Gremlins trying to bounce back from 6-5 campaign
KARNS CITY — For a lot of teams, six wins is a healthy high school football season.
Such a total doesn’t sit well at Karns City — and a lack of health played a factor in the Gremlins finishing 6-5 a year ago.
“Injuries got us,” senior receiver-defensive back Zach Kelly said. “We just lost too many guys.”
The Gremlins were particularly banged up along the offensive line. Coach Joe Sherwin is hopeful the positive side of that situation shows itself this season.
“We did have a few offensive linemen go down last year and injuries derailed us overall,” Sherwin said. “But now we’ve got some guys back up front who were pressed into duty last year and have some experience.”
Returning players on offense for the Gremlins include linemen Sean Slaughenhoupt, Cam Ealy and Bobby Rodgers. Junior tight end Shane Peters, at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, is back to add strength up front as well.
Quarterback-receiver Mason Martin and running backs Luke Cramer, Nathan Hess and Braden Slater are also back. Cramer only played two games in 2022 before losing the rest of the season to a torn ACL. He figures to be KC’s leading rusher.
Martin, a senior, is in a competition at the quarterback position with 6-1 freshman Cole Johnston.
“They are two different types of quarterbacks,” Sherwin said. “Both can throw the ball, but Cole is physically bigger and has a stronger arm. I’ve played two quarterbacks in games before and didn’t like it too much.
“The plan is that one of these guys takes over the position. Mason is going to be on the field either way.”
If Martin isn’t the quarterback, he’ll be one of a group of receivers looking to fill the void left by standout receiver Micah Rupp.
Martin said he has no problem with Johnston being the quarterback.
“He’s got a great arm,” Martin said. “Cole can throw the ball 40 yards downfield. I’d love being able to run under some of those throws.”
Taite Beighley, a senior and standout basketball player for the Gremlins, is out for football for the first time and should help at receiver, along with Kelly.
“I really believe our strength offensively will be the line,” Sherwin said. “Getting Luke back, along with Nathan and Braden, I feel good about our running game. With a new quarterback and receiving corps, we have work to do in our passing game.”
Kelly agreed that the ground game will be Karns City’s asset in 2023.
“Run the football,” he said. “That’s what we do at Karns City. It’s tradition.”
The Gremlins have nine starters back defensively, including Cramer anchoring the unit at middle linebacker. Troy Nagel and Mason Bell are back at defensive end, Slaughenhoupt and Ealy at tackle. Hess and Slater are returning linebackers.
Kelly and Martin are returnees in the secondary.
“It goes hand in hand, when you’re inexperienced at receiver, you’re inexperienced in the defensive backfield,” Sherwin said. “We’ll have to build that up.”
The Gremlins have only seven seniors on the roster this season,
“We’re young, bit we’re talented,” the coach said. “We’re going to get better as we go.”
For Karns City, the football goals remain the same.
“Win District 9 for sure, then keep playing football for as long as we can,” Martin said.
“Winning a couple of state playoff games would be nice,” Kelly said. “I believe we can make that happen.”
