PA football Week 1 WPIAL, high school updates: Scores, highlights from Butler, Karns City-Moniteau, Mars-SV and more
Here at last.
The 2026 PIAA football season is here at last. Eleven Butler County teams kick off tonight at 7 p.m., and the Butler Eagle will have you covered all night with the latest scores, highlights and analysis.
Eagle reporters will be at four games tonight — Shaler at Butler (John Enrietto), Karns City at Moniteau (William Pitts), Seneca Valley at Mars (Brendan Howe) and Summit Academy at Knoch (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.
If you still want to get caught up on every team ahead of the season, check below for our 2026 previews — including for soccer, volleyball and more.
Bookmark this page for the latest from Week 1.
Refresh this page throughout the night for all our recaps, photo galleries and coverage from Friday night’s football games.
Butler goes to the dagger to complete epic comeback win over Shaler
Cole Johnston takes center stage as Karns City routs rival Moniteau
Knoch ends losing streak with explosive performance against Summit Academy
Seneca Valley newest playmaker shines in win over neighboring Mars
Roundup: Freeport, Union/A-C Valley’s new-look offenses impress in wins
Check back regularly for the latest in-game scores as they’re reported on social media.
Friday, Aug. 28
FINAL — Butler 17, Shaler 14
FINAL — Freeport 22, Indiana 0
FINAL — Karns City 55, Moniteau 0
FINAL — Knoch 71, Summit Academy 8
FINAL — Seton LaSalle 48, North Catholic 32
FINAL — Seneca Valley 27, Mars 14
FINAL — Wilmington 55, Slippery Rock 13
FINAL — Union/A-C Valley 27, Brookville 7
Follow along here for updates and highlights from tonight’s games, starting around kickoff at 7 p.m.
9:56 p.m.: That’s a wrap on Week 1
Our late games are over, as Seneca Valley finishes off Mars 27-14 and Seton LaSalle cruises past North Catholic 48-32.
Our staff will have more shortly from all of these games. And we’ll post those recaps above.
9:39 p.m.: Butler completes the comeback and starts 1-0
John Enrietto will have the recap from this one in a bit, but listening to the radio feed from the game, that was a pretty crazy second-half comeback by Eric Christy’s crew to win 17-14 over Shaler. Butler scored twice late after trailing 14-3.
9:36 p.m.: Wilmington blasts Rockets in second half
It looked really good for Slippery Rock in the first half, but there will be work to be done after giving up 48 points in the second half on a series of turnovers and broken defensive plays, from what I could glimpse on the broadcast. Wilmington wins 55-13.
That comes a few minutes after Union/A-C Valley wins commandingly 27-7 over Brookville.
9:29 p.m.: Knoch destroys Summit to end long losing streak
That’s a heckuva way to start the season after going 0-10 nine months prior. Knoch lapped Summit Academy 71-8, and by the records I have in the office, I believe that’s the program record for most points. Knoch had scored 70 in a win over Kittanning in 2011.
Derek Pyda will have the recap from that one in a bit. Big win to start the season.
Post script: Knoch radio confirms it’s a program record.
9:20 p.m.: Butler takes the lead on huge punt return; Seneca Valley in control
Deacon Simko returned a Shaler punt 42 yards, and the WBUT broadcast exploded in my ear bud. Then Nicco Baggetta hit Jacob Kollinger for two to make it 17-14. Big comeback for the Golden Tornado in front of their home crowd.
A little farther south, Seneca Valley is pulling away now after turnovers and now a punt return TD to make it 27-7. Mars answered with a long TD pass to make it 27-14, but this second half has been all Raiders.
9:09 p.m.: Butler back in business
A little trickeration from the Tornado? Not quite, but Nicco Baggetta split out wide, and the guy he competed against in camp for QB1 duties, junior Will Dunaway, throws him an 18-yard pass to make it 14-9 Shaler. Butler can’t convert the two-point conversion, so it still needs a TD.
9:05 p.m.: Mars in business after interception
Turned my head to the left just in time to see the Planets pick off Jamen Alwine deep in Raiders territory. This is a big opportunity for Mars down 13-7.
9:02 p.m.: Man, oh, man Karns City
Well, we thought Moniteau would make this a closer game in Year 2 under Clay Kohlmeyer, but Cole Johnston and the Gremlins said “not so fast.” KC thumps rival Moniteau 55-0 to open its District 9 title defense. That’s our first final score of the season.
8:59 p.m.: Freeport slowly pulling away in this one
A 15-ish-yard run bounced outside to the left gives the Yellowjackets a 22-0 lead over Indiana. I haven’t said much tonight about Freeport, but with new QB Danny King and RB Braydon Pomaybo, it is certainly off to a strong start this year.
8:55 p.m.: Big fourth-down stop for Butler
The Tornado are on their heels, but perhaps a huge stop by DB Charlie Rodgers backed up against their own end zone to force a turnover on downs will turn things around. Nicco Baggetta then popped a big gain with his legs early on the next possession.
Butler trails 14-3 still, but there’s still plenty of time.
8:43 p.m.: Let’s look up north for a minute
Union/A-C Valley’s offense struggled early to get things going early but has found a grove. The Falcon Knights are now up 21-7 early third quarter on a 60-yard TD run from Parker Bish, who is taking over lead back duties this year.
Slippery Rock, meanwhile, is in a hole after looking good in the first half. A TD run and now a sack-fumble recovered by Wilmington and returned to the end zone has the Rockets down 27-13 mid-3Q.
8:31 p.m.: Butler without key WR/CB rest of the game
According to WBUT’s Tyler Friel (hat tip to our Media Day buddies over there), the Tornado’s Nash Cuffman is on crutches and out for the rest of the game. That’s a HUGE loss for this passing game. He and Deacon Simko were the two sure things at the skill positions coming into 2026, and now they’ll have to make hay without him at least for tonight.
8:24 p.m.: 3 first-half observations from Central Command
I’ve got five games streaming on two computers and Butler’s on the TV in the newsroom. So following everything in detail is difficult, but here’s what’s stood out so far.
1. I’ve underestimated Slippery Rock early so far. The Rockets’ passing game has been impressive based on the stats (see below), and they methodically erased a 7-0 deficit to lead 13-7. Good start for first-year coach Steve Monteleone.
2. Knoch ... wow. We expected Knoch to win this battle of the Knights, and we expected Knoch to be better this year, but 56-0 is a REALLY good sign. T.J. Wiley’s offense scored just 66 points all of last season. The running clock might prevent them from reaching that mark tonight, but that is one heckuva start to Year 2.
3. Mars-Seneca Valley is everything I hoped it would be. Two of the biggest schools in Butler County facing off for the first time in 56 years, and both teams looking to answer some early questions. The Raiders lead 13-7 at the half, but it’s been tight most of the game. The Planets got a splash play from the passing game early, but the Raiders’ offense has looked capable tonight with a bunch of new weapons.
8:01 p.m.: Slippery Rock takes halftime lead
Petras lookin’ good for the Rockets early. He’s 11 of 12 for 142 yards and a 21-yard tocuhdown to Logan Schlobohm with 8 seconds left in the half, according to Ryan Briggs. Slippery Rock has erased an early 7-0 deficit with consecutive field goals and the TD pass to lead 13-7 at the half.
7:53 p.m.: Wild moments for Butler, Karns City ... and for different reasons
Going to back up a moment. Here’s from reporter William Pitts:
There was a bizarre sequence that occurred a few minutes ago. It appeared that Cole Johnston had scored a touchdown for KC to make it 27-0 in the 2nd quarter. But then there was a combination of penalties to push them all the way back to their own 18. 40 yards of penalties, including unsportsmanlike conduct. On the next play, Johnston threw an 82-yard TD. That one counted.
And then on Butler’s first chance to reply to Shaler’s opening TD, Calil Forbes picked off a pass and returned it 60 yards to put Shaler up 14-3. Huge swing against Butler in just a few seconds.
7:50 p.m.: Butler trails for first time
Braedyn Witkowski’s 63-yard grab puts Shaler ahead 7-3 in the second.
7:48 p.m.: Knoch pouring it on, so is Karns City and Freeport holds lead
DeFelice has his THIRD touchdown of the night, this one a 53-yard punt return in the first minutes of the second quarter to give Knoch a 35-0 lead over Summit. That came barely two minutes after an 83-yard Ethan Rouleau touchdown run.
Freeport’s holding onto a 6-0 lead in the second quarter.
And Karns City is putting Moniteau away with a 28-0 lead in the middle of the second quarter.
7:31 p.m.: Seneca Valley takes lead on Mars
Raiders QB Jamen Alwine hit Rory O’Shea for a 21-yard touchdown in the middle of the first quarter, and SV takes a 7-0 lead into the second quarter, per reporter Brendan Howe.
7:23 p.m.: Knoch expands lead in first quarter
Make it 21-0 Knoch over Summit Academy right now. Max Wiley has two touchdown passes after hitting Roman DeFelice for 8 yards and Ashton Mosby for 43 yards on a flip pass. Not even 8 minutes had passed.
In some other action I’m seeing, Karns City is up big on Moniteau 14-0 right now.
7:07 p.m.: Butler takes early lead over Shaler
The Golden Tornado are on the board first. AJ Morris drills a 29-yard field goal to put them up 3-0 early.
Butler is coming off its best season since I was a toddler, a 7-3 run in 2025 that had the team considering a return to the WPIAL. It is independent again for the next two seasons, but Butler returns a bevy of talent at QB and WR/DB. Can the lines come together quick enough to put together another big season and maintain the program’s momentum?
7:05 p.m.: Knoch starts off season with a bang
And just like that, Knoch leads Summit Academy 7-0 1:41 into the game. Roman DeFelice returned SA’s punt 42 yards for a touchdown.
After a well-documented 0-10 season under first-year head coach T.J. Wiley, that is an excellent start to the 2026 campaign.
7:04 p.m.: Obligatory team entrance video
Here we go!
🏈 We are minutes away from kicking off the ‘26 Raider Football season! Let’s go SV! @DPyda @TribLiveHSSN @PGVarsityXtra @WPIAL_Insider @AJWPIAL @Big56Conference @PaFootballNews @mwhiteburgh pic.twitter.com/lhACnJxOCQ
— Seneca Valley Sports (@SV_Sports) August 28, 2026
6:45 p.m.: Time for the coin toss, ready for kickoff!
Happy football season! Jake Merda Adams back again for the 2026 season. Let’s dig in. We’ve got four reporters at four games tonight, including three intracounty battles we’re pumped for.
It’s a beautiful night for football. A little muggy, but cool. Everyone is unbeaten.
I’m going to be updating scores, providing updates and watching some of the livestreams (above) to bring you all the big news you need to know if you can’t be there or just want to follow along while in the stands.
Brendan Howe is at just the third meeting (and first since 1970) between Seneca Valley and Mars.
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 1 staff picks: Who did Eagle reporters, Scoop predict will win?
Standings: WPIAL, District 9 and District 10 standings and schedules
Eye on Sports: LIVE from Mars Football! Season Opener Prep + Our Week 1 Predictions
