CLARION, Pa. (D9Sports) — Clarion more than showed they’re the best team KSAC Large School Conference — the Bobcats showed why they have the best offensive line in KSAC as they wrapped up the Large School Title with a 44-17 win over Karns City Friday night at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium.
(Photo: Spencer Miller gets ready to take a snap Friday night. Photo by Bruce Lux)
“It’s awesome to be KSAC Champions,” said Clarion head coach Larry Wiser. “We had a great week of preparation for this game, and we enjoyed playing Karns City because they bring out the best in you.”
The Bobcats (7-0 overall, 4-0 KSAC Large School) ran up and down the field all night long versus Karns City (5-3, 2-2) and rushed for 359 yards on 49 attempts averaging 7.3 yards per carry in the game.
“Our offensive line, holy smokes were they on fire just knocking people off the ball,” said Wiser. “This was the best they played all year.”
But is was Karns City that started the game with a bang as Sebastian Troutman ran 44 yards to begin the game. Seven plays later he pounded it in from two yards out putting the Gremlins in front 7-0.
Clarion answered on their first snap of the football game as quarterback Spencer Miller ran 56 yards to tie the game at seven.
Troutman scored for the second time in the first quarter from two yards out as Karns City went back in front 14-7 following a five-minute drive capping the 10-play 62-yard drive.
“We were anxious and were not disciplined with staying in our gaps on those first two drives,” said Wiser. “They were excited, and we had to calm the kids down to get them to stay where we needed them to stay.”
But Sterling Conner answered right back as he took the ensuing kickoff back 88 yards as the teams were deadlocked at 14 following a quarter.
“It’s the same issues we’ve had all year whether we’ve won or lost,” Karns City head coach Ed Conto said. “We look at the film and see we’re making a lot of mistakes. Hopefully, after tonight’s performance, the kids will start paying attention to what we’re telling them.”
Pounding out 74 yards in 13 plays put Clarion in front 21-14 as Logan Minich scored from a yard out.
Both teams connected on field goals in the final 94 seconds of the first half as the Bobcats led 24-17 at intermission.
Clarion took control in the second half as they scored on three consecutive possessions pushing their lead to 44-17 while limiting the Gremlins to just 31 yards of offense and two first downs.
“We made a few plays on that opening drive by Spencer (Miller) and got a few turnovers that started to put the game out of reach in the second half,” said Wiser.
Logan Minich scored his second touchdown of the game from nine yards out with 7:35 left in the third quarter, while Keeven Weaver scored from 19 yards out as they drove 70 yards in 10 plays following Thomas Wurster’s fumble recovery.
“You can’t jump offsides, you can’t have holding penalties and fumbles,” said Conto. “I don’t think we were stopped tonight, we were stopping ourselves. When you flip around to defense, it’s our assignments and staying in our position. I give Clarion a lot of credit, they ran the ball extremely well and executed, we didn’t.”
Spencer Miller’s 21-yard scramble for a touchdown also gave him two rushing touchdowns, and he finished with an even 100 yards on just eight carries.
Logan Minich again led the way for the Bobcats in the absence of Colton Rapp with 156 yards on 25 attempts.
Sebastian Troutman led Karns City with 95 yards on 11 totes.
“The only good thing that will come out of this is if the kids take a good look and say, okay let’s start doing what we’re supposed to be doing,” said Conto. “We are very capable of being a good defense. They have to do the right thing. But these kids have to listen. Great teams will rise up; if you’re not, then you won’t.”
Clarion 44 Karns City 17
Score by Quarters
Karns City 14 3 0 0 — 17
Clarion 14 10 13 7 — 44
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
KC — Sebastian Troutman 2 yd run (Clay Garing pat), 8:44
C — Spencer Miller 56 yd run (Archer Mills pat), 8:28
KC — Troutman 2 yd run (Garing pat), 3:52
C — Sterling Conner 88 yd kickoff return (Mills pat), 3:40
Second Quarter
C — Logan Minich 1 yd run (Mills pat), 8:28
C — Mills 19 yd field goal, 1:34
KC — Garing 33 yd field goal, :00
Third Quarter
C — Logan Minich 9 yd run (Mills pat), 7:35
C — Keeven Weaver 19 yd run (kick failed), :55
Fourth Quarter
C — Spencer Miller 21 yd run (Mills pat), 5:17
Team Stats
KC C
First Downs 16 21
Rushes-Yards 32-194 49-359
Passing Yards 57 56
Comp-Att-Int 6-13-0 4-4-0
Total Yards 251 415
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-0
Penalties-Yards 5-23 6-45
Punts-Avg. 4-32.5 0-0
Individual Stats
Rushing: Karns City — Sebastian Troutman 11-95, Josh Wimer 3-23, Clay Garing 6-18, Mitchell Kelsea 2-11, Devin Ryan 1-4, Anthony Kamenski 4-31, Hunter Jones 2-15, Noah Kepple 1-2, Team 1-(-13), Henry Leroy 1-8. Totals: 32-194. Clarion — Logan Minich 25-156, Sam Minich 4-17, Camden Boggess 3-8, Brendan Zerfoss 1-1, Keeven Weaver 4-61, Spencer Miller 8-100, Cutter Boggess 3-15, Sterling Conner 1-1. Totals: 49-359.
Receiving: Karns City — Donovan Timblin 2-18, Brandon Hesidence 4-39. Clarion — Sterling Conner 1-5, Archer Mills 1-32, Keeven Weaver 1-4, Sam Minich 1-15.
Passing: Karns City — Kamenski 6-for-13 57 yards. Clarion — Miller 4-for-4 37 yards.
