QB Cole Johnston’s improvements on full display during Karns City football’s blowout win vs Brookville
-
Karns City running back Owen Heginbotham(22) breaks a Brookville tackle in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City's Bryce Galan(25) returns a punt through traffic against Brookville in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns' City's Hunter Scherer(23) runs through a Brookville defender on a rushing attempt in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City defenders Shane Emrick (50) and Nathan Hess (9) sack the Brookville quarterback in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City Gremlins take down the Brookville Raiders with a score of 62-14 in a football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Karns City High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
KARNS CITY — Much like Karns City’s effort as a team, there’s been little not to like about quarterback Cole Johnston’s performance through two games.
The junior completed his first six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in the Gremlins’ 62-14 win over Brookville at Diehl Stadium on Friday.
Last year, Johnston was in his first full season as a starter and played well as the Gremlins reached the District 9 Class 2A title game.
Even so, he aimed to improve, spending much of the offseason honing his craft.
“I started working with a quarterback coach, Scott Fichter,” Johnston said. “Now on Sundays he helps me with my footwork, arm slot, working on anything to help me improve as a quarterback.
“I also spent a lot of time in the weight room and gained 15 pounds of muscle. Being stronger translates to the field, makes it easier for me to do what I need to for the team.”
After passing for 11 touchdowns all of last year, Johnston already has six through two games.
Johnston hit five different receivers in Friday’s win, including touchdown passes to Riley Hamilton (35 yards), Bryce Galan (51) and Owen Heginbotham (38). Johnston displayed nice touch on the throw to Hamilton, who had beaten double coverage.
“Cole is making better reads and better decisions with the ball, and our receivers are running better routes,” KC offensive coordinator Zach Kepple said. “He’s doing a good job of going through his progressions.”
KC’s line is providing solid protection and Johnston has numerous weapons who can turn simple completions into big gains. The scoring toss to Galan was an intermediate route, and the receiver outraced a Brookville defensive back to the end zone. Later, Heginbotham turned a screen pass into another score.
“We have a lot of talented guys,” Johnston said. “I know if I just get them the ball, they can make something big happen.”
The Gremlins (2-0) rushed for 211 yards, with Hunter Scherer, Heginbotham, Nathan Hess, Bodey Anderson and Johnston each finding pay dirt.
Karns City hosts DuBois Area next Friday.
Brookville 0 0 7 7 — 14
Karns City 34 21 7 0 — 62
First Quarter
KC — Hunter Scherer 2 run (kick blocked), 11:10
KC — Scherer 31 run (Trevor Rumbaugh kick), 8:14
KC — Cole Johnston 2 run (Rumbaugh kick), 6:20
KC — Riley Hamilton 35 pass from Johnston (Rumbaugh kick), 3:28
KC — Nathan Hess 22 run (Rumbaugh kick), 0:58
Second Quarter
KC — Owen Heginbotham 3 run (Rumbaugh kick), 6:11
KC — Bryce Galan 51 pass from Johnston (Rumbaugh kick), 3:04
KC — Heginbotham 38 pass from Johnston (Rumbaugh kick), 0:45
Third Quarter
B — Hayden Freeman 18 pass from Trenton Colgan (Jayden Moraz kick), 7:57
KC — Bodey Anderson 4 run (Rumbaugh kick), 6:20
Fourth Quarter
B — Colgan 23 run (Moraz kick), 1:47
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Brookville, Trenton Colgan 14-0, Isaac Burns 8-(-14), Sam Krug 2-11, Weston McKinney 2-6, Blake Siar 1-1, Jordan Sarvey 1-0, Jayden Moraz 1-3. Karns City, Owen Heginbotham 4-64, Hunter Scherer 4-36, Cole Johnston 3-28, Nathan Hess 1-22, Riley Hamilton 1-9, Ron Sczygiel 4-52, Bodey Anderson 1-4, Trevor Geibel 2-(-4).
Passing: Brookville, Trenton Colgan 16-23-135-1. Karns City, Cole Johnston 8-10-186-0, Trevor Geibel 1-1-10-0.
Receiving: Brookville, Sam Krug 4-46, Isaac Burns 3-8, Hayden Freeman 4-38, Zach Phillips 1-12, Weston McKinney 3-14, Gabe Hannah 1-17. Karns City, Nathan Hess 4-46, Hunter Scherer 1-16, Riley Hamilton 1-35, Owen Heginbotham 1-38, Bryce Galan 1-51, Liam Stitt 1-10.
