tyson Frazer (8) catches the ball against Port Allegany in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Tyson Frazer (8) attempts to tackle a Port Allegany runner in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Owen Kaufman (24) cuts while running the ball against Port Allegany in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Owen Kaufman (24) fights for yardage against Port Allegany in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Trevor Geibel (50) tackles a Port Allegany runner in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City cheerleaders and fans celebrate touchdown in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Owen Kaufman (24) carries the ball for a touchdown in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Shane Emrick (50) tackles a Port Allegany player in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Trevor Geibel (50) reacts after stopping Port Allegany on fourth down in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Trevor Mong (11) brings down a Port Allegany reciever in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Bryce Galan (25) dives over a Port Allegany defender in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Owen Kaufman (24) celebrates a touchdown against Port Allegany in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Cole Johnston (7) has the ball knocked out by Port Allegany in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's band performs at halftime in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Senior night balloons in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's band performs at halftime in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's band performs at halftime in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's band performs at halftime in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Senior night banner at Karns City in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's band arrives to the field in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Trevor Geibel (56) salutes the flag in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's players run through the banner on senior night in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's senior Owen Kaufman (24) is escorted by family in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's band performs at halftime in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's senior Jesse King (79) is escorted by family in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brock Dittman (84) carries the flag in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's senior Bryce Galan (25) is escorted by family in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Owen Kaufman (24) carries the ball for a touchdown in a football game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Karns City's Diehl Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
KARNS CITY — Karns City football head coach Joe Sherwin refers to Owen Kaufman as a difference maker.
The senior receiver/cornerback certainly fit that description Friday night.
Kaufman scored four touchdowns three different ways — including a critical pick-six in the fourth quarter — to lead the Gremlins to a 36-20 victory at Karns City’s Diehl Stadium.
Karns City (8-1) was looking to add to a 22-20 lead in the fourth quarter, but Bryce Galan was stopped short of the sticks on a fourth-and-1 play from the Gators’ 5-yard line.
Two snaps later, however, Kaufman picked off a Brennan Fillhart flare pass and waltzed 6 yards into the end zone, giving the Gremlins a two-score lead with 7:54 remaining.
“I knew they’d be looking for No. 4 (Kellen Veilleux) in the flat there because he’s their main guy,” Kaufman said. “I was in that area and the ball was overthrown. It came right to me for an easy touchdown.”
“It was a bad throw, but it was a worse call by me,” Port Allegany head coach Cliff Fillhart said. “We never should have ran that play. That one was on me.”
The Gators (5-4) weren’t done, though. They drove inside the KC 15 but took an illegal procedure penalty on fourth-and-6 from the 13-yard line. Fillhart dropped back to pass, but he was sacked by Trevor Geibel and Jesse King to end the possession.
KC quarterback Cole Johnston rambled 71 yards for a touchdown on the next play to put the game away.
“I was pleased with the way we got stops when we needed to, scored when we needed to,” Sherwin said. “I give a lot of credit to Port Allegany. That’s a good, tough football team and they kept coming. We had to respond.”
While lining up at receiver, Kaufman ran for 134 yards on nine carries. He got the night’s scoring started with a 75-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. He also caught a 6-yard scoring pass from Johnston and scored on a 4-yard run.
Kaufman played only four games last season due to an assortment of injuries. He came back to shine on senior night.
“A double hamstring, a concussion. ... Last year just wasn’t good for me,” Kaufman said. “It feels so good to come back this year and contribute. This game was fun — two tough, physical teams going at each other.”
Sherwin could only smile when asked about Kaufman’s performance.
“It’s just so good to have him back healthy this year,” the coach said. “You can see how he makes a difference out there.”
Karns City rushed for 380 yards while throwing only five passes. The Gremlins put the ball in the air just seven times last week.
“I don’t know if that’s by design,” Sherwin said. “We’re just taking what the defense gives us. They were loading up against our passing game, so we stayed on the ground.”
Kaufman, the team’s leading receiver this season, didn’t mind at all.
“Our running game is pretty potent. Nothing wrong with leaning on that,” he said.
Brock Dittman had an interception, and Johnston recovered a fumble at the KC 8-yard line moments before Kaufman’s 75-yard touchdown burst.
“We’ve been known to turn the ball over before,” coach Fillhart said. “We need to find a way to stop that and turn these solid efforts into more wins. We did a lot of good things tonight.
“Karns City took advantage of our miscues. That’s what good teams do. And their guys run so, so fast.”
Johnston rushed for 130 yards for the Gremlins. Veilleux had 21 carries for 90 yards for Port Allegany and now has 1,567 combined rushing and receiving yards this season.
Port Allegany 0 12 8 0 — 20
Karns City 7 15 0 14 — 36
First Quarter
KC — Owen Kaufman 75 run (Trevor Rumbaugh kick), 3:20
Second Quarter
PA — Brennan Fillhart 1 run (kick failed), 11:13
KC — Kaufman 6 pass from Cole Johnston (Johnston run), 8:14
PA — Fillhart 2 run (pass failed), 3:38
KC — Kaufman 4 run (Brock Dittman kick), :33
Third Quarter
PA — Fillhart 8 run (Kellen Veilleux run), 4:32
Fourth Quarter
KC — Kaufman 6 interception return (Rumbaugh kick), 7:02
KC — Johnston 71 run (Dittman kick), 5:02
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Port Allegany, Brennan Fillhart 11-52, Kellen Veilleux 21-90, Isaac Postlewait 9-39, Ayden Bachman 1-4. Karns City, Cole Johnston 10-130, Tyson Fraser 7-33, Bryce Galan 12-86, Owen Kaufman 9-134, TEAM 1-(-5), Bradden Hamilton 1-1, Zac Neal 1-1.
Passing: Port Allegany, Brennan Fillhart 5-11-57-1, Kellen Veilleux 0-1-0-1. Karns City, Cole Johnston 3-5-19-0.
Receiving: Port Allegany, Kellen Veilleux 3-36, Liam Hawver 2-21. Karns City, Owen Kaufman 2-4, Brock Dittman 1-15.
