PIAA high school football Week 9: Final scores, highlights, recaps from Butler, Mars, Union/A-C Valley, more
Two teams are trying to keep the good vibes going in historic seasons tonight, as Butler aims for an 8-1 start and Union/A-C Valley seeks to remain undefeated against Port Allegany in District 9’s game of the year.
Can they? Butler vs. Wheeling Park and Falcon Knights vs. Gators should be two of the most competitive games in the Week 9 slate.
The Eagle will be at four games this week — Wheeling Park at Butler (John Enrietto), Hampton at Mars (Derek Pyda), Avonworth at North Catholic (Brendan Howe) and Kane at Moniteau (William Pitts). 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 9.
Refresh this page throughout the night for all our recaps, photo galleries and coverage from Friday night’s football games.
Nicco Baggetta nearly leads comeback, twice, but Butler falls to Wheeling Park
Brendin Sankey hauls in long TD pass, but Kane spoils Moniteau’s home finale
Ethan Kresinski takes center stage as Mars routs Hampton to clinch playoff berth
North Catholic stymied by Avonworth’s Wildcat attack, defense in blowout
ROUNDUP: Karns City hands Punxsy first loss; Union/A-C Valley falls from ranks of the unbeaten
Check back regularly for the latest in-game scores as they’re reported on social media.
Friday, Oct. 17
FINAL — Wheeling Park 20, Butler 13 (Televised on Armstrong 204; WBUT radio)
FINAL — Freeport 49, East Allegheny 19 (NFHS, requires subscription)
FINAL — Karns City 35, Punxsutawney 23 (YouTube)
FINAL — West Mifflin 41, Knoch 16 (Hudl, WISR radio)
FINAL — Mars 49, Hampton 10 (Hudl)
FINAL — Kane 38, Moniteau 7 (Hudl)
FINAL — Avonworth 42, North Catholic 10 (YouTube)
FINAL — Central Catholic 48, Seneca Valley 6 (Televised on Armstrong 208)
FINAL — Hickory 42, Slippery Rock 14 (Facebook; Hudl; FridayNightPA, audio only; 96.7FM radio)
FINAL — Port Allegany 35, Union/A-C Valley 7 (YouTube)
Saturday, Oct. 18
12:30 — Neshannock at Summit Academy (Hudl)
Refresh this page for more updates throughout the evening.
9:53 p.m.: Karns City pulls off the victory
There’s no second-half swoon this time. The Gremlins trekked to the land of Punxsutawney Phil and handed the Chucks their first loss of the season 35-23. Karns City improves to 7-2 as the District 9 playoffs, where the Gremlins hope to win another title, loom in two weeks.
In WPIAL action, Knoch fell to 0-9 after a loss to West Mifflin 41-16.
9:42 p.m.: Karns City looks like it’ll hold on to beat Punxsutawney
A questionable intentional grounding call on Punxsutawney’s QB forced a fourth-and-long, and the Gremlins intercepted the next pass, a deep ball, to all but lock this game up with 3:44 left. Barring disaster, Karns City will beat the Chucks, handing them their first loss of the season 35-23.
9:36 p.m.: Karns City converts PAT, less than 6 minutes to play
Punxsutawney will get the ball back after play resumed. The Gremlins lead 35-23 after kicking the PAT. This would be the Chucks’ first loss of the season.
9:28 p.m.: Cart called out for Punxsutawney player after touchdown
The Karns City-Punxsy game is delayed as a Chucks player is tended to. Trainers have brought out a cart. He was moving his legs after rolling to the ground following Scherer’s TD run.
The game will resume at some point with a PAT.
9:24 p.m.: Hunter Scherer scores his third, puts KC back up two scores
The Gremlins got their third TD from Scherer, this a 1-yard plunge, and lead 34-23. The PAT is pending after an injury to a Punxsutawney player.
9:22 p.m.: North Catholic, Moniteau lose in blowouts
Kane 38, Moniteau 7. The Warriors fall to 3-6. And Avonworth 42, North Catholic. The Trojans fall to 6-3.
9:18 p.m.: Butler falls to Wheeling Park, Mars cruises to win
The Tornado had two late chances to take the lead and couldn’t make it happen, suffering just their second loss this season 20-13 to Wheeling Park. It’s their home finale, with the regular season finale at Clarion University against Central Clarion.
Meanwhile, Mars had no problems against Hampton, cruising to a 49-10 victory.
More on both games coming later tonight.
9:12 p.m.: Butler forces the punt, has one last chance
Nicco Baggetta took a QB keeper up the gut and stepped out of bounds after 11 yards and crossing midfield with about 2 minutes to go. Butler has one more chance to tie or win this game down 20-13. The Tornado forced a crucial punt on Wheeling Park’s last drive.
9:08 p.m.: Meanwhile, in Punxsutawney ...
Spoke to soon. Karns City got the ball after holding the Chucks to a third field goal tonight, but Cole Johnston took a nearly 20-yard sack, forcing a Karns City punt. And Punxsy made the most of it after a short punt, scoring on a crisp pass to make it 28-23 Karns City late in the third quarter.
9:06 p.m.: Butler converts critical fourth down, then stalls on penalties
A promising opportunity comes up empty at Art Bernardi Stadium. After Pino’s interception and a huge fourth-down conversion to the 5-yard line, Butler commites multiple penalties to force a fourth-and-goal at the 22. Nicco Baggetta could only scramble for a few yards before turning it over on downs.
Butler must force a stop with about 4 minutes left to play.
9:00 p.m.: Tyson Pino sets up Butler with chance to score
Tyson Pino picked off a Wheeling Park pass and returned it past midfield, and the Tornado got an impressive reception shortly after. Midway through the fourth quarter, Butler faces a fourth down.
8:55 p.m.: Gators seal battle of unbeatens with interceptions
This will be a tough one for Union/A-C Valley, which will suffer its first loss against defending District 9 Class 1A champ Port Allegany. The Gators iced it with a tipped pass and interception with the Falcon Knights threatening in the red zone inside 2 minutes to go. And that will do it. UACV falls to 8-1.
8:52 p.m.: Avonworth running away from North Catholic; Mars doing the same to Hampton
It’s been tough sledding in recent weeks for North Catholic, which now finds itself down 35-3 late in the third quarter after the Antelopes broke off a big run a minute ago.
On the flipside, Mars is pouring it on against Hampton, leading 49-10 with a running clock late in the third.
8:50 p.m.: Hunter Scherer tacks on another to extend Karns City lead
Still early in the half, but the Gremlins appear to not be suffering from a second-half letdown like the last time in this matchup. Hunter Scherer took a classic fullback dive from the 1-yard line, improvised past a defender who broke through the line and plunged in to make it 28-13 KC over Punxsutawney.
8:46 p.m.: Nicco Baggetta ignites Butler with long run
So much for my last post (see below). The Tornado are back in this after QB Nicco Baggetta exploded for a big run of 64 yards into the end zone, returning the deficit against Wheeling Park to one score, 20-13.
(Adding as of 8:53 p.m.) Per John Enrietto, the previous Wheeling Park drive lasted 13 plays, all runs.
8:43 p.m.: Butler, Union/A-C Valley falling behind in third quarter
The Tornado have been unable to sustain drives much of the night against the team from south of the Mason-Dixon Line. And the Patriots finally made them pay to go up 20-7 late in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the Falcon Knights are at risk of getting into running-clock territory as they trail Pot Allegany 35-7. The Gators scored on a punt return and a short run, and it’s already the fourth quarter.
8:24 p.m.: First-half stats from Avonworth-North Catholic
It hasn’t been good for the Trojans, who trail 28-0. Here are the halftime stats, according to reporter Brendan Howe:
Avonworth: WR Luca Neal — 8 car., 210 yds., 3 TDs; 4 rec., 59 yds. QB Carson Bellinger — 6/10, 113 yds.
N. Cath.: QB Joe Felitsky — 3/9, 37 yds. RB Logan Schade — 4 car., 13 yds.
8:12 p.m.: Bad break for Falcon Knights to start second half
Port Allegany turned a short punt into a return TD on a weaving run, making it 21-7 after a successful two-point conversion. Just 1:24 has passed in the third quarter.
8:10 p.m.: Karns City drives quickly, goes up 8 before halftime
It looks like Owen Heginbotham punched in a short run for a TD after Cole Johnston threw a bomb that was caught on the left sideline at the 2-yard line. The Heginbotham plunge puts Karns City up 21-13 with 38 seconds left before halftime.
8:07 p.m.: First-half stats from Butler-Wheeling Park
Per reporter John Enrietto: Butler has just 82 net yards, with RB Mark Klemz struggling to gain any ground with 8 yards on seven carries. Isaac Sands has TD runs of 4 and 24 yards for the Patriots.
7:59 p.m.: Wheeling Park stumbles before halftime against Butler; Karns City holds again
A mistake-prone final drive prevented Wheeling Park from extending its lead over Butler, and instead the Golden Tornado head into the locker room feeling lucky it’s just 14-7. WP got inside the red zone but couldn’t score.
Meanwhile, Karns City’s defense has now held Punxsy twice to field goals. The latest makes it 14-13 KC with 1:37 to go. The Gremlins can try to drive down the field here and extend their lead.
7:53 p.m.: Seneca Valley keeping it close on Cayden Park’s run
Central Catholic was a heavy favorite going into this one, but the Raiders are making it interesting early. RB Cayden Parker drove in from 3 yards out to make it 6-6 after the PAT was blocked. But the Vikings answered quickly on a 50-yard run to make it 13-6.
🏈From Wildcat formation Cayden Parker barrels in from the 3-yd line. PAT blocked. We are tied 6-6 w/ 5:57 left in half. @DPyda @PGVarsityXtra @WPIAL_Insider @Big56Conference @PaFootballNews @mwhiteburgh @CHarlan_Trib @AJWPIAL @wpialsportsnews pic.twitter.com/217qHK42gk
— Seneca Valley Sports (@SV_Sports) October 17, 2025
7:51 p.m.: Hunter Scherer puts Karns City back on top; Moniteau trailing by three scores
Hunter Scherer took a handoff through a gaping hole on the left side of the line for a 10-yard TD. The Gremlins lead Punxsutawney 14-10 with 5 minutes left in the half.
A nearby rival, Moniteau’s quest for a fourth win this season is not looking good. Kane leads 22-0 as it’s been able to cut short any Warriors drive.
7:45 p.m.: Gators take advantage, take lead on QB keeper
Port Allegany will likely take a 13-7 lead into halftime over Union/A-C Valley unless the Falcon Knights can score with 39 seconds left. The Gators drove quickly on two big plays, got to about the 1-yard line and punched it in. The PAT looked like it was kicked low into the offensive line.
7:38 p.m.: Union/A-C Valley misses potential go-ahead field goal
Port Allegany drove down the field in the second quarter and scored to tie it 7-7 and now has a chance to drive a little more quickly and take its first lead with 2:51 left in the first half after the Falcon Knights also marched down the field, only to miss a short field goal from inside the 10-yard line.
7:35 p.m.: Gabe Hein takes off, extends Mars’ lead over Hampton
The Sacred Heart commit took a wildcat snap through the left A-gap and broke free for a 69-yard TD run to make it 21-3. The Planets are trying to rebound after a big loss to McKeesport last week and are on the way early.
7:29 p.m.: Seneca Valley blocks PAT against Central Catholic
The Raiders are underdogs against Pittsburgh Central Catholic, but they did get a small win early with a blocked PAT to hold the Vikings to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.
7:25 p.m.: Nicco Baggetta puts Butler ahead; Port Allegany ties it up
Butler has the early edge as it seeks an 8-1 start thanks to a 21-yard scoring run from QB Nicco Baggetta.
And defending D9 Class 1A champion Port Allegany has tied it up 7-7 early in the second quarter on a short TD run.
7:16 p.m.: Union/A-C Valley takes early lead against Port Allegany
Second time’s the charm. Logan Skibinski split the Gators’ interior defense and ran about 20 yards for the opening score of the “District 9 Game of the Year” (trademark: Derek Pyda). The Falcon Knights lead 7-0 on the road.
7:11 p.m.: Ayden Yocum draws first blood for Mars; Falcon Knights threatening after turnover on downs
Mars drove 65 yards in four plays, capped by a 10-yard Ayden Yocum run to go up 7-0 on Hampton. The Planets (6-2) scored just 1:26 into the game.
And the Falcon Knights, in an early defensive battle, were gifted great field position after the Gators fumbled the snap on a pump and gave the ball up inside their own 40.
7:07 p.m.: Karns City jumps on top early over Punxsutawney
Owen Heginbotham took an early handoff about 80 yards for the opening score at Punxsutawney, giving the Gremlins a 7-0 lead. Karns City held a 19-0 lead in the first meeting earlier this season before falling 22-0. It’s hoping for a differnt outcome this time.
Union/A-C Valley and Port Allegany have exchanged early drives with no points about six minutes into the game. It’s a battle of 8-0 teams and should decide the No. 1 seed in District 9 Class 1A.
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 9 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: Seneca Valley hockey stars join the show, Week 9 predictions, is Penn State "mediocre!?"
