CLARION — Karns City was outgained by over 100 yards, allowed nearly twice as many first downs and didn't score an offensive touchdown in the second half.

None of that stopped the Gremlins from extending their season on Friday night.

Matt Conto returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown, Christian Turner put Karns City ahead with a 6-yard fumble return and the Gremlins held on for a 35-29 victory over Chestnut Ridge in the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs at Clarion University's Memorial Stadium.

Dakota Mohney put the finishing touches on the Lions by intercepting J.D. Weyant on a fourth-and-15 from the KC 40-yard line with 21 seconds to play.

The District 9 champion Gremlins (10-3) advance to the PIAA quarterfinals against Aliquippa — a 34-7 winner over Washington in the WPIAL title game — on Friday at a site and time to be determined.

“You want to be one of the last eight teams, you want to make a story,” said Mohney. “After everything we've been through, I think we deserve this.

“I'm really happy for my team and my coaches. I'm glad I could be a part of this program.”

The triumph marked the 150th career victory for Karns City coach Ed Conto — including a 115-38 record with the Gremlins — and the school's second trip to the PIAA quarterfinals.

Friday's thriller is one reason why Conto has been on the sideline for 23 years and counting.

“My voice isn't holding up, but my heart must be strong,” Conto chuckled. “Those are fun. That's what you coach for.”

Jacob Mock led the District 5 champion Lions (6-6) with 170 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries, while quarterback Beau Bosch muscled through an apparent knee injury for 169 yards and a score on 24 rushing attempts.

Bosch was forced to leave the game on a third-and-5 from the CR 12-yard line after aggravating the injury.

Weyant stepped in as the signal caller, but Adam Whited disrupted an option to the right side. The ball squirted loose and fell into the hands of Turner, who rumbled 6 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 8:27 remaining in regulation.

“If you've got guys flying around hustling — which we did on that play — then sometimes good things happen,” said Conto. “The guy was in the right spot, ball popped out and then he busted his butt to get in the end zone.”

The touchdown, coupled by Matt Conto's game-tying kick return in the third quarter, proved to be the difference in a back-and-forth affair.

“You can't give up kickoff and defensive touchdowns in a playoff game and expect to win,” said Chestnut Ridge coach Max Shoemaker. “You just can't do that. That's been a problem for us. It's been kind of a microcosm of our season.”

Karns City and Chestnut Ridge traded punches in the first half, before the Gremlins eventually entered the locker rooms with a 23-21 edge.

The Lions (6-6) struck first on a seven-play, 60-yard drive, capped by a 9-yard touchdown run from Mock for a 7-0 advantage.

But the Gremlins responded with a 19-yard scoring scamper from Tristan Rhoades to culminate an eight-play, 77-yard march.

It turned out to be Rhoades' final carry after he sustained a concussion on the following play from scrimmage while saving a touchdown on a 51-yard jaunt from Bosch.

On the very next snap, Mock scored from 13 yards out to provide the Lions with a 14-7 advantage.

Karns City answered yet again, though.

Conto took the ensuing kickoff 66 yards to the CR 20-yard line, paving the way to a Whited score on the following play.

Zach Moore gave the Gremlins their first lead with a 24-yard field goal in the second frame, before Bosch put the Lions back in front on a 2-yard plunge into the end zone.Unfazed, the Gremlins regained a slim cushion on a 33-yard sprint by Mohney.“A couple of guys went down in the first half and things weren't going well for us (defensively),” said Coach Conto. “For the kids to fight back, it shows a lot of character.”Chestnut Ridge marched right down the field to open the second half, as Mock found the end zone for the third time on a 10-yard run to finish off a 72-yard drive.However, it was the last time the Lions lit up the scoreboard and Conto returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to draw the Gremlins even.“It was a good high school game,” said Shoemaker. “We just came up a little short. Give credit to Karns City. They made the big plays when they needed to.”“We practice a lot on our return and I think we normally do a pretty good job,” said Coach Conto. “I thought special teams would be the swing point.“It feels good,” the coach added of being in the PIAA quarterfinals. “I would have never expected it with the way the season went.”<B>Karns City 35, Chestnut Ridge 29</B>Chestnut Ridge 14 7 8 0 — 29Karns City 14 9 6 6 — 35CR KC24 First Downs 1360-370 Rushes-Yards 32-24546 Passing Yards 427-17-1 Comp.-Att.-Int 2-4-0416 Total Yards 2874-1 Fumbles-Lost 1-13-25 Penalty Yards 4-25First QuarterCR — Jacob Mock 9 run (Sean VanMeter kick), 7:08KC — Tristan Rhoades 19 run (Zach Moore kick), 4:05CR — Mock 13 run (VanMeter kick), 3:28KC — Adam Whited 20 run (Moore kick), 3:08Second QuarterKC — Moore 24 field goal, 10:39CR — Beau Bosch 2 run (VanMeter kick), 3:40KC — Dakota Mohney 33 run (kick failed), 2:01Third QuarterCR — Mock 10 run (Mock run), 7:36KC — Matt Conto 80 kick return (kick failed), 7:23Fourth QuarterKC — Christian Turner 6 fumble return (kick failed), 8:27Individual StatisticsRushing: Chestnut Ridge, Jacob Mock 29-170, Beau Bosch 24-169, Matt Wiley 5-30, Trent Lohr 1-7, J.D. Weyant 1-(-6). Karns City, Adam Whited 8-85, Dakota Mohney 6-63, Tristan Rhoades 3-39, Christian Turner 5-23, Tyler Kepple 3-15, Zach Moore 5-14, Wyatt Everetts 2-6.Passing: Chestnut Ridge, Beau Bosch 7-15-46-0, J.D. Weyant 0-2-1. Karns City, Tyler Kepple 2-4-42-0.Receiving: Chestnut Ridge, J.D. Weyant 3-33, Trent Lohr 3-5, Tanner College 1-8. Karns City, Adam Whited 1-22, Wyatt Everetts 1-20.