KARNS CITY 23, REDBANK VALLEY 7

Sept. 29, 2006

KARNS CITY – Unbeaten Karns City took a huge step toward its second straight KSAC title with a 23-7 win over previously unbeaten Redbank Valley Friday night in Karns City.

The Gremlins (5-0 overall, 3-0 KSAC) trails Moniteau (5-0, 4-0) by a half game in the conference standings but now has a game lead over Redbank Valley (4-1, 3-1) in the loss column.

Karns City got the win by shutting down a powerful Redbank Valley offense that entered the game averaging a D9 second-best 36.3 ppg and 352.3 yards per game.

The Gremlins defense held Redbank to 204 yards of offense including just 42 passing. The Bulldogs reached Karns City territory just four times in the contest and didn’t score until the Gremlins led 23-0.

Karns City led 13-0 at halftime thanks to two second quarter touchdowns.

The first score came on a 13-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Justin Switzer that made it 7-0 Karns City with 4:11 left. The play started from the Bulldog 34, but Jake smith fumbled the snap and the ball bounced backward all the way to the 13 before Switzer picked it up.

Karns City, a lot like Redbank Valley did last week vs. Clarion, took advantage of a poor punt to get its second touchdown.

Dan Jordan punted for just four yards giving Karns City the ball at the Redbank Valley 45, and it took the Gremlins six plays to make it 13-0.

The touchdown came on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Matt Endlish to Josh Callender with 53 seconds left in the half.

Matt McConnell made it 16-0 late in the third quarter when he hit a 37-yard field goal.

Karns City then made it 23-0 on a Markus LaVan 1-yard run with nine minutes to play. The touchdown came after Anthony Stimac intercepted a Jake Smith pass at the Karns City 34.

Redbank Valley’s lone touchdown came on a 5-yard run by Alex Bladel with 5:40 to play.

Roy Beham led Karns City with 19 carries for 140 yards while LaVan had 11 for 35. Endlish was 8 of 12 for 105 yards and a touchdown while running for two yards. Callender caught four passes for 46 yards and the score.

Bladel ran 20 times for 140 yards and the touchdown for Redbank Valley. Smith was held to 28 yards rushing on 12 carries and was just 5 of 24 passing for 42 yards and two interceptions.

Please check back later for more on this game.