Karns City football 2024 preview: What to watch, 3 things to know and schedule
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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 defensive end Troy Nagel 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'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 end Mason Bell 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 quarterback Cole Johnston at practice Aug. 12, 2024. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
Seasons without a trip to the District 9 playoffs have been few and far between for Karns City’s football team.
Don’t expect a lapse this year as the Gremlins have a roster capable of combining veteran leadership with young talent to make a run at a district championship.
Head coach Joe Sherwin and his staff have established a precedent of fixing mistakes and upgrading weaknesses sooner rather than later. To their credit, players seem to respond year in and year out.
KC went 5-6 last year, but the team showed a strong will and determination in the wake of quarterback Mason Martin’s injury in Week 2 after which he lay unconscious in a hospital bed for weeks. Martin returned home in June. Playing without a quarterback on its active roster for the final three weeks of the season, KC defeated Bradford and Mount Union before a valiant effort resulted in a 42-41 loss to Brookville in a district semifinal.
Karns City’s strong tradition of running the football appears to be in good hands. Hunter Scherer, Owen Heginbotham and Braden Slater combined for 1,389 yards and 17 touchdowns a year ago, and all three are returning. Add Nathan Hess, who turned in a fine freshman season before missing last year with an injury, and the Gremlins will once again throw a diversified ground attack at opposing defenses.
“Hunter and Nathan are both bigger bodies and bruising runners,” Sherwin said. “Owen and Braden are more speed guys. Looking at our running backs as a whole, we should be right there with some of the teams we’ve had in the past with strong ground games.
“First and foremost, we are a running team.”
Scherer should spearhead the effort after gaining 770 yards — including three 100-yard games — and scoring 10 touchdowns as a sophomore.
“One guy alone is not going to bring Hunter down,” Sherwin said. “He’s very well-built (5-foot-11, 225 pounds).”
Adding to the optimism are four starters returning on the offensive line — center C.J. Emrick, guards Cam Ealy, Sean Slaughenhoupt and tackle Kolby Blair. They helped the Gremlins average 279 rushing yards per game in 2023.
“We have a phenomenal group of running backs,” Ealy said. “They hit the holes hard and can all break tackles after contact.”
Ealy and Slaughenhoupt will both play on the interior of the defensive line, joining ends Troy Nagel and Mason Bell to give the Gremlins a formidable front.
1. Johnston looks to progress at QB
Current sophomore Cole Johnston was thrown into the fire last season after Martin’s injury. Prior to a season-ending injury to his collarbone suffered in mid-October, Johnston completed 27 of 61 passes for 302 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.
That experience can only help him as he returns to guide KC’s offense.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” Sherwin said. “We need to show the ability to throw the ball downfield to keep teams honest on defense.”
Johnston has the ability to contribute to the ground game, too, gaining 126 yards last year.
2. Catching attention
Brennan Harmon, Carter Farren and Riley Hamilton will be top options in the passing game, as will 6-5 senior tight end Shane Peters. The quartet combined for just six receptions for 76 yards last season, but Sherwin expects a boost in production in 2024.
“All of them have the ability to stretch the field,” he said. “Brennan is a speed guy, Carter is a bigger body and Riley is more of a scatback.”
Harmon is eager to make plays that will loosen up opposing defenses, making things easier on the team’s running backs.
“I think we have a special group at receiver, and Cole has been amazing getting the ball to us in camp,” he said.
3. Significant loss
Zach Kelly, now graduated, was listed as a receiver on last year’s roster and did contribute 10 catches for 135 yards. But he was also the team’s placekicker while returning kickoffs and punts and playing in the secondary on defense. He gained 749 all-purpose yards and scored four touchdowns his senior season.
“He did a lot of things for us, and one guy is not going to replace him,” Sherwin said. “Braden Slater looks to be our kicker this year. He has a very strong leg, and we’re working with him on his accuracy.”
- Friday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m. - vs. Moniteau*
- Friday, Aug. 30, 7 p.m. - at Brookville*
- Friday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m. - vs. St. Marys*
- Friday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m. - vs. DuBois*
- Friday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m. - at Punxsutawney*
- Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m. - vs. Central Clarion*
- Friday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m. - at Redbank Valley
- Friday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. - at Bradford*
- Friday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m. - vs. Keystone
- Friday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. - at Wilmington
* connotes division/conference game
