CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS - With a young team trying to find its own identity this season, Karns City seemed to figure out a lot Friday.

The Gremlins played an opponent even younger than themselves and it showed.

Karns City rolled up 305 yards rushing and 23 first downs and cruised to a 37-0 victory over Cambridge Springs in the season opener for both squads.

The Blue Devils mustered just 44 total yards of offense and three first downs, with two coming on KC penalties.

"We are a couple weeks away from being a good football team," said Karns City coach Ed Conto. "We hit and tackled well and made some plays.

"If we had a lot of seniors, this wouldn't have been a good game to start the season. We got to look at a lot of guys," he added.

Senior Josh Fiscus rushed for 167 yards and scored three touchdowns, and quarterback Stephen Black completed 11 of 16 passes for 139 yards and two other scores.

The Gremlins ran 70 offensive plays to the Blue Devils 28, including a 21-3 differential in the third quarter.

Fiscus ripped off a 43-yard run on the Gremlins' first offensive play and capped the drive with a 3-yard scoring run just 2:32 into the game.

Later in the first quarter, Black hooked up with Justin Switzer on a 13-yard scoring pass. Freshman Joey Everetts ran in the two-point conversion for a 15-0 lead.

Stephen Black then hit David Black for a 6-yard strike to culminate a 14-play, 67-yard drive. Luke McClaine kicked his second extra point of the night for a 22-0 advantage.

With 3½ minutes to go before halftime, Cambridge Springs punt returner Nick Schultz fumbled the ball and the Gremlins recovered at the CS 20.

On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Fiscus powered his way in for the score then added the conversion run to give KC a 30-0 lead at the break.

A 13-yard run by Fiscus on the final play of the fourth quarter accounted for the final score with Matt McConnell kicking the extra point.

The game provided the Gremlins a opportunity to give some freshmen and sophomores playing time.

"I was pleased with that," said Conto. "We've been hit with an injury bug and we're throwing together a team. We've got a long way to go, but the talent is here."

About the only blemishes the Gremlins had on the night was a 10-penalty showing, which totaled 102 yards. They also fumbled three times, but KC recovered them all.

"We looked a little sluggish out there," said Conto. "I don't know if it was the heat or the humidity, but you could see the potential."

Conto knows the Gremlins will have many tougher tests down the road than the Blue Devils, a Class A team.

In the next five weeks, they'll face Clarion-Limestone, Keystone, Redbank Valley, Clarion and Moniteau.

"I think this game was something we can build on," said Conto. "This could build confidence."

Notes:

Wayne Harris added 85 yards on 11 carries for the Gremlins and David Black caught seven passes for 65 yards.