KARNS CITY TO MEET SHARON IN STATE PLAYOFFS FOR THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON

The game is a rematch from last year when Sharon won 14-6 at Brookville High School. Sharon also beat Karns City in the opening round of the state playoffs in 1999.

Karns City earned a berth in the state playoffs with a 46-0 win over Brockway in the District 9 Class AA title game last Friday, while Sharon earned its berth with a 33-0 win over North East in the District 10 title game last Saturday.

The Gremlins enter the game with out a true test outscoring their opponents 519-79, an average of 47.2-7.2 per game. The closest any team has gotten to Karns City was 17 points when the Gremlins topped Greenville 30-13. Even in that game Karns City led 30-7 until Greenville score late in the fourth quarter. The only other game that saw a team get within 20 points of the Gremlins was the season-opener when Karns City defeated Clarion-Limestone 25-7.

Karns City’s offense has topped 50 points five times in 2001 including a season-high 77 against Union. Meanwhile, the Gremlins defense, has not allowed more than 14 points in any of its games, has allowed 10 or fewer points in eight games and has shutout three opponents.

Sharon, meanwhile, is scoring 29.9 points per game while allowing only 9.9 points per game.

The Tigers started the season out fast winning their first three games by a combined total of 104-3 but ran into a freight train in Week Four falling to Ohio powerhouse Watterson 44-17. The final score was not quite indicative of the game, as Watterson scored two touchdowns with under two minutes to play to break open a two-possession game.

Sharon came back from the defeat to beat Mercer 63-0 but then dropped two of its next three contests falling 13-12 to Reynolds before beating Hickory 29-21 and losing to Wilmington 21-20. In the playoffs, the Tigers topped Mercyhurst Prep 14-7 before blowing away North East.

Karns City’s offense is led by a fairly balanced running and passing attack. The Gremlins have rushed for 2,625 yards and passed for 1,572.

The Gremlins rushing attack is led by tailback Billy Graham, who has rushed for 1,281 yards and 29 touchdowns this season on 178 carries an average of 7.2 yards per carry.

Graham is led out of the backfield by fullback Matt Carnahan, who has added 265 yards rushing on 34 carries.

Karns City’s passing attack is led by junior quarterback Erik Fuhrer, who despite missing Week One with an injury has passed for 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns while throwing only two interceptions. He has completed 74-of-135 passes a completion percentage of 54.8% and is the third leading passer in District 9.

Fuhrer’s main targets this season have been wide receivers Ian Ferguson and Brian Hilderbrand.

Ferguson, who is also the backup quarterback, has caught 18 passes for 360 yards in 2001 while Hilderbrand has 32 grabs for 631 yards. Combined rushing, receiving and kick returning Hilderbrand has scored 13 touchdowns on the season.

Another weapons on offense for the Gremlins are tight end Beau Rattigan and wide receiver D.J. Black.

Sharon, meanwhile, is led by quarterback Mike Schneider and running back running back Mike Bochert.

Schneider is a threat to both run and pass the football. In the Tigers win over North East in the District 10 title game he was 7-for-8 passing for 68 yards and a touchdown while also running for two scores.

Bochert rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns in the District 10 title game.

Other key players to watch for the Tigers are Richard Manning, Gary Malgieri, Leroy Taylor and Justin Turnbaugh.

EDITORS NOTE: For more information on Sharon football please visit the team’s web site at http://www.eteamz.com/shstigers