Week 3 PA football picks: Can Moniteau get first win? Butler, Karns City, Knoch eye 3-0 starts
Some teams are starting to separate themselves in the early going.
Butler, Knoch, Karns City and Freeport all improved to 2-0 last week, and Seneca Valley sits at 1-0. But other teams, like Moniteau and Mars, are looking to dig out of early slumps.
Who will get the job done in Week 3 of the PIAA football season?
We’ve got our picks for all of this week’s games below, including analysis for a handful of the matchups. Follow along at butlereagle.com Friday for live updates, scores and highlights from every game.
Derek Pyda — 16-2 (8-2 last week)
Scoop — 15-3 (9-1)
Jake Merda Adams — 14-4 (9-1)
Former Eagle sports reporter Brendan Howe finished with a record of 12-6 in two weeks.
All games are Friday night unless otherwise indicated.
Butler at Meadville, 7
Merda Adams — The Bulldogs have scored just 17 points this season and have lost by double digits in the last three meetings between these teams. Jake Kollinger has given the Tornado (2-0) a solid two-way player with 13 tackles on defense and 166 yards and three touchdowns rushing. Butler 41-14
Pyda — In losses to Oil City and Erie, Meadville’s offense struggled to find consistency. I like Jake Kollinger, Will Dunaway and Co. to score too many points for the Bulldogs to handle. Butler 30-10
Scoop — The Bulldogs seem to be more bark than bite in the early going. Butler 28-7
Apollo-Ridge at Freeport, 7
Merda Adams — I don’t think the Yellowjackets (2-0) are going to get three touchdowns directly and indirectly off punt miscues again, but the defense is proving stout and faces a solid passing game that has two receivers in Gage Wingard and Logen Schrock who already have more than 300 combine yards. Freeport 28-21
Pyda — The Vikings have scored 84 points through two games, but they haven’t faced Freeport’s more-than-stingy defense. Freeport 24-8
Scoop — Apollo-Ridge will carry a 2-0 record and high-flying offense into Freeport Stadium. It will leave licking its wounds. Freeport 23-10
Karns City at Punxsutawney, 7
Merda Adams — Finally, a game with some stakes. The Gremlins (2-0) have to stop an explosive offense led by QB Teeg Hetrick (six passing TDs) and running back Zach Blews (five rushing TDs). I think Cole Johnston will do plenty against this team. Karns City 35-24
Pyda — Punxsutawney has defeated two weak opponents (Bradford and Brookville). The Gremlins will drop the hammer on the Chucks. Karns City 31-13
Scoop — Karns City can beat you on the ground and through the air. It will find success with both on the road. Karns City 27-17
Moniteau at Lakeview, 7
Merda Adams — I have no recent matchups to draw on for this one. The Warriors (0-2) will be challenged by a Sailors passing game that produced four TDs in a Week 1 blowout win over Union City but then was silenced by Farrell. Moniteau 20-15
Pyda — The Warriors will be competitive this week, but the Sailors’ passing game will be the difference. Lakeview 27-20
Scoop — I’m still waiting for the Warriors to show life on offense. They will look better this week, but will return home with a 0-3 record. Lakeview 33-18
Titusville at Slippery Rock, 7
Merda Adams — Color me impressed by these Rockets (1-1). They blasted Conneaut. Aiden Shay became the first local RB to hit 200 yards this season. Now it’s time to repeat it against another Rockets team. Slippery Rock 34-26
Pyda — In a battle of Rockets, Slippery Rock will have more fuel to burn. Slippery Rock 38-12
Scoop — Slippery Rock’s front is good, but I wasn’t sure which skill players would be able to benefit from it. Nice to meet you, Aiden Shay. Slippery Rock 37-7
Knoch at Ambridge, 7
Merda Adams — Knoch 27-20
Pyda — Knoch 26-13
Scoop — Knoch 24-6
Chartiers Valley at Mars, 7
Merda Adams — Mars 37-13
Pyda — Mars 29-26
Scoop — Mars 31-14
North Catholic at New Castle, 7
Merda Adams — North Catholic 40-28
Pyda — North Catholic 30-19
Scoop — North Catholic 35-16
Penn Hills at Seneca Valley, 7
Merda Adams — Seneca Valley 34-22
Pyda — Seneca Valley 25-16
Scoop — Seneca Valley 20-17
Union/A-C Valley at Redbank Valley, 7
Merda Adams — Redbank Valley 27-21
Pyda — Union/A-C Valley 22-20
Scoop — Redbank Valley 34-13
Summit Academy at Sto-Rox, 7
Merda Adams — Sto-Rox 29-8
Pyda — Sto-Rox 24-14
Scoop — Sto-Rox 19-0
