ST. MARYS – he St. Marys Flying Dutchmen used a 21 point second half to overcome a lackluster first half Friday night to defeat the visiting Karns City Gremlins 28-20 on Senior Night at Dutch Country Stadium.

Karns City (3-6 overall, 1-3 KSAC Large School Division) controlled the clock and the scoreboard heading into the locker room at halftime with a 12-7 lead.

The Gremlins got two scoring runs from tailback Tyler Slagle of seven and three yards in second quarter to account for their two touchdowns. The second touchdown was setup by a 46-yard punt by Zach Kepple that was downed at the Dutchmen 3 yard line.  Two plays later, Kevin Hoy fumbled and Karns City recovered.  Slagle scored two plays later.

St. Marys (6-3, 2-2) was held to 59 total yards of offense in the first half.  Its lone score was a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown by Darren Lyon.

Fortunately for St. Marys, they play two halves.

The Dutchmen took the second half kickoff and drove 72 yards in 10 plays mostly on the passing of senior quarterback Brad Yetzer.  Yetzer was 3 of 4 on the drive for 56 yards.  Hoy completed the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.

Right at the end of the third quarter Yetzer found Brian Merritt open on a screen pass that Merritt took 33 yards for a touchdown and a 20-12 St. Marys lead.

Karns City answered just a minute and half later as Glenn Toy would score on an 11-yard run.  The Gremlins tacked on a 2 point conversion on a reverse to Tyler Marsinetti to tie the game at 20-20.

Following the ensuing kickoff, Merritt broke three tackles off right end and rumble 70 yards for the decisive score.

Karns City mounted one last scoring effort getting the Dutchmen 42-yard line. 

But Merritt sacked Gremlin quarterback Dylan Hipple and cause a fumble that Jimmy Antonelli recovered.  St. Marys ran the clock out from there.

Merritt led St. Marys offensively, rushing for 81 yards on 7 carries and catching 4 passes for 71 yards.  Yetzer finished the night 9 of 13 passing good for 129 yards and a touchdown.

For Karns City, Slagle finished with 21 carries for 89 yards and the two touchdowns.

Karns City finishes it season next Friday when the host the Clarion Bobcats.

For St. Marys, their season is over as their game with Brockway next has been cancelled because the Rovers will be playing in the Allegheny Mountain League Championship game against the Cameron County Red Raiders.

Game notes: It was senior night and the Dutchmen recognize the following 12 seniors who played in their final game: Brad Yetzer, Darren Lyon, Kyle Wolfel, Kyle Schneider, Ryan Merritt, Nick DeStephano, Bryan Eichmiller, Jimmy Antonelli, Josh Rogers, Robert Rollick and manager Amy Donachy…for the second year in a row all 4 District 9 AAA teams will finish above .500 with no open playoff to decide a district champion…

Scoring by Quarters:

                                    1          2          3          4          F

Karns City                    0          12        0          8          20

St. Marys                     0          7          13        8          28

Scoring Plays:

First Quarter:              None

Second Quarter:          11:03   SM       Darren Lyon 34 yd int return (Barber PAT)                7-0

                                     5:09    KC        Tyler Slagle 7 yd run   (PAT Failed)                             7-6

                                     0:48    KC        Tyler Slagle 3 yd run   (2 pt run Failed)                      7-12

Third Quarter              7:04    SM       Kevin Hoy 3 yd run      (2 pt pass Failed)                     13-12

                                           :40   SM       Brad Yetzer to Brian Merritt 33 yd pass (Barber)      20-12

Fourth Quarter            11:03   KC        Glenn Toy 11 yd run (Tyler Marsinetti run)               20-20

                                    10:09   SM       Brian Merritt 70 yd run (Barber PAT)                                    28-20

Individual Statistics:

Rushing – Karns City – Tyler Slagle 21-89 , Glenn Toy 4-39 , Alex Kinkela 3-16 , Dylan Hipple 3-(-15) ,

                                    Cody Croyle 2-14 , Brandon Bowser 5-10 , Jerod Hutchinson 1-2 ,

                                    Brian Best 1-8 , Team Total 40-163

                 St. Marys -  Kevin Hoy 24-67 , Brian Merritt 8-81 , Kyle Schneider 8-33 , Cody Baker 1-1 ,

                                    Brad Yetzer 3-(-3) , Team Total 44-179

Passing – Karns City – Dylan Hipple 3-6-48-0-1 , Tyler Slagle 0-1-0-0 

                St. Marys -   Brad Yetzer 9-13-129-1-0

Receiving – Karns City – Tyler Marsinetti 1-36 , Alex Kinkela 1-2 , Kyle Barger 1-6

                    St. Marys – Brian Merritt 4-71 , Jimmy Werner 2-32 , Darren Lyon 2-23 ,

                                       Joe Luchini 1-13

Interceptions – Karns City – None                              St. Marys – Darren Lyon

Fumble Recoveries – Karns City – Tyler Slagle          St. Marys – Jimmy Antonelli