Karns City beats Central Clarion, 35-7
KARNS CITY — If it keeps working, keep working it.
Karns City used that formula with its running game Friday night, rolling up 372 yards on the ground while throwing the football only three times in a 35-7 District 9 Class 2A playoff win over Central Clarion Friday night at Diehl Stadium.
“That's just what we do,” KC coach Joe Sherwin said of running the football. “As long as it's working, I see no reason to change it.”
The Gremlins (10-1) will play Ridgway — a 26-6 winner over Brookville — for the district title next weekend on a day, site and time to be determined.
Karns City scored touchdowns on its first four possessions — polishing off drives of 57, 86, 65 and 74 yards. The only two passes quarterback Eric Booher threw during those marches resulted in a pass interference penalty inside the Central Clarion 20 to help set up the second score and a 38-yard touchdown toss to Micah Rupp with 1:33 left in the first half.
“We run a lot of different plays,” KC offensive tackle Austin Brown said. “For the linemen, it's just memorizing them. The important thing for us is to just get on a guy.
“Our backs run hard. They'll do the rest.”
Karns City never punted the ball all night.
After Luke Garing's 89-yard scoring run capped the game's first possession and gave KC the lead, Central Clarion (4-6) appeared ready to respond. The Wildcats possessed the ball for 12 plays and marched downfield.
On third-and-3 from the KC 13, defensive tackle Brown wrapped up Breckin Rex after a one-yard gain. On fourth down, Brown tackled quarterback Jase Ferguson — who kept the ball while running off tackle — for a 2-yard loss to end the threat.
“We were ready for that play. We saw on film that they occasionally try to sneak the quarterback around that side,” Brown said. “It's just a matter of us staying home. I was there and so was (linebacker) Jayce Anderson.”
Anderson's 5-yard touchdown run capped a 13-play drive the other way and the Gremlins had a 14-0 lead.
“Huge momentum change,” Wildcats coach Dave Eggleton said. “If we punch that one in and answer the first score, maybe we stay with them.
“I probably panicked as a coach and had us throwing the ball too much too early. But when you fall behind by a couple of scores to Karns City ... it's tough because you know they're going to grind the clock.
“They were getting four or five yards every time. They were content with that and we couldn't stop it,” Eggleton added.
The Gremlins rushed the ball 55 times. Garing had 20 carries for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He now has 952 yards rushing and 23 TDs. Anderson ran for 64 yards and two scores, giving him 906 yards and nine touchdowns on the year.
“Both of those guys have done a fantastic job,” Sherwin said. “I'd love to see them both get there (to 1,000 yards).
That'd be a tribute to our line as much as them.”Rupp's touchdown catch came in a blown coverage as he was all alone, deep downfield. Booher ran for 66 yards to go with his touchdown pass. Booher needs 45 passing yards to reach 1,000.Central Clarion was limited to 154 net yards, including 46 rushing. The Wildcats lost 19 yards when a bad snap sailed past freshman quarterback Ferguson.Ferguson threw for 108 yards Friday night and surpassed the 1,600-yard mark for the season.“He's going to be one of those players opposing coaches won't be able to wait to see graduate,” Eggleton said. “Luke Garing is one of those kids for Karns City.”Central Clarion 0 0 7 0 — 7Karns City 7 21 0 7 — 35First QuarterKC — Luke Garing 8 run (Zach Kelly kick), 8:28Second QuarterKC — Jayce Anderson 5 run (Kelly kick), 7:40KC — Garing 50 run (Kelly kick),3:25KC — Micah Rupp 38 pass from Eric Booher (Kelly kick), 1:33Third QuarterCC — Ryan Hummell 1 run (Charlie Francino kick), 3:41Fourth QuarterKC — Anderson 1 run (Kelly kick), 9:53Individual StatisticsRushing: Central Clarion, Jase Ferguson 7-36, Ryan Hummell 5-25, Breckin Rex 7-4, TEAM 1-(-19). Karns City, Eric Booher 7-66, Luke Garing 20-172, Jayce Anderson 10-64, Cooper Coyle 5-31, Luke Cramer 4-15, Micah Rupp 1-2, Nate Garing 5-19, TEAM 3-2.Passing: Central Clarion, Jase Ferguson 12-24-108-2. Karns City, Eric Booher 1-2-38-0.Receiving: Central Clarion, Ryan Hummell 2-8, Christian Simko 2-20, Ashton Rex 5-73, Breckin Rex 3-9. Karns City, Micah Rupp 1-38.
