This is one in a series of articles previewing Butler County high school football matchups this FridayKARNS CITY — The pay-off for the winner of Friday's Central Clarion-Karns City game could be huge.The Gremlins are looking for a bit of payback as well when the two teams hook up for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Diehl Stadium.Karns City has a 26-22-1 lead in the series between the programs, but Central Clarion has won the last three meetings by scores of 44-17, 21-7 and 42-14.“That doesn't mean much,” Central Clarion coach Larry Wiser said. “Anytime you go down to Karns City, you're in for a rough, physical game. These two teams have had memorable battles.”The winner Friday will be in the driver's seat toward securing the No. 2 seed behind Brookville in the District 9 Class AA playoffs. Both teams are 3-1, both having lost to Brookville.“This is going to be a big game,” KC coach Joe Sherwin said. “It will have a big impact on the playoffs.”While the Gremlins are coming off a 49-0 shutout of Punxsutawney, the Wildcats defeated DuBois 15-7 last week.“If the field was 90 yards long instead of 100, we'd have scored a few more touchdowns,” Wiser said. “They stopped us on four drives inside the 10-yard line.”While Karns City continues to use two quarterbacks in Eric Booher and Brayden Christie, Central Clarion's Calvin German has blossomed behind center this season. He has thrown for 1,148 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.Ethan Burford has 20 catches for 551 yards and six touchdowns, Cutter Boggess 23 catches for 337 and four scores. Boggess has rushed for 182 yards, Breckin Rex for 237. Both average more than seven yards per carry.“Cal is having a great year, but he's got great people around him, too,” Wiser said.“Boggess is an excellent runner, but we're probably more concerned about his pass-catching production,” Sherwin said. “Burford is the prime guy we have to stop and Boggess is right behind him.”Defensively, Central Clarion has 10 interceptions, three each by Burford and Ryan Hummell.“Part of that is getting out to big leads (forcing teams to throw),” Wiser said. “We're pretty athletic in our secondary, too.”KC running back Jayce Anderson missed the Punxsy game with an injury, but Sherwin said he will be back in the lineup Friday. Cole Coon and Zach Blair had solid games running the ball last week.Micah Rupp and Kaden Scherer will be counted on to make plays in the passing game.“We're not going to beat this team by just grinding the ball at them,” Sherwin said. “We need to show diversity on offense. Both of our quarterbacks will continue to play, but probably not at a 50-50 split.“We need to mix things up and execute well to be successful in this game.”

The Eagle sports staff's third season of Upon Further Review, a weekly show discussing Butler County area high school football, can be viewed on the Butler Eagle Sports Facebook page.