KARNS CITY — Cody Deal and Caleb King are used to sharing.

Since they were at the junior high level, the duo have split time at quarterback.

Now seniors on the Karns City football team, the duo find themselves sharing snaps under center again.

“We've done it pretty much our whole way through,” Deal said. “We're used to doing it.”

Karns City head football coach Ed Conto wasn't thrilled with the idea of using a two-quarterback system this season.

But his two signal callers have given him no choice — not because they have both struggled, but because they have both excelled.

In the season opener Friday against Brookville, King tossed two first-quarter touchdown passes and Deal added another touchdown pass in the opening 12 minutes as the Gremlins rolled to a 60-6 victory.

The system will continue for the near future.

And that's quite OK with Deal and King.

“It worked well for us Friday,” Deal said. “It's always been a competition between us, but in the end, we're always going to do what is best for the team.”

King also said there is a friendly competition between the two that has gone on since the eighth grade.

“We've pretty much gotten used to it,” King said. “We've had practice with these types of situations before, so we've become confortable with it, with how the system's been working.”

Deal started the game Friday and played two series. King then played two series under center before yielding to Deal again.

“Each guy sometimes only had two plays in a series, so it was hard to get into a rhythm,” Conto said. “But they both seemed to do pretty well. There were some things, though, that I chewed them out about on the sidelines.”

Conto said because Deal and King have been in a system like this for most of their football careers, it won't be an issue if the system carries throughout the whole season.

“They did it all the way up through junior high, so it's nothing new for them,” Conto said. “It's tough on Cody because he plays linebacker, and that's a tough, physical position. He's a gamer and wants to be in there all the time.”

Deal, who is a standout on the defensive side of the ball, led the Gremlins last season with 99 tackles.He doesn't want his value on defense to hinder his effectiveness on offense.

“I'll play wherever the team needs me,” Deal said. “I just like playing both sides of the ball and I hope I can keep playing on both sides of the ball.”

Deal and King may have the easiest job on Karns City's potent offense.

“We have a lot of play-makers on the team, and that makes everyone's job easier when you have guys around you with that kind of ability.”

Deal's eyes light up when talking about the talent around him.

“They can make plays if you can get them the ball,” he said, “no matter if it's five yards down the field or 55.”