Jonah Smith - Kane - RB	Tyler Kepple - Karns City - QB
Photo by Shawn Murray – www.shawnmurrayphotography.com	Photo by Eric Elliott -  http://eedigitalimages.zenfolio.com/

 

By Rich Rhoades

CLARION — While Karns City Gremlins coach Ed Conto hopes a very satisfying season continues, Kane boss Todd Silfies is still exhaling from last week’s overtime thriller against Brookville.

The Gremlins (8-3) and Wolves (7-3) square off for the District 9 Class AA championship Friday night at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. Both teams are looking to win a title and extend their season.

For Karns City, it’s not an unfamiliar place. Although the Gremlins haven’t won a title since finishing a three-peat in 2009, they’ve almost always been a factor in Class AA. They’ve won eight titles in 13 appearances in the championship game.

Since coming to Karns City prior to the 2000 season, Conto has won five titles in nine tries. His team lost to Moniteau last year in the finals, 26-12. This year, the Gremlins lost their 1,000-yard running back Glenn Toy to a preseason knee injury. Toy tried to come back, but that didn’t happen and a rash of injuries had the Gremlins on their heels.

But here they are and the Gremlins are a win away from a title.

“If you notice, I have a smile on my face about that,” Conto told the Butler Eagle after the St. Marys game, referring to his team overcoming injuries. “Coming into the year with Toy and everybody healthy, I thought the talent was there to get back (to the district title game). Then Toy got hurt and everyone else got hurt and everything collapsed.

“But the young guys stepped up and the few seniors left stepped up. I have to give them credit.”

Junior quarterback Tyler Kepple had a shoulder injury earlier this season, but he’s regained some strength throwing the ball and needs one yard to hit 1,000 yards for the season to go along with 10 touchdowns. He’s the team’s second-leading rusher with 451 yards and four scores. Another junior, Wyatt Everetts, leads the team with 635 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.

Those aren’t the only two playmakers. Seven players in all have rushed for 200 or more yards and 10 different receivers have at least one reception. The Gremlins are fairly diverse and that’s usually been the case for the Conto-coached Gremlins.

“What Karns City does offensively is so diverse,” St. Marys head coach Joe Schlimm said after the Gremlins beat his team, 34-14. “They are able to throw the ball, run the fullback, get on the perimeter, they can run the option. They are a very good football team.”

For Conto, a big key has been getting healthier as the season went on. Also, the development of younger players has been a rewarding result for the veteran coach.

“We’ve had highs and lows this season with injuries and you see kids’ seasons end,” Conto said. “You have young talent and you’re not sure how that’s going to develop. What has happened is exciting as a coach, to be able to bring them through all of it. We’re working our butts off with this group and it’s exciting for the future. They could have quit this year, but they didn’t. They’ve developed some character.”

Kane will try to win its first-ever Class AA title. The Wolves were Class AA back in 2008 and 2009 and lost twice to the Gremlins in the semifinals, 42-14 in 2008 and 40-0 in 2009. Missing the playoffs in 2011, they’re trying to win their first playoff game since the Class A title season in 2007.

“It’s a huge deal for our program and kids,” first-year Wolves coach Todd Silfies said. “After a year away from the playoffs and after coach (Jason) Barner led us to the playoffs year after year, getting back was big and getting in the championship game is big for us.”

The Wolves are strikingly balanced offensively, almost exactly a 50 percent split between passing and rushing (1,677 yards rushing, 1,633 passing). Leading the way is senior Sean Jordan, whose 1,633 yards passing rank third in the district. He’s thrown for 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Jordan was big in Kane’s come-from-behind win over Brookville. He led the Wolves on a game-tying 71-yard drive on nine plays in a span of 1:21. His 13-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Pierson tied the game with 26 seconds left in regulation. Then he hit Jeff Kocjancic with an 8-yard TD pass in overtime as the Wolves went on to beat the Raiders, 35-34.

“A senior leader at quarterback like Sean Jordan is invaluable,” Silfies said of Jordan’s final-drive performance. “He scrambled on one play and played so tough in the pocket. And we had an unlikely with Andrew (Pierson). He had a big catch two weeks ago and he seems to come up with some timely catches for us. With (Sean) Rolick and Kocjancic out there, they will draw the toughest coverage.”

Jordan’s top receivers both have over 600 yards, Kocjancic with 55 catches for 630 yards and 10 touchdowns and Rolick with 38 receptions for 608 yards and four touchdowns.

Running back Jonah Smith, who ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns against Brookville, has rushed for 1,185 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Friday’s winner advances to the PIAA playoffs next week against District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge (5-5), which is idle this weekend after beating Everett, 22-21, last weekend.