KARNS CITY - Despite a slow start, Redbank Valley coach Ed Wasilowski knew his team was good, but it didn't have much to show for it so far.

After Friday night's clash with Karns City, it does now.

Bryce Miller, Skyler Smith and Brandon Johnston combined for 319 yards rushing and five touchdowns as the Bulldogs routed the Gremlins 51-7 in a Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference football showdown.

"We had to be the best 1-2 football team in Western Pennsylvania," said Bulldogs coach Ed Wasilowski. "We lost close games to Sharpsville and lost to a good Clarion team (13-6 last week).

"We told the kids the wagon is going the wrong way. We have to turn it around. When it rolls, it'll roll," he added.

With nine returning starters on both sides of the ball, much was expected from the Bulldogs (2-2, 2-1).

The defense forced Karns City to go three-and-out in its first four possessions while jumping out to a 17-0 lead.

"We lack some experience in certain areas," said Karns City coach Ed Conto. "We didn't tackle, didn't execute and we had some lack of football smarts.

"Our younger guys, they just don't know how to hang in yet. … We're not a 51-7 team, no way," he added.

Smith's 1-yard run and kicker Brock Shaffer's extra point and subsequent 36-yard field goal opened up a 10-0 Bulldogs lead with 4:30 left in the first quarter.

Smith added another touchdown just four plays into the second quarter on an 8-yard scamper.

After Karns City (2-2, 1-2) punted, the Gremlins' Kyle Texter intercepted a Jason Smith pass to give KC the ball at the Redbank 33.

A facemask penalty by Redbank and a 17-yard pass play from Steve Black to David Black helped to set up the Gremlins' lone score, a Josh Fiscus 8-yard run with 6:48 left before halftime.

The Bulldogs added one more score before the break, a 9-yard run by Johnston with 39 seconds left.

The Gremlins nearly pulled off a chance to take some momentum into halftime. Starting from its own 37, Karns City ran three plays before Steve Black found David Black on a sideline pattern.

David Black got past the defender and raced down the sideline before being knocked out at the RV 3 with one second left.

Fiscus was stopped for a 2-yard loss to end the half.

"Any defensive coordinator will tell you to always make them snap it one more time," said Wasilowski. "Someone made a hustling play there and made them snap one more time and they didn't score."

Any chance the Gremlins had to make a comeback fizzled as Redbank scored three touchdowns in the first 4:24 of the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

Skyler Smith took the opening kickoff 62 yards to help set up an 18-yard run by Johnston; Jason Smith scored on a 1-yard run and Bryce Miller added a 62-yard scoring run.

"We came in at halftime and talked to the kids about what they had to do," said Conto. "They were saying 'Yeah, yeah, yeah.' In the second half they went out and did the same things.

"We'll get it eventually," he added.

With the mercy rule in effect, the final score came with 4:43 left on Nick Magagnotti's 2-yard run.

"They can play when they want to," said Conto on his squad. If you're not physical and you're not hustling, then you can't execute."

Wasilowski will certainly take this win from the rival Gremlins.

"Anytime you come to Karns City and beat them, it's a plus," said Wasilowski. "They have a great tradition and a great program."

Notes:

Miller finished with 132 yards on just nine carries, including 100 yards on three carries in the second half, while Smith added 110. … David Black caught five passes for 95 yards while Fiscus was held to 58 yards on 15 carries. "We didn't key on Fiscus, but we had a good idea where he was going," said Wasilowski. "When you have only one horse, you gotta ride him, but it's easy to watch."