KARNS CITY – Some schools are happy with having a winning season. Other are happy with winning a conference or district title every few years. And others expect to not only play in the district title game every year but also to win the district title every season.

Karns City would be one of the latter teams. Last season the Gremlins went 11-1 overall and 8-0 in the KSAC and won their third District 9 Class AA title in a row and their fourth in five seasons. They also sewed up their third KSAC title in the past five years. Those numbers pretty much sum up the past six seasons for the Gremlins who have gone 52-14 overall and 44-7 in the KSAC.

And despite losing most of its starters from the 2002 season including star running back Billy Graham (187 rushes, 1,322 yards, 26 touchdowns), top wide receivers Brian Hilderbrand (37 catches, 690 yards, 10 touchdowns; 12 runs, 147 yards), Ian Ferguson (22 catches, 437 yards, 5 touchdowns) and D.J. Black (10 catches, 237 yards) and fullback/kicker Beau Rattigan (4 touchdowns, 32 extra points, 1 field goal, 59 points) the Gremlins believe they can challenge for the KSAC and District 9 title once again this season.

"We don’t look at this season as rebuilding like some of people do," third-year head coach Ed Conto said. "We just want to feel like we can put new names in just reload and get the same results."

A lot of Conto’s confidence stems from the return of starting quarterback Erik Fuhrer, a senior who became the starter halfway through his sophomore season. Last season Fuhrer was 86-for-161 for 1,546 yards and 16 touchdowns while throwing just two interceptions.

"Erik can do a lot of things," Conto said. "We didn’t run a lot of option last year because we didn’t have to. But he is tremendous with the option. He can throw the ball extremely well. He runs the bootleg extremely well.

"This should be Erik’s year. What we like to see in a senior quarterback is his ability to go up to the line and check us out of things when the defense shows something we didn’t expect so we don’t run bad plays. If he does that, it gives a whole new dimension to the offense."

Other key returnees for the Gremlins should be guard/linebacker Jeff Wager (Sr., 5-11, 202), guard/defensive end Mike Stimac (Jr., 5-9, 202), running back Matt Carnahan (Sr., 34 carries, 265 yards) and offensive/defensive lineman Jon Fox (Sr., 5-6, 190).

Conto said there are some other key players for Karns City this season.

"Noll Steiner (Sr.,WR/DB) is going to step in at receiver," Conto said. "Mike Sitt (Jr., RB/DB) is going to step in at receiver and tailback. Jordan Collins (Sr., RB/DB), who wasn’t with us last year because he hurt his shoulder as sophomore and had to sit out a year, is back at tailback and corner. Nate Wilson (Sr.) is going to be playing tight end and split end shuffling back and forth. Kevin Trimbur (Jr.) is going be playing tight end and defensive end as we are going to work two tight end. Tommy Haggard, a senior who started a couple of games last year, is back and will see time at linebacker. Scott Christie (Jr.) got some time last year at the tackles. He is a good size kid who shows a lot of potential."

The strengths early on for the Gremlins should be at quarterback, fullback and at guard.

"We feel we are real strong at guard," Conto said. "We have two really solid guards in Stimac and Wagner. They are as tough as nails. We know the line will come along. Whether it is next week or the week after when we completely gel is what we need to find out.

"We have some good talent. We have good speed and overall quickness. The defense will is going to be as quick as it was last year. We aren’t going to see a drop off there."

Overall Conto is excited about the upcoming season.

"We have had a pretty good camp," Conto said. "The only thing we have had wrong is we have had some injuries here or there that have kept some guys out. Overall the talent is there. The kids want to hit. A lot of these seniors and juniors, talented kids, have been waiting around the last couple of years when they could have been starting for other people."

Karns City will find out right out of the block if they are going to compete for the KSAC title again this season, as they open the season against the two teams many are picking to contend with the Gremlins for the conference title: Clarion-Limestone and Keystone.

"I think we have to get off to a good start," Conto said. "Many people feel C-L is the best team. Keystone is loaded and returns a lot of people. Redbank returns a lot of people, and Clarion has a good team. So there are four teams right off the bat who are talented and well coached right in the meat of our schedule. We have to grow up early, because I know by the end of the year we are going to be a good football team."