KARNS CITY — The Karns City football team entered the season with high expectations and has a chance to cross its first goal off the list on Friday night at Diehl Stadium.

The Gremlins will host Brookville for a chance to win the KSAC Large championship outright. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

“If we want to win a championship, we have to go out and finish it off and do it right,” said Karns City coach Ed Conto. “Hopefully, the kids will be tuned in to that fact.”

Earning the conference title is a annual priority for the defending District 9 Class AA champions.

“It always is,” said Conto. “First you take care of that and then you think about playoffs, but you have to take care of that first.”

Brookville (6-2, 2-1) will likely rely heavily on running back Zach Vroman, who has racked up 1,463 yards and 17 touchdowns on 136 carries. His cause will be aided by a bulky offensive line.

“They have a huge front line,” Conto noted.

Karns City (7-1, 3-0) hopes to have its defense prepared for the numerous looks of the Raiders’ offense.

“They’re one of these who teams using multiple sets who try to catch you not lining up right and try to take advantage,” said Conto. “They’re also a trick-play team. You have to be ready for anything like that at all times.

“We have to be disciplined and we have to go out and be quicker than their big guys,” he added. “With the backs, we’ll have to hit them hard. It makes running backs tired and not want to run the ball.”

The Gremlins’ explosive rushing attack is complemented by an efficient passing game and has resulted in 460 yards of total offense per game.

Tyler Kepple is completing 60.4 percent of his passes for 1,015 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Tristan Rhoades leads Karns City in rushing with 589 yards and five scores on 42 carries, but will miss Friday’s contest after suffering a sprained ankle in last week’s 48-28 win at Oil City.

Wyatt Everetts is the second-leading rusher with 404 yards, while Zach Moore has 313 after erupted for 111 yards and two touchdowns last week.

Dakota Mohney and Logan Moroney have been the Gremlins’ top receivers. Mohney has 22 catches for 379 yards and seven scores, while Maroney has hauled in 13 passes for 246 yards and four touchdowns.

Along with Rhoades, tight end/linebacker Dan Filges is also unlikely to play due to a potential concussion.

“It was a good, physical game and everyone is a little beat up,” said Conto of the latest victory in a five-game win streak. “Most of them are going to play, but they’re all a little hobbled. Hopefully, they don’t get any worse.”

Coming off its most competitive game of the season and a poor weather forecast looming Friday, the Karns City coach hopes his team is sharp from the opening snap.

“This will probably be the first weekend with really miserable weather. We’ll have to make sure we take care of the ball,” said Conto. “We have to avoid a lull after the big win last week. We need to keep focused and not look ahead at the playoffs yet.”

Hampton (4-4, 3-4)

at Mars (7-1, 6-1)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: The Talbots fell 33-12 at Franklin Regional and the Planets demolished visiting Hollidaysburg 69-14.

Numbers: Mars senior WB Jason Lozzi is averaging an astounding 13.3 yards per carry (452 yards on 34 attempts) and has nine TDs on the ground.

Notes: Mars coach Scott Heinauer reached the 150-win milestone with last week’s victory. Counting a 3-1 stint as coach at Peters Township in 1986, Heinauer now owns a career record of 150-86. ... The Talbots are still alive for the WPIAL Class AAA wild-card spot. ... Mars beat Hampton last year 25-10.

Highlands (6-2, 6-1)

at Knoch (3-5, 2-5)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: Highlands fell to Ringgold 45-20 while Knoch lost to Indiana 28-7.

Numbers: Knoch RB Cody Milsom has been a workhorse this season with 825 yards on 197 carries. The players with the second most carries for the Knights is Ben Lowery with 48. ... Jim Larrimer has been a big target in the passing game for Knoch with 18 receptions for 319 yards and five TDs. ... Highlands’ last two wins have come by the average score of 58-7.

Notes: Highlands rested most of its starters in a non-section loss to Ringgold last week. With a win, Highlands will clinch at least a share of the Greater Allegheny Conference title.

Punxsutawney (3-5, 0-3)

at Moniteau (2-6, 1-2)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: The Chucks were trampled 55-0 by Clarion; Moniteau picked up a 34-20 victory over Union

Numbers: Christian Falgout paces the Punxsy rushing attack with 872 yards and eight touchdowns on 165 carries this year. … Clayton Dale is the Chucks’ go-to receiver with 22 catches for 322 yards and a score this season. … Dale and Perry Arrington, who is Punxsy’s second-leading rushing with 270 yards, lead the team with two interceptions apiece. … Moniteau’s Cody Skiver has tallied 725 passing yards and 569 rushing yards this season. … Trevor Shaffer has hauled in 16 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns. … The Warriors pulled down three interceptions in last week’s win.

Notes: Dustin Geagan is closing in on the career rushing record at Moniteau. He has posted 231 yards in 2013 and was reportedly less than 300 yards short entering the season. … Punxsutawney defeated Moniteau 38-23 in 2012.

Union (3-5, 2-2)

at Keystone (1-7, 1-3)

Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: The Golden Knights suffered a 34-20 defeat to Moniteau; Keystone was dropped 56-28 at Mercer.

Numbers: Union junior quarterback Lane Cicciarelli has passed for 1,263 yards with 13 TDs and six interceptions this season. ... Shane Murphy has 19 catches for 546 yards and nine TDs, while Chet Carmichael has snagged 21 passes for 501 yards and five scores. … Zach Stiglitz (397 yards), Jacob Weaver (317) and Bryce Altman (276) share the rushing load for the Panthers. … Dustin Wolbert is Keystone’s top receiver with 18 catches for 398 yards and four scores. … Keystone QB Austin Chambers is 52-of-112 for 883 yards this season.

Notes: Union beat Keystone 19-0 last year.

A-C Valley (0-8, 0-4)

at Clarion (8-0, 4-0)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: A-C Valley lost 28-7 at St. Joseph’s Academy in Centre County. Clarion shut out Punxsutawney 55-0.

Numbers: Falcons’ senior RB Mike Suto has scored 12 of his team’s 20 TDs this season. ... Clarion QB John Katis currently has 14 TD passes and no interceptions this season.

Notes: The Falcons have dropped 14 straight meetings to the Bobcats, including last season’s 49-14 decision. A-C Valley’s last victory in the series was a 22-6 outcome in Oct. 1998.

Sharon (5-3, 4-2)

at Grove City (5-3, 4-2)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: Sharon defeated Wilmington 35-21; Grove City routed Titusville 48-0.

Numbers: Sharon has put up some crooked ones this season, senior Carnell Hawkins in particular. Hawkins has rushed for 1,152 yards and 15 TDs. ... Sharon QB Andrew Tomko also has been impressive. The sophomore has thrown for 844 yards and nine scores. ... Grove City RB Foster Reznor leads the Eagles with 747 yards (6.6 YPC) and 11 touchdowns.

Notes: The winner of this game will lock up third place in the region.

Freeport (2-6, 2-5)

at Summit Academy (4-4, 4-3)

12:30 p.m., Saturday

Last Week: Freeport fell to Washington 36-7 while Summit Academy dropped a 38-8 decision to Shady Side Academy.

Numbers: Freeport QB Andrew Romanchak has nearly identical passing and rushing numbers. The 6-2, 185-pound junior has thrown for 366 yards and seven TDs and rushed for 362 yards and five scores. ... Freeport has three players with more than 300 yards rushing this season. ... Summit Academy’s Elijah Hardy has rushed for 836 yards and 10 TDs this season. ... Larry Richardson (328 yards), Nate Cofer (238 yards) and Kush Wilkerson (209 yards) add multiple threats to the running game.

Notes: Summit Academy clinched a playoff spot for the first time in school history last week. ... Freeport beat Summit Academy 47-0 last season.