Karns City football players Cam Ealy, left, Brennan Harmon, Coach Joe Sherwin and Aaron Walker pose for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football players Aaron Walker and Cam Ealy hold up Brennan Harmon for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football players Aaron Walker and Cam Ealy hold up Brennan Harmon for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football players Brennan Harmon, front, and Aaron Walker, back left, Coach Joe Sherwin and Cam Ealy pose for a group shot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football players Aaron Walker, left, and Cam Ealy hold up Brennan Harmon for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football players Camden Ealy, left, Brennan Harmon, Coach Joe Sherwin and Aaron Walker pose for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football player Brennan Harmon poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football coach Joe Sherwin poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football player Aaron Walker poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football player Cam Ealy poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football players Aaron Walker, left, Cam Ealy and Brennan Harmon get social media videos made by the Butler Eagle podcast team during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

The Butler Eagle podcast team make social media videos of Karns City football players during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football players have social media videos made during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football players have social media videos taken during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

Karns City football quarterback Cole Johnston at practice Aug. 12, 2024. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle

Karns City football quarterback Cole Johnston at practice Aug. 12, 2024. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle

Karns City football defensive end Troy Nagel at practice Aug. 12, 2024.Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle

Karns City football's Troy Nagel (18), Cole Johnston (7) and Mason Bell (36) at practice Aug. 12, 2024.Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle

Karns City football defensive ends Troy Nagel (18) and Mason Bell (36) at practice Aug. 12, 2024.Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle

Karns City football defensive end Mason Bell at practice Aug. 12, 2024.Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle

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  Karns City football players Cam Ealy, left, Brennan Harmon, Coach Joe Sherwin and Aaron Walker pose for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football players Aaron Walker and Cam Ealy hold up Brennan Harmon for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football players Aaron Walker and Cam Ealy hold up Brennan Harmon for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football players Brennan Harmon, front, and Aaron Walker, back left, Coach Joe Sherwin and Cam Ealy pose for a group shot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football players Aaron Walker, left, and Cam Ealy hold up Brennan Harmon for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football players Camden Ealy, left, Brennan Harmon, Coach Joe Sherwin and Aaron Walker pose for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football player Brennan Harmon poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football coach Joe Sherwin poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football player Aaron Walker poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football player Cam Ealy poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football players Aaron Walker, left, Cam Ealy and Brennan Harmon get social media videos made by the Butler Eagle podcast team during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  The Butler Eagle podcast team make social media videos of Karns City football players during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football players have social media videos made during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football players have social media videos taken during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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  Karns City football quarterback Cole Johnston at practice Aug. 12, 2024. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
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  Karns City football quarterback Cole Johnston at practice Aug. 12, 2024. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
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  Karns City football defensive end Troy Nagel at practice Aug. 12, 2024.Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
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  Karns City football's Troy Nagel (18), Cole Johnston (7) and Mason Bell (36) at practice Aug. 12, 2024.Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
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  Karns City football defensive ends Troy Nagel (18) and Mason Bell (36) at practice Aug. 12, 2024.Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
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  Karns City football defensive end Mason Bell at practice Aug. 12, 2024.Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle

Facing a defense with one star defensive end can be tough enough. Karns City football has two that will wreak havoc on opposing offenses this season.

In 2023, Troy Nagel and Mason Bell combined for 109 tackles and 15 sacks for a KC team that went 5-6 and lost to Brookville in the District 9 Class 2A semifinal. Now a senior and junior, respectively, they’re back to lead the Gremlins’ first line of defense.

“It’s a great situation for us when we’re rushing the passer,” Bell said. “We can force the quarterback to each other’s side and have more opportunities to make plays.”

Bell turned in an incredible freshman season in 2022, tallying 57 tackles and 14 behind the line of scrimmage. He led the team with 7½ sacks that year.

“I wasn’t starting at the beginning of that season but was by the end,” Bell said. “Getting all of that playing time against older and experienced linemen made me a better player.”

Gremlins head coach and defensive coordinator Joe Sherwin knew Bell had a lot of potential.

“We were a bit surprised at how many plays he made as a freshman,” Sherwin said. “He just needed to get playing time. Once he got that, he gained confidence and has been able to continue to be a force on defense for us.

“He can take on and shed blocks, but is also quick enough to chase down plays to the outside.”

Nagel went from making a few plays as a sophomore to his breakout junior campaign.

“I cut back with my job and was able to get to more team workouts,” he said. “My technique is often good enough to get by linemen, but I noticed more teams double-teaming me last year. I’m stronger now.”

Nagel’s success is the product of numerous factors.

“He’s not the biggest guy (6-foot-3, 185 pounds), but is smart and uses good technique,” Sherwin said. “He’s an instinct guy.”

Karns City football’s Brennan Harmon, front, Aaron Walker, back left, coach Joe Sherwin , back center, and Cam Ealy pose for a group shot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

In many cases, Bell (6-1, 190) has had to contend with more than one blocker, as well.

“Teams started showing wider splits on the line and would have a sidecar come up and block me,” he said. “Since then I’ve worked on becoming more versatile, expanding my arsenal of moves to get by blockers. I’d like to get up to 10 sacks this year.”

And while getting to the quarterback is something Bell and Nagel do very well, Sherwin said that is not the top priority.

“They’re two quality defensive ends,” he said. “Our first goal defensively is to stop the run and they both do it very well.”