New opponent for Gremlins

By SAM TALLARICO Eagle Staff Writer

August 28, 2008 Last Updated: August 28, 2008 03:27 PM High School

KC will open with Punxsy

KARNS CITY — A new year brings a new opponent for Karns City.

But this season opener will be different than ones in the past.

With Punxsutawney and Brookville joining the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference this season, the Gremlins will lose two non-league opponents that they scheduled the first two weeks of the season.

Friday's game with the Chucks at Karns City will kick off at 7 p.m.

Karns City coach Ed Conto has never faced the Class AAA opponent before, but he knows a little about the Chucks, who went 0-10 last season.

"They run the spread offense, a shotgun offense, and they throw a lot out of it," said Conto, whose Gremlins are the defending District 9 Class AA champions.

"They have a decent running back and a decent receiver out of the slot. They have a lot of size. They're very big on the offensive and defensive lines. They have big, strong kids,"Conto added.

The Chucks lost three-year starting quarterback Zach Smith (61-for-146, 833 yards, 6 TD, 9 INT), as well as leading rusher and receiver Austin Furman (376 rushing yards, 4 TD; 29 receptions, 430 yards, 2 TD).

Sophomore Ben Blazavich appears to be the starting quarterback while junior Nick Wehrle is the top returning rusher (33-223-2).

"We're young at quarterback. We have a sophomore and freshman competing for that," said Punxsutawney coach Blake Moilan, now in his fourth season. "(Blazavich) started (junior varsity) for us as a freshman and did a good job. He's a tall, athletic kid."

The Chucks also return a defensive stalwart in senior linebacker Kyle Steffey, who averaged 10.4 tackles per game. Punxsutawney, however, was outscored 37-13 last season.

Still, the Gremlins will be a little shorthanded. Three players were injured in last week's scrimmage against Slippery Rock while six others will miss the game for violation of team rules.

"I wasn't pleased with that scrimmage," said Conto. "Slippery Rock came in and ran some different stuff. I told the guys not to change anything.

"Slippery Rock moved the ball and it made our defense mad. Then, we got on offense and misfired,"Conto added.

***Watch for Butler Eagle Videographer, Brandon Gerthoffer, at the Karns City football game!***

• Last year's score: Teams did not meet.• Coaches: Fort LeBoeuf, John Campbell; Slippery Rock, Clyde Conti• Game notes: The Bison were 5-5 last season after winning just one of their previous 19 games. ... Fort LeBoeuf features a four-year starter at quarterback (Colin Feeney), a 200-pound fullback (Chad Parker) and a shifty tailback (Blake Hockett).

• Last year's score: Kittanning 21, Freeport 7• Coaches: Kittanning, Sam Panchik; Freeport, John Gaillot• Game notes: Kittanning must replace the team's top rusher, receiver and scorer in Bobby Keys, but it does have Ross Harmon returning at quarterback. Harmon started the final five games last year, and led the squad to three consecutive wins to close out the season. ... Gaillot replaces Bill Dillon, who coached the Yellowjackets the previous four seasons.

• Last year's score:Teams did not meet.• Coaches:Union, Jeremy Lipps (first year); Brookville, Chris Dworek, (13th year)• Game notes: Union graduate Lipps is making his head-coaching debut with the Golden Knights. ... Dworek is 71-58 in 12 years at Brookville, which is returning to the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference after a 15-year absence. ... While Union has lost 47 of 50 games over the past five years, Brookville won District 9 Class AAtitles in 2004 and 2006.

• Last year's score:Keystone won 42-0.• Coaches:A-C Valley, Gary Pinkerton (second year); Keystone, Jason Nellis, (fifth year)• Game notes: A-C Valley enters the season with a 22-game losing streak. ... The Falcons' last victory was a 26-13 decision against Union Oct. 7, 2005. ... A-C Valley's last win over Keystone was in 1999 (38-14). ... Keystone made the District 9 Class A playoffs last year, losing to Cameron County in the quarterfinals. ... It was the first time in 10 years that the Panthers made the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

• Last year's score: Teams did not meet.• Coaches: Central, Jason Beer; Grove City, Jeff Bell• Game notes: The Eagles got a boost late last week when quarterback Mike Burk returned to the field. The senior was thought to be lost for six to eight weeks with a foot injury, but a second opinion revealed the injury was not as severe and he was cleared to play. ... Central was 1-9 last year.

• Last year's score: Teams did not meet.• Coaches: Shady Side Academy, Dave Havern; Summit Academy, Steve Sherer• Game note: The Knights rejoin the Allegheny Conference after a four-year stint in the Tri-County North, but now face a much more powerful Shady Side squad.