KARNS CITY — What can Karns City do for an encore after capturing the District 9 Class AA title last week?

They're aiming to find out on Friday.

The Gremlins, fresh off a thrilling 33-27, come-from-behind victory over Kane in the championship final at Clarion University, will try to continue their postseason run in a 7 p.m. contest against District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge, also at Clarion University.

“I've never had a group that came through as sophomores, juniors, then seniors not win a district title,” said Karns City coach Ed Conto, now in his 13th season. “The thing was, when this group was in junior high, they only won a couple of games. These are the ones you will not forget, the trials and tribulations they went through.”

The injury-plagued and young Gremlins have responded this season and will look to face a Lions squad that had never won a postseason game before this season.

The key playmakers for Chestnut Ridge (6-5) are junior quarterback Beau Bosch and senior running back Jacob Mock.

Bosch is a dual threat, passing for 591 yards on 41-of-98 passing and seven touchdowns while rushing for 933 yards on 163 carries and 12 scores.

Mock leads the team with 1,138 yards rushing on 189 totes and 18 touchdowns.

“Karns City runs a lot of option and we run a lot of option,” said Lions' fifth-year coach Max Shoemaker. “The difference is we tend to rely on those two to a greater degree.”

“(Bosch) is 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, so he's pretty wiry and strong,” Conto noted. “It's probably hard to tackle. Every time he falls down, he gains two yards and if he reaches his arm out, three yards. I've played against that type of player.

“They run the ball a lot and do a lot of counters, misdirections, quarterback traps and power. They have a nice concept. They don't throw the ball a lot,” Conto added.

If the Lions do, they'll turn toBen Pick, who has 13 receptions for 243 yards and three touchdowns and Matt Wiley, who has 10 for 106 yards and one TD.

J.D. Weyant and Tanner College have each added six catches and three combined scores.

Much like the game against Kane, Conto is hopeful his team can outperform the Lions on special teams.

“That could be big,” Conto said. “We need to maximize our chances.”

On defense, the Lions are paced by Wiley, who averages 13 tackles per game (143 total) while Dan Albright has added 84 tackles, Mock 80 and Trent Crouse 76.

The Gremlins (9-3) enter the contest having won seven of their past eight games. The Lions will have to try and slow down junior quarterback Tyler Kepple (78 of 157, 1,143 yards, 11 TD; 499 yards rushing, five TDs) as well as a strong running committee made up primarily of Wyatt Everetts (683 yards), Zach Moore (459), Dakota Mohney (370) and Tristan Rhoades (364).

In all, the Gremlins have seven runners with at least 225 yards rushing.

“They share the workload and share the wealth,” Shoemaker said. “I'm impressed with how well (Conto) rotates personnel and keeping everyone involved.”

Matt Conto leads the receiving corps with 24 catches for 311 yards followed by Everetts (15-281) and Mohney (13-135).

“The thing that stands out about Karns City is they're ... feisty might be a good word,” said Shoemaker. “They're resilient. There were several opportunities last Friday in their district championship to be put away, but they kept clawing back.

“They have a desire to win. They've overcome a lot of things to be successful. They have the mental attribute but also physical as well. They have team speed ... It's not just this play and that player, but they have a whole stable of horses,” Shoemaker added.

Chestnut Ridge's 22-21 victory over Everett in the District 5 title game was its first playoff win in school history.

“We've had a points system that awards the district championships,” Shoemaker said. “We won by having the most points, but never had to win it on the field until now.”

Shoemaker had much success in a 13-year stint at Bedford High, compiling a 96-47-1 record and winning six District 5 titles in the process.

“That's been our goal, to win the playoff game on the field,” Shoemaker said. “That's a major step forward for our program.”

“Chestnut Ridge doesn't play in a league,” Conto noted. “They played three games against Maryland teams (at Mountain Ridge and Fort Hill, home vs. Allegany), three out east (Kutztown, Bald Eagle and Berks Catholic). They were having a hard time.

“I know you can see their guys coming off the ball and fly around. When you do that, you're a good team.”