And then there were nine.

Only nine WPIAL football teams remain in the state's largest class, 6A, and they will all be in one section for at least the next two seasons as the WPIAL announced in gridiron section alignments Monday afternoon.

Butler, which is still searching for a head football coach, and Seneca Valley are two of them.

The Golden Tornado and Raiders will have a few familiar section foes — North Allegheny, Pine-Richland and Central Catholic — but also some new blood in Canon-McMillan, Hempfield, Mt. Lebabon and Norwin.

“It really doesn't change a whole lot for us,” said Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle. “We have some new faces and that's challenging and exciting at the same time.”

The big question with only one nine-team section is how many teams will make the playoffs.

That decision will come later.

“I hope they don't water it down,” Butschle said. “My opinion is you don't want to play to see who the one team is that doesn't make the playoffs.”

There has been speculation of a four- or six-team playoff field.

Butschle said he believes a six-team format is the most likely.

“I think that makes the most sense,” he said. “That probably will be the best scenario. I'm interested to see what the powers that be come up with.”

While Butler and Seneca Valley remained in 6A, several Butler County WPIAL football teams radically changed addresses and sections.

Freeport moved up from 2A to 3A and will play in a section with only two familiar opponents: Burrell and Deer Lakes.

The Yellowjackets find themselves in a nine-team section with Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Derry, Elizabeth Forward, Mt. Pleasant, Uniontown, Yough, as well as Burrell and Deer Lakes.

Freeport played Yough in a non-section game last season.

“It kind of rejuvenates you,” said Freeport coach John Gaillot. “It's kind of exciting because it's a new conference.”

Gaillot said he was also pleased the WPIAL was able to strike a competitive balance between the two sections in 3A.

“I like it the way it is,” Gaillot said. “If they would have aligned north-south, it would have been dramatically heavy competition-wise.”

Perhaps the biggest impact of the realignment will be felt at Mars and Knoch, which are now in different classes.

Mars moved up to 5A while Knoch is in 4A.

Because of that, the rivalry appears headed for a recess. It will be the first time since 2007 that the two teams won't meet.

“We're a bit disappointed that we're not going to be playing Knoch,” said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. “Those were good games that drew good crowds, but you have to play where your (enrollment) numbers dictate.”

Mars will face some of the 6A teams from seasons past that dropped to 5A: North Hills, Penn Hills, Fox Chapel and Shaler.

Armstrong and Hampton will also be in the Planets' eight-team section.

Knoch will be in an eight-team section with Ambridge, Beaver, Blackhawk, Highlands, Montour, New Castle and South Fayette.

Mars is the second-smallest 5A school. Only Albert Gallatin has a lower enrollment number.

Heinauer, though, sees an opportunity in the new classification.

“The new section we are in includes teams that are close travel-wise,” Heinauer said. “That may lead to new rivalries.”

Eagle staff writer Derek Pyda contributed to this story.