FISHERTOWN, Bedford County — After a lackluster performance in the first half of Friday's PIAA Class AA first-round football playoff game at Chestnut Ridge, Karns City's offense returned to its dominating ground attack.

The Gremlins managed all three of their touchdown drives and 245 of their 313 rushing yards in the second half of a 23-14 victory over the host Lions.

“At halftime, we talked to the kids (on the offensive line) and asked why they spent all those hours in the weight room,” said Gremlins' coach Ed Conto. “We had to be more physical and we started to pound it in the second half.”

The Lions led 7-3 at halftime, but found themselves on the short end of a 16-7 score early in the fourth quarter when they took over at their own 45-yard line. Senior quarterback Tyler Wiley led a 9-play, 55-yard march that resulted in his own 25-yard scoring run that cut Karns City's edge to 16-14 with 7:58 left in the game.

Momentum swayed further toward Chestnut Ridge when a holding penalty on Karns City (11-1) on the ensuing kickoff placed the ball at the Gremlins' 8. It turned out to be just a few more yards for the team's stable of running backs to chew up.

The first four plays of the drive yielded carries by four different players — Christian Turner, Collin Dunmyre, Tyler Dunn and Maverick Kelsea — who combined for 57 yards to move the ball to the Lions' 35.

Chandler Turner then received his only carry of the game and he reeled off nine yards. Four plays later, Christian Turner scored from 11 yards out. Logan Moroney, who had missed an extra point earlier in the game, added a crucial point after to give KC a two-score advantage at 23-14 with 3:14 on the clock.

Kelsea intercepted Tyler Wiley moments later and the Lions never got the ball back.

“We're the quiet before the storm,” said Christian Turner, who finished with a game-high 89 yards on 16 carries. “In the huddle right before that (last scoring) drive started, we said to each other, 'Bring the rain, bring the thunder, bring the pain.' That's our motto.”

The pain for Chestnut Ridge began in earnest during the first drive of the second half, which the Gremlins used to grind up 62 yards — all rushing — in just seven plays. Dunn, who was feared to be lost for the season with a shoulder injury before returning Friday, gained 24 yards on the third play of the drive, which he later capped with a 10-yard touchdown.

The Gremlins later received a short field when defensive lineman Dalton Callihan recovered a fumbled snap at Chestnut Ridge's 28. It took the Gremlins only four plays to cash in, this time on Tristan Rhoades' 4-yard run for a 9-point lead.

Aside from Christian Turner's rushing effort, KC received 77 yards from Dunmyre, 65 from Dunn and 54 courtesy of Kelsea.

“We're not a team that uses just one back,” said Conto. “We work all of them hard and are confident getting all of them the ball. We are lucky to have a good group of kids that allows us to do that. Not all teams can do it and I'm proud of what our backs did tonight.”

In all, KC's defense forced four turnovers in the game. Dunn picked off Wiley twice, including once in the end zone late in the first half.

“Turnovers were the difference,” said Lions' coach Max Shoemaker. “We had four of them and they had a major effect on the game.”

The Lions took the opening kickoff and mounted their most impressive drive of the night, an 8-play, 68-yard march that ended with a touchdown on Tyler Wiley's 13-yard run. But he and his cousin, running back Matt Wiley, would finish the night with just 77 combined yards on 24 carries.

Moroney booted a 22-yard field goal in the second quarter for the Gremlins' first points.

Chestnut Ridge ends the season with a 10-3 record, the first 10-win season in program history.

“This group set a bar that others can try to match,” Shoemaker said.

For the second straight season, Karns City will face South Fayette, which defeated Aliquippa 31-22 in the WPIAL championship game, at a date, time and site to be determined.

Karns City 23, Chestnut Ridge 14

Karns City 0 3 13 7 — 23

Chestnut Ridge 7 0 0 7 — 14

KC CR

18 First Downs 9

58-313 Rushes-Yards 25-76

21 Passing Yards 87

2-10-1 Comp.-Att.-Int 5-19-3

334 Total Yards 163

3-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1

9-83 Penalty Yards 2-15

First Quarter

CR — Tyler Wiley 13 run (Sean Van Meter kick), 8:18

Second Quarter

KC — Logan Moroney 22 field goal, 11:15

Third Quarter

KC — Tyler Dunn 10 run (Moroney kick), 9:25

KC — Tristan Rhoades 4 run (kick failed), 3:34

Fourth Quarter

CR — Tyler Wiley 25 run (Van Meter kick), 7:58

KC — Christian Turner 11 run (Moroney kick), 3:14

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Karns City, Collin Dunmyre 15-77, Christian Turner 16-89, Tyler Dunn 7-65, Maverick Kelsea 7-54, Ethan Conto 3-5, Tristan Rhoades 4-6, Caleb King 4-9, Chandler Turner 1-9, TEAM 1-(-1). Chestnut Ridge, Matt Wiley 12-41, Tyler Wiley 12-36, TEAM 1-(-1).

Passing: Karns City, Caleb King 2-10-21-1. Chestnut Ridge, Tyler Wiley 5-19-87-3.

Receiving: Karns City, Tyler Dunn 1-13, Logan Moroney 1-8. Chestnut Ridge, Colby Hillegass 1-6, Trent Crouse 1-22, Bryan Feather 2-50, Jay Grubb 1-9.