The glory goes to the running backs. The pride comes from the linemen.

At least that seems to be the case at Karns City.

Senior running back Josh Fiscus, who tied Slippery Rock running back Travis Sarver for the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy last year, didn't have to worry about sharing the honor this year.

Fiscus scored three touchdowns in a 63-7 win over Union in the Gremlins' final regular-season game to catapult over Mars' Paul Ferrese for the title.

Fiscus finished the regular season with 94 points, followed by Ferrese (90) and Moniteau's Matt Schandelmeier (86).

Winning the title for the school for the fourth consecutive year was one of the Gremlins' aspirations this year.

"A lot of my players, a lot of the linemen, before I said anything before the season said 'We're getting it for you this year,'" said Fiscus.

"I thought that was really neat. It's turning into a goal for the linemen, especially (senior guard) Tony Wolf," he added.

Fiscus 94 points were the lowest total to win the award since 1995, when Jeremy Scherer of Karns City had 84. The Gremlins have won the award six times in the trophy's 15-year history by five different players.

With Fiscus winning the trophy, a Gremlins running back has won a piece of the award the past four seasons, tying A-C Valley's rein from 1996-99.

"I don't know if it's geographic, but Karns City has always had running backs that are hard-nosed kids," said Gremlins coach Ed Conto. "What we don't have is the big linemen. Every once in a while we'll get a big lineman, but other schools have that.

"At Karns City, we usually have tough running backs and someone's waiting. We have strong runners all the way down to junior high," Conto added.

Fiscus joins Freeport's Ron DiJidas (1991-92) and A-C Valley's Mike Leach (1998-99) as the only two-time winners.

Last year, Fiscus had the opportunity to run behind an offensive line that had more game experience than this season's.

"Last year, he played with an experienced group of kids," said Conto. "This year, he had to be a leader. We only had three guys with experience.

"The yards he gained this year were hard yards," Conto added.

"It seemed like we'd be on one week, then off the next week," said Fiscus. "The holes were not as big. Last year, I'd get the ball and, bam, the hole was there.

"This year, what helped me and Wayne Harris is (the linemen) stayed on their blocks. It made it a lot easier as the season went on," he added.

Fiscus finished the regular season with 15 touchdowns (14 rushing, 1 receiving) and a pair of two-point conversion runs. He had 1,037 yards on 161 carries (6.4 yards per carry).

In the District 9 Class AA semifinal game against Redbank Valley Nov. 13, Fiscus rushed for 104 yards on 20 carries in a 35-14 loss. He ran for one score and passed for another.

"That game was a true testament of his running ability," said Conto. "He had 104 yards and he was dragging three, four, five guys. He was putting hits on players. It was a great effort."

Fiscus, who has been receiving interest from some small Division I and I-AA schools, as well as Division II colleges, hopes the younger running backs have learned from him the way he learned from the previous backs.

"Next year, Wayne will be the sleeper. He'll be our big back," said Fiscus. "Every game, even if we were losing, teams would keep an eye on me, then he'd go out and have a 10- or 15-yard run.

"I told him, 'Next year, you'll be the guy.' He's got some wheels. He's got some power."

Harris, a junior, rushed for 389 yards on 69 carries and sophomore Roy Beham added 162 on just 16 carries.

"Roy and Wayne will benefit because of the experience this year," said Conto. "Plus, we have a pair of fullbacks that will be seniors.

"Hopefully, they learned a lot from Josh and how hard he worked," Conto added.

Fiscus thinks they have and that the Gremlins could keep a stranglehold on the trophy.

"I think Wayne has a chance to keep it going," said Fiscus. "I think Karns City will keep it a little longer."