By Rich Rhoades

KARNS CITY – Jake Wagner’s 1-yard touchdown run and Brad Francis’ 37-yard interception return for a score with 1:25 of each other in the second quarter was enough to propel the Karns City Gremlins to a 21-14 win over the visiting Brookville Raiders Friday night.

The Gremlins (3-0) failed to score in the second half and were limited to 67 yards of offense, but used field position and good defense of their own to hold off the Raiders.

Brookville (0-3) got within 21-14 on Tyler Dombrowski’s 1-yard TD run with 7:02 remaining, but couldn’t get anything going on its final chance with the ball with under two minutes left.

Brookville outgained Karns City by a yard, 231-230, but couldn’t overcome a 21-7 first-half deficit. The Raiders scored first on Jared Heschke’s 21-yard TD reception from quarterback Garrett Weaver, but the Gremlins answered on their next possession on J.R. Yough’s 12-yard run.

Then in the second quarter, Wagner’s 1-yarder culminated a nine-play, 82-yard drive, the key play coming on quarterback Dylan Hipple’s 38-yard pass to Brandon Collier that put the Gremlins at the Raiders’ 15.

On the fourth play following the ensuing kickoff, Francis stepped in front of a wobbly Weaver pass and took it to the end zone to put the Gremlins up 14.

The Raiders failed to cash in on two straight Karns City turnovers in its own territory before halftime. Weaver recovered an Aaron Markle fumble at the Raiders’ 43, but three players later Weaver fumbled it away himself and injured his hand in the process. While he continued to play defense, he didn’t return to the quarterback rotation with Dombrowski.

Karns City gave it right back to the Raiders when Zane Hackett stepped in front of a Hipple screen pass at the Gremlins’ 36 and returned it to the 14. The Raiders would gain just three yards on four plays with the drive stalling at the 11 with 1:05 left in the half.

The lone score of the second half came on the Raiders’ opening drive of the fourth quarter. They went 75 yards on 12 plays. Dombrowski completed a big fourth-and-16 pass to Brock Bietz that covered 38 yards, putting the Raiders at the Gremlins’ 2. Two plays later, Dombrowski scored.

KARNS CITY 21, BROOKVILLE 14

Score By Quarters

Brookville       7          0          0          7          —        14

Karns City     7          14        0          0          —        21

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

B - Jared Heschke 21 pass from Garrett Weaver (A.J. Moore kick), 5:31.

K - J.R. Yough 12 run (Zach Kepple kick), :49.

Second Quarter

K - Jake Wagner 1 run (kick failed), 6:34.

K - Brad Francis 37 interception return (Dylan Hipple run), 5:09.

Fourth Quarter

B - Tyler Dombrowski 1 run (Moore kick), 7:02.

                                                B                     K

First Downs                            9                      11

Rushes-Yards                          34-87               43-175

Passing Yards                         144                  55

Passes: Comp-Att-Int             8-22-1              5-10-1

Total Yardage                         231                  230

Punts-Average                                    3-28                 4-27

Fumbles-lost                            2-1                   1-1

Penalties-Yards                       1-4                   2-24

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Brookville: Kyle Galbraith 12-40, Ethan Harmon 9-40, Tyler Dombrowski 6-6, Ryan Kerr 3-2, Garrett Weaver 3-1, Wade Brentham 1-(-2). Karns City: Aaron Markle 13-58, J.R. Yough 5-44, Jake Wagner 11-43, Craig Slomers 4-13, Jesse Garing 3-13, Ethan Beale 2-7, Dylan Hipple 2-0, Team 3-(-3).

Passing - Brookville: Tyler Dombrowski 4-of-14, 83 yards; Garrett Weaver 3-of-6, 58 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int.; Dustin Dombrowski 0-of-1; Ethan Harmon 1-of-3, 3 yards. Karns City: Dylan Hipple 5-of-10, 55 yards, 1 Int.

Receiving - Brookville: Jared Heschke 6-73, Brock Bietz 1-38, Dustin Dombrowski 1-28, Ethan Harmon 0-5. Karns City: Brandon Collier 1-38, Jake Wagner 1-0, Aaron Markle 1-8, Joe Fallecker 2-(-1).

Interceptions - Brookville: Zane Hackett. Karns City: Brad Francis.

Sacks - Karns City: Jake Smith, Carrick Harp.

Punting – Brookville: Wade Brentham 3-84. Karns City: Zach Kepple 4-108.

Kick returns – Brookville: Kyle Galbraith 3-31, Zane Hackett 1-9. Karns City: Ethan Beale 1-33, Tyler Slagle 1-15.

Punt returns – Brookville: Dustin Dombrowski 1-4. Karns City: Brandon Collier 1-19.