Butler’s Jude Perhacs, left, fights for possession during a boys soccer game last year at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Perhacs returns this season as a sophomore. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

The fall high school sports season doesn’t consist of just football, but you probably knew that.

The soccer and volleyball in Butler County always has plenty of competitive and entertaining matchups, and this campaign should be no different. Take a look and clear your calendars for these eight clashes.

Karns City head coach Tracy Dailey and her program continued a run of success last season. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle

Eddie Clancy

The Gremlins are a 1A program that will be punching up against a 3A outfit in these meetings.

Karns City coach Tracy Dailey has played a massive part in the program’s sustained success and respects the brand of soccer the Beavers play. Expect “high intensity” sorts of matchups, she said.

The Golden Tornado’s Troy Mohney and Raiders’ George Williams have both formed their soccer programs in their image. Seneca Valley finished as the WPIAL Class 4A runner-up last season and has a good cast back this time around.

If Butler can earn a win in either meeting between these teams, it would go a long way as it hopes to return to the postseason.

Freeport faced Burrell four times last season, including twice in the postseason. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

Matthew Brown

Steve Kukic’s defending WPIAL Class 2A champion Yellowjackets squared off with the Bucs four times last fall. Freeport won the first three — including a clash in the district title game — before bowing to Burrell in the PIAA semifinals.

It’s safe to say this section rivalry means something to both sides.

A short drive down Route 8 separates these two teams, and first-year Planets coach Joe Haefner — a Mars alum — understands the feud.

Making it even more interesting is the fact that the Talbots narrowly beat out the Planets for the WPIAL Section 1-3A crown a season ago. Both of their matchups yielded draws.

The Knights are another team under new direction this campaign, with Mitch Andrews having taken over. Knoch’s non-conference slate includes another Butler County foe, Mars, but this tilt with the Golden Tornado is intriguing.

Butler resides two classifications up from the Knights. A hard-fought contest could help new-look Knoch gain some confidence entering the back half of its section schedule.

North Catholic coach Amanda Fetter talks to her team during a girls volleyball game against Mars last year. The two programs are section foes now. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle

JJ LaBella

With girls volleyball expanding to six classes, Amanda Fetter’s Trojanettes opted to play in Class 5A, and were stuck in the same grouping Tami Carraway’s Planets are in. Both programs have been extremely successful and have their fair share of championship hardware.

Now they have to go through one another.

Butler Junior Raina Lewandowski (23) spikes the ball in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, at Butler High School. Eddie Clancy/Butler Eagle

Eddie Clancy

Now in their second year under Halee McCance, the Golden Tornado will have to scratch and claw in a highly-competitive Class 6A batch. Seven of the nine teams will reach the postseason.

Brett Poirier’s Raiders will also be trying to make sure they’re not one of the two left behind.

Butler made the WPIAL playoffs a season ago, but this encounter with the Rams should say a lot about the Golden Tornado in 2026.

“True measuring stick of the progress we’re hoping to make, coming off two losses against them last year,” Golden Tornado coach Dan Buzzard said.