KARNS CITY — Entering last season, Karns City was down, but proved throughout the year it was not out.

This season, the Gremlins can only hope to come all the way back.

After a 4-6 season and no postseason for the Gremlins in 2010, Karns City grounded out a runner-up spot in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference and lost in the District 9 Class AA Championship game to Moniteau, 26-12.

This year, though, Karns City coach Ed Conto knows his squad may still have its work cut out for itself.

“I think, because we're young and have a lot of injuries, it might be rough,” Conto said.

“By the end of the year, we could be a very good football team — as long as we stay healthy.”

One key injury the Gremlins will have to overcome is the loss of running back Glenn Toy, who tore his ACL during a 7-on-7 passing scrimmage the week before the start of camp.

Toy rushed for 1,377 yards on just 150 carries and scored 15 touchdowns last season. He also caught 10 passes for 218 yards and two more scores.

“That's a bitter pill to swallow,” Conto said, “because he was going to be one of the best players in the conference and maybe one of the best in District 9.”

The Gremlins will have junior quarterback Tyler Kepple at the helm full time this season after passing for 490 yards and five touchdowns last year.

Caleb King and Cody Deal may see a little work under center, as well.

“Tyler has good speed and runs the ball well,” Conto said. “He throws the ball well, too. In one year, you can see the difference. It's amazing to see it.”

With Toy out, the Gremlins return just two of their top 11 rushers: Kepple (145 yards) and Wyatt Everetts (109 yards).

Everetts and sophomore Tristan Rhoades will likely see most of the carries, although the Gremlins have had plenty of carries to go around the past several years.

Among Kepple's top receivers will be senior Matt Conto, juniors Adam Whited and Dakota Mohney and sophomores Logan Moroney and Rhoades. Of the 58 completed passes by KC quarterbacks last year, only four came by returning players.

As for the linemen, the Gremlins are young and will have several players vying for spots on both sides of the ball.

“We have so many sophomores and juniors,” Conto said. “We have only seven seniors.

“It's an interesting group. This group parallels a group a few years back. We had a bunch of sophomores and juniors start and no one expected us to do much and we ended up with a nice three-year run,” Conto added.

With graduation, the only returning lineman is junior Mike Olkowski.

On the defensive side of the ball, Conto will be trying to fill in holes due to graduation.

“We lost a lot of kids all the way across the board,” Conto said. “The younger kids will have to step up and do a good job for us. We can be a good defense. With Glenn out, we lost a defensive lineman/linebacker. We'll just have to adjust.

“The cupboard's not bare, but we'll have to make some moves.”