CLARION — Clarion's offense may have outperformed Karns City's, but the Gremlins simply continue to find ways to remain undefeated.

Clarion ran 22 more offensive plays, amassed 50 yards more of total offense and held the ball 10 minutes longer, but it wasn't enough as Karns City won 15-12 over their Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference rival Friday night.

Despite not scoring an offensive point, the Gremlins improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the KSAC.

"Defense and special teams won it," Gremlins coach Ed Conto said. "A couple facets of the game won it for us."

Karns City's defense scored a touchdown and a safety, and the special teams unit returned a kickoff 92 yards for the Gremlins' third come-from-behind win of the season.

"I have to go back and get my head together," Clarion coach Larry Wiser said. "This may be my most frustrating loss."

What made the loss so frustrating for Wiser was his team took a 12-8 lead with 11 minutes remaining after Brad Rapp busted through the Gremlins defense from a yard out.

While going to the two-point conversion, Clarion (3-3, 2-3) was called for a delay-of-game penalty and was pushed back five yards. From the 8-yard line, the conversion pass was no good.

But the lead lasted only 14 seconds.

Karns City sophomore Anthony Stimac caught Clarion's kick coverage team sleeping as he pulled in the ensuing kickoff at his own 8-yard line and ran untouched for a 92- yard score.

"That won the game," Conto said. "There are a bunch of young kids on the kickoff team that won it for us. A lot of teams would have folded."

"I had the biggest lane to run through," Stimac said. "Anyone could have run through there. We don't get down on ourselves. We know what we have to do and keep our heads up."

With under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Karns City defensive back Mike McConnell dashed any hopes for a Clarion comeback when he intercepted backup quarterback Matt Smith with 4:50 left. Karns City's offense did what it needed to do: run out the clock.

Karns City's offense moved the ball at will on its opening drive, but turned it over at Clarion's 10-yard line.

The Bobcats marched the ball 70 yards to Karns City's 20, but the Bobcats' Achilles heel got them — a fumble.

The Gremlins' Brett Green picked up the loose ball and ran 57 yards for the touchdown and an early lead.

The defense struck again with a safety in the second quarter. On a fourth and long, Clarion was going to punt from its own 15-yard line, but the snap sailed over Dan L'Insalta's outstretched arms and into the end zone, forcing him to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone.

The KSAC title will on the line next week as Karns City will host the only other undefeated team in the conference, Moniteau (6-0, 4-0).