CLARION — With the second half still to play, Saturday's North Star-Karns City PIAA football playoff game was hanging in the balance.

Then, the Gremlins tipped the scales in their favor — three touchdowns in a seven-minute span in the third quarter will do that — to roll to a 32-14 victory over the Cougars in Class AA first-round action at Clarion University's Memorial Stadium.

The win propels Karns City (12-1) to the state quarterfinals, where it will face Aliquippa (11-2), an 8-6 winner over Beaver Falls on Saturday.

The game will be played at 7 p.m. Friday at Pine-Richland High School.

Clinging to a 13-6 halftime lead, Gremlins' coach Ed Conto told his squad to just settle things down.

"I told them, we'll take the ball down the field and score, which we did," said Conto on the opening possession of the third quarter.

"They should be bringing everyone on the run and we said we wouldn't pass as much,"Conto added.

The Gremlins ran on all five plays of their opening scoring drive, capped by a 3-yard run by Jake Wagner with 10:06 left in the frame.

Quarterback Anthony Stimac broke a 29-yard run on a third-and-11 to keep the drive alive, then Josh Stimac followed with a 27-yard scamper before Wagner's score.

On the ensuing possession, the Cougars (10-2) had a fourth-and-2 at their own 48, but running back Mike Knisely was stopped short and the Gremlins took over on downs.

On the third play of the Gremlins' drive, a 40-yard Anthony Stimac run down the left sideline put the ball at the NS 3. Josh Stimac would score on the next play.

After three plays and a punt, the Gremlins needed just one play — a 32-yard burst by Wagner — to take a commanding 32-6 advantage with 4:47 left in the third quarter.

"I thought we had them ready to go in the second half," said Cougars coach Stacy Schmitt. "We gave Karns City the opportunity to get on the board.

"We are a power running team and they shut out our running game. That was the ballgame right there,"Schmitt added.

It was the Gremlins' running game that made a huge difference, behind the blocking of center Corey Gifford, guards Shane Dillon and Devin Collins, tackles Tyler Parker, Nick Sypulski, Jarrett LaVan and Ray Emery and tight end Chris Price.

The Gremlins churned out 320 yards on just 39 carries. Anthony Stimac led the attack with 138 yards on just five carries, including a 59-yard touchdown run that changed the momentum of the game.

While the Gremlins finished off the Cougars, things did not start out that way. North Star took the opening kickoff and drove 78 yards on nine plays, culminating on a 34-yard scoring pass to Alijah Petrilla from Cory Kaltenbaugh on a fourth-and-5 play.

The Cougars tried for a two-point conversion run — since a KC penalty moved the ball closer to the goal line — but the run was stopped short.

Karns City would drive down to the NS 24 before Levi Buck fumbled and Petrilla recovered at the NS 21.

Petrilla then broke free for a 59-yard end around on the first play of the Cougars' possession. The Gremlins defense, however, tightened up as the Cougars turned the ball over on downs.

A 25-yard pass play to Chris Price from Anthony Stimac on the first play was followed by Stimac's weaving 59-yard scoring run.

"That's what we expect of him," said Conto of Anthony Stimac. "He's been a money player and one of our leaders."

J.J. Grenninger's extra point gave Karns City a lead it would never lose. An Aaron Markle 1-yard scoring run on the first play of the second quarter — following an interception by Josh Callender — accounted for the Gremlins 'other score.

The Gremlins defense would suppress the Cougars offense from any serious damage from that point on.

North Star had 135 yards of offense in its first two possessions and 56 more on the final two plays of the game.

"We just started to mix coverages more," said Conto. "We wanted to make them think a little more."

"We knew Karns City was a good team," said Schmitt. "They have a lot of depth. We knew we had to get on the board early. We got the chance and then that drive stalled. It was not so much the turning point, but it was our best opportunity to stay with these guys."

Notes: Josh Callender and Dan Wolf had two interceptions apiece for Karns City ... Karns City's defense forced the Cougars to turn the ball over on downs four times ... The Gremlins hosted five games this season, but have played four games at Clarion University — all three of their postseason games, plus a regular-season matchup.Karns City 32 North Star 14

North Star 6 0 0 8—14Karns City 7 6 19 0—32NS KC15 First Downs 1234-154 Rushes-Yards 39-320215 Passing Yards 5411-33-4 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 6-12-1369 Total Yards 3741-0 Fumbles/Lost 3-27-45 Penalties-Yards 6-31

First QuarterNS — Alijah Petrilla 34 pass from Cory Kaltenbaugh (run failed), 8:19KC — Anthony Stimac 59 run (J.J. Grenninger kick), 2:24

Second QuarterKC — Aaron Markle 1 run (kick failed), 11:56

Third QuarterKC — Jake Wagner 3 run (pass failed), 10:06KC — Josh Stimac 3 run (Grenninger kick), 6:00KC — Wagner 32 run (kick failed), 4:47

Fourth QuarterNS — Lucas Zellem 8 pass from Kaltenbaugh (Petrilla pass from Kaltenbaugh), 5:40

Individual Statistics

Passing: North Star, Cory Kaltenbaugh 11-32-215-3, Josh Kuncher 0-1-0-1. Karns City, Anthony Stimac 6-12-54-1, Dylan Hipple 0-0-0-0.

Rushing: North Star, Alijah Petrilla 3-55, Josh Kuncher 11-34, Mike Knisely 14-30, Lucas Zellem 2-23, Richie Meehleib 3-11, Cory Kaltenbaugh 1-1. Karns City, Anthony Stimac 5-138, Josh Stimac 8-54, Markus LaVan 8-39, Jake Wagner 3-35, Craig Slomers 3-13, Josh Callender 5-13, Tyler Slagle 1-7, Jesse Garing 1-7, J.R. Yough 1-5, Aaron Markle 2-5, Levi Buck 1-3, Zach Barney 1-1.

Receiving: North Star, Lucas Zellem 6-123, Alijah Petrilla 4-67, Dalton Shaffer 1-25. Karns City, Josh Callender 2-19, Chris Price 1-25, Josh Stimac 1-24, Cory Lakin 1-(-1), Markus LaVan 1-(-4).

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