PIAA high school football Week 7: Final scores, highlights, recaps from Butler, Freeport, Knoch vs Mars, more
Butler faces its first opportunity to lock up a .500 record this week when it hosts University (W.Va.). And that’s not the only storyline of Week 7.
Freeport and Union/A-C Valley are still undefeated, and Mars takes on a neighborhood rival as it seeks to continue dominating in Class 4A.
The Eagle will be at four games this week — University (W.Va.) at Butler (Brendan Howe), Highlands at Freeport (John Enrietto), Knoch at Mars (William Pitts) and Seneca Valley at Canon-McMillan (Derek Pyda). Follow this page for updates and scores from those games and all the rest throughout the night. Eagle sports editor Jake Merda Adams will post updates and highlights along with scores from kickoff to the final whistle.
And after the action is over, you can find all our game coverage and photos from the field.
Bookmark this page for the latest from Week 7.
Mark Klemz runs Butler to fifth win on nearly 200-yard, 3-TD night against University
Ayden Yocum explodes for 250 yards, 4 TDs in Mars’ rout of Knoch
ROUNDUP: Karns City hangs on with defense stand, Johnston’s 3 TDs; Union/A-C Valley stays perfect
Check back regularly for the latest in-game scores as they’re reported on social media.
Friday, Oct. 3
FINAL — Butler 35, University 27 (WISR)
FINAL OT — Highlands 28, Freeport 27 (NFHS, requires subscription)
FINAL — Karns City 28, Westinghouse 24 (Hudl)
FINAL — Mars 56, Knoch 0 (Hudl, WBUT)
FINAL — Ridgway 42, Moniteau 7 (YouTube)
FINAL — Central Valley 34, North Catholic 28 (YouTube)
FINAL — Canon-McMillan 33, Seneca Valley 29 (Meridix)
FINAL — Conneaut 26, Slippery Rock 13 (Hudl)
FINAL — Union/A-C Valley 30, Kane 0 (Hudl)
FINAL — Laurel 63, Summit Academy 8
Refresh this page for more updates throughout the evening.
10:11 p.m.: Butler’s defense holds, Tornado get fifth win
It took a tackle in the field of play at midfield, and Butler is now 5-2 after beating University 35-27. The defense did not allow any big plays in the final 1:30 and change on University’s final possession, avenging last year’s loss in West Virginia in the process.
10:04 p.m.: Butler defense needs to make stand to win
After killing some time and punting the ball away, the Golden Tornado have a chance to win their fifth game of the season with one last defensive stand against University. 1:16 remains in the game with third down, and Butler’s up 35-27.
9:53 p.m.: Freeport, North Catholic fall in dramatic games; OPI turns the ball over for Seneca Valley
Freeport’s unbeaten season is no more. After forcing overtime, the Yellowjackets had a chance to force a second OT following a TD. But the PAT was blocked, and Highlands has handed Freeport a 28-27 loss, its first of the year.
North Catholic scored on a last-second hook-and-ladder, but it came as time expired and wasn’t enough in a 34-28 loss, the Trojans’ second in a row.
And in an electric Seneca Valley game, the Raiders were called for offensive pass interference on fourth down. The call led to a turnover on downs, and Canon-McMillan beat SV 33-29.
9:42 p.m.: Freeport heading to OT against Highlands
The Yellowjackets climbed back from down 21-7 in the second half and have forced overtime as they try to remain undefeated and improve to 7-0 this year.
9:40 p.m.: North Catholic about to drop second straight
Joe Felitsky had been on fire in the second half, leading the Trojans back to within three points after trailing 24-0 early. But a Central Valley TD and 40-plus-yard field goal made it 34-21 late, and Felitsky tried to hit Ryker Kennedy on a deep ball near the end zone that was picked off with about 2:30 left in the game, ending the comeback attempt.
North will fall to 5-2 after its second straight loss, barring a small miracle.
9:28 p.m.: Big Macs answer with 14 straight, retake the lead
It’s been a back-and-forth game in Canon-McMillan. The Raiders had stolen the momentum to take a 29-19, but the Big Macs have scored 14 straight in the fourth quarter after Braelon Wingfield broke off a big run from around midfield to make it 29-26 over Seneca Valley.
9:24 p.m.: Karns City sack on fourth down will secure a big win over Westinghouse
A QB scramble came up just short, giving Westinghouse a fourth-and-1 (or less than that) with 22 seconds left. The Bulldogs called a long-developing pass play, and the QB slipped and was then hit for a game-ending sack, giving Karns City the football with 16 ticks left. The Gremlins will improve to 5-2.
9:18 p.m.: Freeport ties it on Neistein TD catch; North Catholic suddenly within three
Owen Neistein caught a pass and took it 39 yards for a game-tying score, according to reporter John Enrietto, and has tied things up with Highlands 21-21 in the fourth quarter.
And North Catholic, which trailed 24-0 in the first half, is suddenly one more score away from tying it or taking the lead. Joe Felitsky hit Preston Simko in stride after Simko’s defender fell, then he raced 89 yards for a score to cut the Central Valley lead to just 24-21 all of a sudden. A flag was thrown on the play, but it was ruled defensive holding on CV.
We got a tie game! Ross finds Neistein for a 40yd TD pass Freeport and Highlands tied at 21 6:42 left @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/E6CRqxKrrn
— WPIAL Football Zone 🏈 (@AJWPIAL) October 4, 2025
9:13 p.m.: North Catholic’s quick-strike offense is making this game interesting; Seneca Valley adds to lead
The Trojans’ offense might be coming to life. After stopping Central Valley inside the 1-yard line on fourth down, Joe Felitsky led a three-play, 99-yard drive that ended quickly with a deep ball to Preston Simko for nearly 60 yards. NC now trails 24-14 late in the third.
The Raiders extended their lead on another Cayden Parker TD, on a 14-yard toss from Andrew Loebig, making it 29-19 early in the fourth.
9:09 p.m.: Beautiful throw by Nicco Baggetta ties it back up for Butler
Nicco Baggetta bought some time, then rolled right and fired a strike to Nash Cuffman, who slid on his knees in the right front corner of the end zone to haul in a 29-yard TD. Butler, after surrendering 21 straight to fall behind, has tied it 21-21.
9:04 p.m.: Mars blanks Knoch to improve to 6-1; Moniteau falls to 2-5
Ayden Yocum dominated with multiple touchdown runs, and the Planets cruised by neighborhood rival Knoch 56-0. Mars looks like on of the WPIAL’s best in Class 4A.
Ridgway led 35-7 at the half, and all it did was tack on one more score in the second half to trip a running clock, beating Moniteau 42-7. The Warriors have lost four straight.
8:58 p.m.: Ross-Glenn connection gets Freeport back into the game
Drew Ross hit Amos Glenn for a 73-yard TD, and the undefeated Yellowjackets have drawn closer to Highlands, trailing 21-14 heading into the fourth quarter, per reporter John Enrietto.
8:55 p.m.: Mars freshman returns interception to the house; North Catholic gets on the board in similar fashion
Within moments of each other, Mars and North Catholic got pick-sixes in the second half.
Freshman Kellan Garvin jumped a Knoch pass at around the 28-yard line and returned it 28 yards for a score to make it 49-0 Planets.
Shortly after, Will Waskiewicz picked off a Central Valley pass and beat CV’s offense down the left sideline for a long interception return, giving the Trojans life as they trail 24-7 midway through the third quarter.
8:50 p.m.: It’s Cole Johnston’s show in Karns City
The QB took another keeper 30 yards to answer a Westinghouse kick return score, dancing around defenders to his third TD run tonight to make it 28-16 in the third quarter.
8:45 p.m.: Adam Gehm hauls in jump ball, gives SV lead
The Raiders have quickly scored 14 straight after Andrew Loebig led another scoring drive that nearly stalled in the red zone. Loebig lofted a pass to the right corner of the end zone, and TE Adam Gehm, a Vanderbilt commit, skied over both defenders for the score. The Raiders tacked on a two-point converstion to take a 22-19 lead.
🏈 Loebig hits Adam Gehm in the corner for 16-yd TD and pair connects again on 2-pt try. Raiders now lead 22-19 w/ 6:13 left in 3Q. @DPyda @TribLiveHSSN @PGVarsityXtra @WPIAL_Insider @Big56Conference @PaFootballNews @mwhiteburgh @CHarlan_Trib @AJWPIAL @wpialsportsnews pic.twitter.com/2aKTMgn3p5
— Seneca Valley Sports (@SV_Sports) October 4, 2025
8:40 p.m.: Cole Johnston takes it in himself again to take lead
Karns City QB Cole Johnston read an RPO defender perfectly as Westinghouse crashed inside hard on the running back, and Johnston took it in himself around the right side 21 yards to put the Gremlins ahead 21-14 in the third quarter.
8:36 p.m.: Seneca Valley turns INT into TD
Andrew Loebig’s INT set up Cayden Parker for a 4-yard run, and SV cut its deficit to 19-14.
🏈 Loebig picks off C-M & Raiders respond w/ Cayden Parker TD & Eisenhut PAT good. Big Macs lead cut to 19-14 w/ 10:20 left in 3Q. @DPyda @TribLiveHSSN @PGVarsityXtra @WPIAL_Insider @Big56Conference @PaFootballNews @mwhiteburgh @CHarlan_Trib @AJWPIAL @wpialsportsnews pic.twitter.com/ia9ErO6hNM
— Seneca Valley Sports (@SV_Sports) October 4, 2025
8:25 p.m.: North Catholic can’t convert last-second chance before halftime
The Trojans finally found themselves in business with 4 seconds left after returning an interception inside the 5-yard line, but Joe Felitsky’s pass on a short in-breaking route was stopped feet short of the goal line as the clock hit zero, and Central Valley holds a 24-0 lead at the half in a bit of a shocking development so far.
8:08 p.m.: Freeport, North Catholic facing deficits
Freeport, one of two remaining area unbeaten teams is down 21-7 at halftime after Highlights’ Tevin Owen Cratsenburg ran from 13 yards out into the end zone with seconds left before halftime.
Owen Cratsenberg has 16 carries for 143 yards and all three Highlands TDs, according to reporter John Enrietto. Freeport’s Amos Glenn has 16 carries for 76 yards.
The Trojans offense, meanwhile, has been uncharacteristically hapless tonight, down 24-0 against Central Valley with about four minutes left in the half.
7:54 p.m.: Hunter Scherer plows into the end zone, Karns City doubles lead; Mars’ Ayden Yocum scores again from 50-plus
The Gremlins methodically drove down the field, and Scherer ended the drive with a 2-yard plunge to make it 14-0.
In other action, University cut Butler’s lead in half on a short TD in the second quarter.
And Mars’ Ayden Yocum broke off another long TD, 56 yards to make it 35-0 in the second. The Planets (5-1) have since extended the lead to 42-0 with a minute before halftime over Knoch. The second half will be played under a running clock if the lead holds.
56yard Touchdown by Ayden Yocum! Knoch 0 - Mars 35. pic.twitter.com/7a12LJ8RPP
— Butler Eagle Sports (@BESportsTeam) October 3, 2025
7:47 p.m.: Mars’ Ayden Yocum reaches 1,000 yards
Yocum, a first-year full-time starter, became the first Butler County running back and one of the first in the WPIAL to reach 1,000 yards on his 51-yard TD in the first quarter, according to the Planets.
He’s coming off consecutive games with at least 240 yards, including a Week 5 performance with more than 300. Only two other backs in the WPIAL, Bentworth’s Ben Hays and Leechburg’s Tim Andrasy, had 1,000 yards before tonight.
“TOUCHDOWN by #4 Ayden Yocum! Mars 14 - Knoch 0🏈 pic.twitter.com/fPfBH4M7wj
— Butler Eagle Sports (@BESportsTeam) October 3, 2025
7:43 p.m.: Moniteau goes deep through the air for first score
Weston Cook connected with Ian Ross on a beauty, an out-breaking route that went 26 yards for a touchdown pass. Moniteau still trails Ridgway 21-7 in the second quarter.
7:40 p.m.: Central Valley drills 49-yard field goal, takes 10-point lead on North Catholic
Warriors kicker Dominic Pratt showed off his big leg, booting a 49-yard field goal with room to spare to put Central Valley up by two scores early. North suffered its first loss last week against Imani Christian and hasn’t gotten much going on offense so far tonight.
7:37 p.m.: Canon-Mac turns SV turnover into points, Freeport trails after 1Q
An Andrew Loebig pass was tipped when the Big Macs blitzed, and the ball was intercepted inside the 20 to give Canon-McMillan a chance to extend its 9-7 lead. One play later, a fad route into the end zone is caught, and the Big Macs are up 16-7.
In other action, Drew Ross hit Chace Flynn for a short TD pass in the middle of the first quarter, but Highlands leads 14-7 over the unbeaten Yellowjackets after a quarter, according to social media reports.
7:25 p.m.: Max Gallagher punches in another on trickier, Ridgway up big on Moniteau, Seneca Valley holds Canon-Mac on two-point conversion
A busy stretch of action in the last few moments. While Butler has stormed out to a 14-0 lead early, Union/A-C Valley is up 14-0 as well after Max Gallagher motioned from the slot to under center, took the handoff and pushed 10 yards into the end zone.
Elsewhere, Seneca Valley gave up a wildcat keeper TD to Canon-McMillan, but the Raiders appeared to intercept the two-point attempt.
Ridgway intercepted a Moniteau pass a few minutes ago, returned it into the red zone and converted the short opportunity a few plays later to make it 21-0.
7:16 p.m.: Karns City’s Cole Johnston trucks his way to early lead
The Gremlins used power football (surprise!) to go up on Westinghouse 7-0 early. Cole Johnston took a QB keeper around the right tackle from 8 yards out, trucking over a defender at the 3 to get into the end zone.
7:12 p.m.: Mars, Union/A-C Valley break open big runs for early scores
Ayden Yocum took a handoff around midfield and went through the teeth of the Knoch defense for a nearly 50-yard touchdown run to put Mars up 7-0 early. That came around the same time Union/A-C Valley, likely with running back Max Gallagher, broke off a 44-yard TD run and converted a two-point conversion over Kane for a 8-0 lead.
Seneca Valley also leads Canon-McMillan early 7-0 after QB Andrew Loebig hit Danny Drennan for a 26-yard score.
Each week the Butler Eagle sports staff will preview everything you need to know ahead of Friday night’s games. Missed anything this week? Catch up with our analysis here:
Week 7 staff picks: Who did Eagle reporters, Scoop predict will win?
Leaderboard: Butler County passing, rushing, receiving and scoring leaders
Standings: WPIAL, District 9 and District 10 standings and schedules
Eye on Sports: Mars HOFer Josh Schultheis on his career, the WPIAL realignment proposal, Week 7 previews
