KNOX — Karns City took a punch in the gut in the form of an 84-yard touchdown run from Keystone on the game's second play.

Luckily for Karns City, there was still 47 and a half minutes to go.

While it took them until the second half to fully right the ship, the Gremlins overcame a shaky start to beat the Panthers 42-7 at Keystone.

Undefeated and coming off a big win over Central Tech last week, the Gremlins came out flat and the Panthers took advantage.

Running back Jake Weaver took the handoff and galloped through a large hole behind his left guard and was off to the races down the sideline. Just when it looked like he may be tackled at about the 20 yard line, the Karns City defender tripped and let him go untouched for the score.

Things didn't get any better on the Gremlins first possession as quarterback Cody Deal threw an interception after driving into Panthers territory.

The Gremlins managed to tie the score at 7 on their next drive behind a 22-yard run from Collin Dunmyre, but a fumble deep inside the Keystone redzone late in the half preserved the 7-7 halftime deadlock.

“We just didn't play well,” Karns City coach Ed Conto said about the first half. “We said it's a perfect trap game, and we warned the kids about it all week. We were pressing, not executing. ... Just little things that make a difference.”

And it could have been worse.

On a third and long for Keystone at midfield in the second quarter, the Gremlins allowed a Panthers receiver to streak free down the sideline.

Quarterback Bryce Altman just overthrew his wideout and the ball grazed off his fingertips to fall incomplete.

At half, Karns City had outgained Keystone by only seven yards.

“I thought our kids played really hard. They came out and believed they could win the football game,” Panthers coach Dan Reed said. “We had a couple of plays we missed. You gotta make those plays if you're going to be competitive with this football team because that's a really good football team.

“We didn't make those plays and then they came out in the second half and physically just beat us.”

The Gremlins came out in that second half and took control from the opening snap.

Behind a physical offensive line, holes began opening up for the running backs and they took advantage, none more so than Dunmyre.

The junior popped a run early on the opening drive of the second half for 33 yards, and he wiggled his way out of another tackle to give the Gremlins their first lead of the game.

Dunmyre finished with 144 yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns.

Keystone's first possession of the second half was short-lived when Deal atoned for his interception by snagging one for himself.

A solid return by the senior put Karns City at the 28 yard line, and Seth Silverio managed to win a race to the pylon to open up a 14-point lead.

By the time the third quarter was over, the Gremlins were up 28-7.

After allowing 166 yards of total offense in the first half, Karns City held the Panthers to only 27 in the second half.

Conto credited much of the turnaround to his assistant coaches and their halftime adjustments. He said that, along with better execution, were the keys to the victory.

And don't forget Dunmyre.

“He's a tough, consistent kid,” Conto said. “He's a hard-nosed kid. He's not a flashy guy, but he'll pound it out. He just keeps coming at you, kind of like an 'Energizer Bunny.'”