KARNS CITY — Costly turnovers and penalties are two things that can’t happen if you expect to win a football game, and Karns City that is how the night went against visiting Oil City.

Too many mistakes by Karns City led the Oilers to a 33-21 victory on a night that saw 14 penalties and four turnovers between the teams.

“When you don’t have your head in the game, and you’re tentative, you’re not going to play well,” Karns City coach Ed Conto said. “And we didn’t”

After not being able to get the offense going on its first few possessions of the game, Karns City found themselves with its back against well when the Oilers used a combination of the air and ground attack to go up 13-0 before the end of the first quarter, which would be the halftime score.

Oil City junior Kevin Daly carried most of the load in the half, rushing for 81 yards on 15 carries. Daly finished the night with 121 yards on the ground. He also added a touchdown reception of 38 yards

“We didn’t block anybody. We didn’t play defense. And we didn’t do anything right,” Conto said of the Gremlins’ first half.

As the teams headed to the locker room at halftime Conto knew some adjustments needed to be made, especially when dealing with a team struggling with injuries.

Junior Adam Whited was the latest to go down as he was injured early in the game.

The Oilers received the kick to open the second half of play and picked up where they left off.

With less than three minutes expired, quarterback Taylor Stamm found Daly to make it a 21-0 lead after the two-point conversion.

The Gremlins, though, launched a comeback.

Wyatt Everetts took the ensuing kickoff and set the Gremlins up at the Oilers 42. Zach Moore scored on the first play of the drive.

Oil City, though, managed to get in the end zone to extend its lead to 20 on a 23-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Farris.

“It was pretty frustrating,” said Gremlins quarterback Tyler Kepple. “Our defense was playing pretty well and making good stops, but it was just one big play of the game that set them up to score again.”

Kepple went on to say that if they came out and played the first half the way they played the second half, the game may have been different.

The Gremlins used another quick strike on their next possession. After a 41-yard run by Everetts set them up with first-and-10 from the Oilers 28, Kepple hit Brandon Krumpe in stride for the score.

“You have to give Karns City a lot of credit,” Oil City head coach Matt LaVerde said. “I’m proud of their guys for the fight they put up. They started making some plays, and they wanted it.”

Each team found the end zone once more, and a late interception by Oil City was what they needed to put the game away.

Karns City travels to Brookville for its final game of the regular season Friday.

“We have to take stock at where we’re at,” Conto said. “We have to find out who is healthy and can play next week, and regroup and finish strong.”