Brookville, KC football look to continue surge
Just as it can during a single game, the tide of momentum can turn for a team during a season.
The football squads at Brookville and Karns City have both experienced a reversal of fortunes.
The Raiders and Gremlins dealt with a sour beginning to the season, weathered the storm, and are now playing winning football as the District 9 Class 2A playoffs loom.
Brookville (3-4) opened the year with three straight losses, but has triumphed in three of its last four contests.
Karns City (4-3) rebounded from losses to DuBois Area and Redbank Valley in Week 1 and 2, respectively, and the Gremlins have won four of their last five, with the only loss coming in overtime to unbeaten Central Clarion.
The teams will face each other Friday at Diehl Stadium with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
A 22-19 win Sept. 30 over a solid Saint Marys team highlights Brookville’s current run.
“We were down 19-7 in that game and came back to win,” said Brookville coach Scott Park. “After the first half of the season, we told the kids to treat the second half like a new season. Let’s go out and win it.
“We got some kids back who were injured at the start of the season, including two offensive linemen, and we have the mind-set now that we’re going to run the football.”
The focal point of that ground attack is senior running back Jackson Zimmerman, who has gained 468 yards and scored four touchdowns over the last two games, including a 41-0 thumping of Bradford last week.
“They’ve simplified their offense and it’s helped them,” said KC coach Joe Sherwin. “They have a big offensive line and are playing much better football.
“We have to improve our tackling. We haven’t been at our best in that area.”
The switch to a run-heavy scheme is a major shift for the Raiders, who featured a 2,000-yard passer in each of the last five seasons. The team’s top two quarterbacks this season, Charlie Krug and Easton Belfiore, are both out with injury, leaving the signal-calling duties to senior Noah Peterson, who has passed for 200 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
With Eric Booher, a three-year starter, behind center, Karns City features a more balanced attack than the Raiders. It was three weeks ago that the senior had a cast removed from his right hand and since then, he’s passed for 395 yards and five scores.
Booher is also a key component of his team’s potent rushing attack.
“He’s done well,” Sherwin said of his quarterback. “Being able to throw the ball has opened up our offense. With guys like Cooper Coyle, Nate Garing and Micah Rupp, we have players who can catch the ball.”
Brookville and Karns City have both made things difficult for opposing quarterbacks this fall. The Raiders have intercepted 17 passes through seven games while the Gremlins have 11 thefts.
“We had experienced kids returning in our secondary and brought in Bill Morrison to coach the defense,” Park said. “He’s an intense guy and the kids feed off that.”
The Gremlins’ secondary includes cornerbacks Garing and a combination of Levi Hawk, Mason Martin and Zach Kelly; and safeties Coyle and Rupp.
Garing intercepted a pass in the end zone in last week’s tight 15-13 victory over Punxsutawney.
“Forcing turnovers has made a big difference in a lot of our games,” said Sherwin. “Punxsutawney has a good offense, but we got turnovers to shut them down.”
KC defeated the Raiders, 41-7, last season.
