WPIAL, PIAA football playoffs final scores, recaps from Karns City-Farrell, North Catholic-Avonworth
And then there were two.
Karns City and North Catholic are the last two Butler County teams standing in the 2025 WPIAL and PIAA playoffs. And their paths forward are only getting harder.
The Butler Eagle will be at both games Friday night — Farrell at Karns City (Derek Pyda) and North Catholic vs. Avonworth (Brendan Howe). 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 playoff scores and highlights.
PIAA first round: Nebraska commit, Farrell star Juelz Johnson too much in the end for Karns City
WPIAL semifinals: North Catholic can’t pull of upset despite early push against Antelopes
Check back regularly for the latest in-game scores as they’re reported on social media.
Friday, Nov. 14
FINAL — WPIAL 3A semifinal: Avonworth 44, North Catholic 24 (NFHS, requires subscription)
FINAL — PIAA 2A first round: Farrell 48, Karns City 20 (Sports Radio 96.7 Facebook; 790 WPIC radio stream)
Refresh this page for more updates throughout the evening.
9:29 p.m.: That’s a wrap on the 2025 Butler County football season
Farrell beats Karns City 48-20, and Avonworth beats North Catholic 44-24 to close out our high school football season.
Game recaps and photos will be posted shortly tonight, so be sure to check butlereagle.com/section/sports over the next two hours for the final coverage of the season.
Our Butler Eagle Sweet 16 offense and defense teams will be released in early December.
Thank you for following along with these live blogs all season.
9:25 p.m.: North Catholic gets another TD late
Joe Felitsky hit Will Waskiewicz with less than four minutes to go for a 22-yard TD, cutting Avonworth’s lead to 44-24.
9:15 p.m.: Logan Schade, Hunter Scherer’s TD runs a positive note late
The standout Trojans running back broke off a 78-yard run for a score. NC trails 44-17 with seven minutes to play.
Minutes after that, Karns City’s Hunter Scherer scored on a short run to make 48-20 with six minutes left.
9:11 p.m.: Final minutes ticking away on Karns City, North Catholic seasons
It’s not how either team wants to go out, but the Gremlins and Trojans lasted the longest of any Butler County teams in the playoffs. Both overcame some struggles and different points in the season before rounding into form in the postseason.
Karns City did so with its typical ground-and-pound offense, although QB Cole Johnston showed he has improved as a passer in just his second season while providing plenty of production with his legs.
North’s offense was the most explosive in the county all season, filled with multiple game-breaking receivers, a dangerous running back and a quarterback in Joe Felitsky who did a great job all year keeping everyone involved.
When our Sweet 16 offense and defense all-stars are announced next month, both teams will be heavily represented.
9:01 p.m.: Karns City commits intentional grounding, gives up two more points
More mistakes from the Gremlins, who are now down 42-13 after an intentional grounding penalty results in a safety.
8:55 p.m.: Juelz Jones scores for fourth time, putting Farrell nearly out of reach of Karns City
It’s 40-13 now, Steelers, with less than a minute to go in the third quarter after Jones scored his fourth TD of the night, this time on the ground.
North Catholic is faring no better after Carson Bellinger hit Jaden Jones for a 54-yard TD pass, putting Avonworth up 44-10 mid-third (PAT no good).
8:48 p.m.: Kick return TD and fourth INT has dug Gremlins deeper hole
Juelz Johnson responded to Karns City’s TD with a kick-return touchdown, and then Cole Johnston threw his fourth pick of the night to set Farrell up with a chance to score again, already up 32-13 with four minutes left in the third quarter.
8:39 p.m.: Karns City answers with all-important touchdown
A 35-or-so-yard run by QB Cole Johnston set up a short Gremlins touchdown plunge, and Karns City isn’t done yet.
8:32 p.m.: Farrell opens second half with another touchdown drive
Not what the doctor ordered. Karns City attempted a surprise onside kick but didn’t succeed, and the Steelers once again took the opportunity to extend their lead to 26-7 on a long Juelz Johnson TD reception on a little sideline route. To KC’s credit, it has stopped three straight two-point conversions.
8:17 p.m.: Where possible upcoming matchups stand
The winner of Karns City-Farrell will play the winner of Bishop McCort-Richland next week in the state quarterfinals. But that game will be held 7 p.m. Saturday night in Altoona.
The winner of North Catholic-Avonworth gets the winner of Imani Christian-Central Valley next week in the WPIAL final. Imani is blowing out Central Valley 36-0 at halftime.
8:15 p.m.: North Catholic trails big at halftime after late INT
Jaden Jones picked off a Trojans pass with 55 seconds left in the half, and Avonworth converted the turnover into a 40-yard field goal by Calder Mahan to make it 38-10 over the Trojans at halftime. One more Antelopes TD, and the game is in a running clock.
8:04 p.m.: Karns City heads into halftime down two scores
Cole Johnston threw his third INT of the half, this one on a last-second Hail Mary effort that was picked at the goal line, to end the first half. Turnovers have cost Karns City early, and Farrell hasn’t failed to capitalize on each mistake so far. Gremlins will need to clean that up to get back in this and try to make the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals.
8:03 p.m.: Avonworth tacks on more on Velisaris’ latest TD
Dimitri Velisaris scored his third TD of the night, an 8-yarder, to make it 35-10 Avonworth. Things are not looking good for North in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals.
7:56 p.m.: Avonworth, Farrell score again after stopping North Catholic, Karns City quickly
KC’s latest turnover led to a short Farrell touchdown pass (two-point conversion no good) with a few minutes left before halftime. The Steelers are up 20-7.
A bad NC punt gave Avonworth good field position, and Dimitri Velisaris capitalized with a 25-yard run to the end zone to make it 28-10 over the Trojans.
7:51 p.m.: Uh oh, Karns City is in trouble
Cole Johnston threw his second pick of the game, once again to Farrell DB Dorean Cain, who caught the ball when Johnston tried to hit a receiver deep at the Farrell 40 and returned it to midfield. Farrell can extend its 14-7 lead her before halftime with less than four minutes left.
7:44 p.m.: Luca Neal off to fast start against North Catholic
Avonworth extended its lead after star Neal ran for his second TD of the night from 32 yards out. The Antelopes lead the Trojans 21-10 two minutes into the second quarter.
7:37 p.m.: Farrell makes KC pay for early turnover, extends lead
The Steelers took over on an interception at the end of the first quarter, then quickly drove about 60 yards and punched in a second touchdown, on the ground, to take a 14-7 lead. Farrell goes for two-point conversions often, and this one was no good.
7:33 p.m.: Karns City still down after first quarter, interception
The Gremlins turned the ball over on their second drive on a Cole Johnston interception, and Farrell is threatening to score and extend its lead.
7:29 p.m.: North Catholic behind quickly against Avonworth
The Antelopes are 2 for 2 on their opening drives, leading the Trojans 14-7 in the first quarter. Avonworth drove 80 yards on seven plays and scored on Luca Neal’s 8-yard run, then capitalized on a bad snap on fourth-and-1 over North QB Joe Felitsky’s head that gave Avonworth the ball at the 9, scoring two plays later.
Felitsky did lead a response after that, connecting with Will Waskiewicz for a 65-yard TD pass.
7:17 p.m.: Farrell answers with own quick score to take lead
It took a little more than three minutes for the Steelers to match the Gremlins’ opening TD and raise it a two-point conversion. It’s 8-7 Farrell with about three minutes left in the first quarter.
7:10 p.m.: Karns City marches down field, scores to start game
The quintessential Gremlins drive to open against Farrell. Great start by Karns City, which steadily marches the length of the field in a little over five minutes and scored on QB Cole Johnston’s 18th rushing TD of the year from about 7 yards out.
KC had to convert a fourth down to keep the drive going.
7:02 p.m.: We’re under way!
Karns City has the ball to start its PIAA first-round playoff game against Farrell, and we’re underway for the start of the state championships. The Gremlins are going up against one of the top-ranked teams in Class 2A in the state, hoping to pull off the upset.
North Catholic (no free livestream tonight) has an even tougher challenge against WPIAL Class 3A favorite Avonworth.
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 13 staff picks: Who did Eagle reporters, Scoop predict will win?
Playoff brackets: Every matchup, round from WPIAL and District 9 tournaments
Eye on Sports: Can Karns City And North Catholic Win Again? Basketball Media Day Highlights, Steelers Looked Bad.
