PA football Week 5 final scores: Recaps, highlights, more Butler, Karns City, Knoch at Freeport and the rest
Knoch and Freeport will face off tonight looking to bounce back from difficult losses, with plenty at stake in the section and for the WPIAL playoffs.
The intra-Butler County matchup headlines the local PIAA football slate for Week 5, while Butler, Karns City, Mars, Moniteau and Seneca Valley are all home with big matchups in store.
Eagle reporters will be at four games tonight — Hickory at Butler (John Enrietto), Knoch at Freeport (Scott Giebel), DuBois at Karns City (Derek Pyda) and Trinity at Mars (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.
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 5.
This will be updated with recaps and news from every local game later tonight.
Freeport’s Danny King, Luke Selinger dominate Knoch to take back Pike Trophy
Warning to Karns City’s future foes: The 5-0 Gremlins are just getting started after win over DuBois
Hickory’s run game shreds Butler in second half for Tornado’s second straight loss
Mars’ furious comeback falls short against Trinity as team vows to focus on ‘how we finish’
Check back regularly for the latest in-game scores as they’re reported on social media.
Friday, Sept. 25
FINAL — Hickory 34, Butler 18 (WBUT radio)
FINAL — Freeport 27, Knoch 0 (HSSN, WISR radio)
FINAL — Karns City 20, DuBois 14 (Hudl)
FINAL — Trinity 27, Mars 21 (Hudl)
FINAL OT — Moniteau 21, Coudersport 20 (Hudl)
FINAL — North Catholic 32, Burrell 20 (Burrell YouTube)
FINAL — Pittsburgh Central Catholic 62, Seneca Valley 0 (CBS News+, Armstrong Ch. 50)
FINAL — Greenville 51, Slippery Rock 6 (NWPA Sports, WGRP radio)
FINAL — Ridgway 30, Union/A-C Valley 29 (D9and10sports.com)
Saturday, Sept. 26
12:30 — Laurel at Summit Academy
Follow along here for updates and highlights from tonight’s games, starting around kickoff at 7 p.m.
9:47: And that’s it for Week 5
Hickory wraps up a 34-18 win over Butler, and that’ll do it for us here this week. A bunch of tight games made this one a thriller.
We’ll have recaps from several games, plus roundups from the rest later tonight. I’ll have a video wrapping up the week Saturday morning. See you next week!
9:32: Hickory wrapping this one up against Butler
Still not a single pass this half for the Hornets, who are making this one a rout against Butler. Christian Dungee scored on another rush, this one 34 yards, to make it 34-12 mid-fourth.
9:23: That’s as dramatic a win as we’re gonna see in Moniteau
It was back and forth all night, and in the end the Warriors have now won two straight to get back to 2-3. Shakley’s first-down TD run in overtime tied it, and Aiden Kern, who’s had a huge night with two TD catches and a big interception, kicked the game-winning PAT to send Moniteau into a frenzy.
9:18: It’s the Butler County witching hour!
Every time I write one update, there’s another two that pop up. Like a Hydra.
This time it’s up in D9 territory. Moniteau is down 20-14 in the first overtime after Coudersport got a TD pass to the left from corner of the end zone. But good news for Warriors fans, the PAT was blocked.
Oh ... And Aidan Shakley just plowed through multiple would-be tacklers for a big touchdown to tie it for Moniteau!
And that’s not even looking over to Ridgway, where UACV fell behind on a late TD pass 30-29 then saw an Andrew Kifer pass picked off on the final drive. Ridgway holds on for the narrowest of wins.
Timeout in Moniteau before the PAT attempt.
9:17: The Pike Trophy is heading back to Freeport
Knoch held the giant plaque for several years (a hiatus in the series will do that), but now it’s going to Freeport after the Yellowjackets shut down the Knights 27-0. Big bounceback win for Freeport.
9:15: Huge pick-six for North Catholic should clinch this one
It had been tight, but the last few minutes have been all Trojans, who are on the verge of winning their second straight after Burrell’s QB got chased in the pocket and threw a duck that was picked off by an NC DB and returned more than 60 yards for a back-breaking TD to make it 32-13 North.
9:13: Karns City is 5-0
The Gremlins nearly coughed it up as they tried to kill the clock but recovered a fumble and then finally iced it with no more drama, beating DuBois in one of the best games this week 20-14 to remain undefeated.
9:10: And Mars forces the tie!
This is a big comeback for the Planets, wow! They march down the field and punch it in on a shotgun handoff from about 7 yards out, then convert the two-point conversion with nine minutes left to go.
9:08: Butler has to play the comeback card again
The Cardiac Tornado need to show up again if they are to move to 4-1. Hickory’s offense has just completely broken open this Butler defense in the second half, leading 21-12. Tornado need two scores to turn this thing around. It’s still the third quarter (latest of all local games), so there’s time.
And we got some free football in the ‘Teau. It’s been a defensive battle between Coudersport and Moniteau, and the two end regulation tied 14-14.
9:06: Karns City falls on a fumble and can win this game
What a break for undefeated Gremlins. DuBois was driving, inside the KC 10, but there was a bad snap and the Karns City defense fell on the loose ball. There’s a minute to play, and KC can ice this game up 20-14 as long as there are no mishaps on the last few snaps.
9:03: Micah Kindel puts UACV ahead late
The Falcon Knights have been chasing Ridgway much of the night, and finally caught them on Micah Kindel’s 17-yard run. UACV converted the two-point conversion, too, and that could be big.
9:00: Butler trailing after big Hickory drive, Moniteau forces turnover on downs in big stand
Two opposite defensive stands for a couple of our teams. Hickory seems to have figured something out against this stiff Butler defense and just marched down the field again for a go-ahead touchdown and 2PC on Christian Dungee’s 12-yard run. It’s still the third quarter there, though.
Meanwhile, Moniteau’s defense stood tall in its own end to hold Coudersport without points on a fourth down. It’s 14-14 and we’re nearing 1 minute in regulation there.
8:58: North Catholic on top in the fourth quarter
First play out of the intermission, and Toprani hits Waskiewicz (for the third time) for a 50-yard touchdown. Two-point conversion failed. Waskiewicz burned his man on a double move, breaking in on a slant only to cut back up the field for a deep ball.
8:55: Owen Kaufman puts Karns City on top in mid-4Q
Huge drive for Karns City. While the play looked like there was a little confusion at the snap, Owen Kaufman took an inside handoff and bounced outside at the second level for a 17-yard TD. The Gremlins’ PAT was blocked, so the Beavers have a chance to take the lead here with a TD and extra point.
8:50: Butler back ahead on big TD pass to Deacon Simko
Listening to the radio broadcast, the Tornado threw a little wrinkle at Hickory by keeping Nicco Baggetta and Will Dunaway in the backfield only for Baggetta to pass block. That gave Dunaway the time to loft one out to Simko for an 18-yard touchdown. And Butler is ahead 12-7 (2PC no good).
Deacon Simko 18 yd TD from Dunaway, Butler 12 Hickory 7, 5:55 3rd, @BGTfootball @DekeSimko @BobGreenburg pic.twitter.com/WsVlMIZzVK
— Shane Lux (@PFN_Luxy) September 26, 2026
8:42: Hickory takes the lead over Butler with big drive
The Hornets had been threatening most of the first half, and they finally cashed in to start the second half on Dylan Gardner’s 15-yard TD run to take a 7-6 lead.
Slippery Rock got on the board with a pretty 30(ish)-yard touchdown pass to the front right corner of the end zone to make it 36-6. But Greenville is driving.
8:38: Two games are pretty much out of reach early for local teams
Seneca Valley trailed 48-0 to PCC in the first half, and Slippery Rock’s electrifying three-game win streak will likely end tonight, with Greenville up 36-0 to start the second half.
Most of the rest of the action tonight is tight. Knoch is driving down 20-0 against rival Freeport, hoping to get back into this one.
8:34: Gremlins defense stands firm, Will to Will connection again for North Catholic
Big stop by KC there after the turnover, forcing a deep field goal that DuBois missed. Gremlins take over at the 20 with a chance to take the lead.
In other action, North Catholic wasted no time out of the break answering Burrell when Will Toprani lofted a 40-yard strike to Will Waskiewicz past a defender that got beat for the pair’s second TD connection. The PAT was no good, so it’s 13-13 early second half.
8:29: Disaster for Karns City to start the second half
The Gremlins forced a punt on DuBois’ first drive after halftime, but KC muffed the punt return and DuBois recovered right around the 30 with a second chance to take the lead here.
8:10: First-half stats and analysis from Butler
Per John Enrietto: Hickory had two drives stall inside the Butler 15. First was a bad snap on a field goal try. Second was on downs at Butler’s 10. Hornets have 88 yards of offense, 25 rushing. Butler has 118 yards. Teams have 13 penalties combined.
8:04: Mars gets a huge TD late in the half
The Planets’ defense has made a couple plays in the backfield, but Trinity has scored on multiple long plays, including the opening kickoff. Mars desperately needed a response to keep this game with, and Nate Walker finally delivered with a 61-yard touchdown throw, hitting his receiver on a deep crosser over the middle to make it 21-10.
7:53: Big defensive plays in Butler, Moniteau
The Tornado stopped Hickory on fourth down with what sounds like a pass breakup late here in the second quarter, but they’re deep in their own territory.
And then Aiden Kern (big night, this guy) picking off a Coudersport pass in the end zone, effectively ending the first half with Moniteau on top 14-7.
7:49: Karns City ties it back up, so does North Catholic
QB Cole Johnston took it around the left side for a Karns City touchdown, and the two-point conversion was good. Gremlins are even again late 2Q 14-14.
Much farther south, Will Toprani threw a dart to Will Waskiewicz inside the 10-yard line for a touchdown, and North Catholic is tied back up with Burrell 7-7. ... Oh ... but the Bucs responded a snap or two later with a LONG run for a score with 33 seconds left in the half.
7:45: Freeport staking early claim to Pike Trophy
Three drives, three touchdowns for the Yellowjackets so far, who lead Knoch 20-0 in the second quarter. This time is a run up the gut for about 9 yards by Braydon Pomaybo.
And as that was going on, Liam Corcoran with a big play in the backfield helps Mars stop a Trinity drive and force a punt. Planets needed that, down 14-3.
7:40: Parker Bish gets Union/A-C Valley back in this one
Ridgway was pulling away, but Parker Bish capped a big drive for the Falcon Knights by taking a pitch off-tackle left and powering in for about a 5-yard TD. UACV converted the two-point conversion to get within six.
7:32: Moniteau scores, and Karns City makes a big stop and Freeport scores and Ridgway scores ....... (deep breath)
A lot just happened in a very short amount of time. I’ll rattle them off as I saw/heard them:
Bryce Galan made a SWEET pick on a deep ball with the WR a step ahead of him. DuBois QB made a great throw, and his WR appeared to grab it, but as Galan tumbled to the ground with him (he got his arms in at the last second), Galan rolled and popped up with the ball. Gremlins take over.
Then Danny King threw his second TD of the night to Bryson Paga for a 13-0 Freeport lead over Knoch.
Then Weston Cook rolled right on hit Aiden Kern on a deep bomb (on the run) after Kern got deep past busted coverage, and Kern took it the rest of the way for a 75-yard Moniteau TD to take the lead back from Coudersport 14-7.
I need to take a walk after all that action.
7:27: Nicco Baggetta finishes the job, North Catholic tied after 1Q
Baggetta’s transformation into a receiver in the Tornado offense seems to be complete. Will Dunaway hit the senior on a slant and the javelin thrower took it to the house. The PAT missed, but that’s Butler 6-0 late first now.
Heading south, it was a tie game for North Catholic at Burrell, but that changed as I was typing this. The Bucs scored to start the second quarter, and that means all three Cranberry-area teams are trailing early.
Mars is down 14-3 on a couple splash plays by Trinity (Gus Caulfield kicked a 37-yard field goal for the Planets), and Seneca Valley is tasked with trying to beat juggernaut Pittsburgh Central Catholic and is down 14-0 so far.
Nicco Baggetta 20 yd TD from Will Dunaway, Butler 6 Hickory 0, 1:24 1st, @BGTfootball @niccobaggetta @BobGreenburg pic.twitter.com/uQn67Lv69V
— Shane Lux (@PFN_Luxy) September 25, 2026
7:23: Karns City answers DuBois on big play, Butler gets a huge turnover
DuBois took an early lead on the road over undefeated Karns City in one of the most anticipated games this week. But a screen pass from Cole Johnston (fantasy points!) to Owen Kaufman led to some broken tackles and a 73-yard touchdown. The PAT was blocked, so it’s 7-6 late first.
And shortly after, Butler has itself in a good spot after Nicco Baggetta picked off a pass and returned it deep into Hickory territory to set up a potential scoring opportunity.
7:20: Freeport up early in Pike Trophy Game
Danny King hit Luke Selinger on a screen pass, and Shellinger did the rest of the work to put the Yellowjackets up 6-0 in the first quarter.
7:12: Doink! Moniteau touchdown!
You won’t see this too often. Moniteau QB Weston Cook threw up a jump ball pretty short of WR Aiden Kern. But the Warriors (1-3) got one heckuva lucky bounce (literally) when the defensive back had the ball bounce off the front of his helmet straight up in the air, and Kern caught it at about Moniteau’s own 42 off the bounce and ran it in for a 90-yard touchdown.
Just like they drew it up.
7:03: Hello hello from Central Command!
It’s officially fall. The weather sure as heck feels like it (walking my dog this morning in 40 degrees was an eye-opener). And it’s fitting for Week 5 of the football season.
We got some news already, and not the good kind for Mars fans. Trinity took the opening kickoff for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
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 5 staff picks: Who did Eagle reporters, Scoop predict will win?
Leaders: Top QBs, RBs, WRs and Eagle Trophy race so far
Standings: WPIAL, District 9 and District 10 standings and schedules
Eye on Sports: Slippery Rock football’s Aden Shay on his breakout season, Week 5 picks and more
