While all three District 9 League region titles were secured last week, the district’s Week 9 football schedule wraps up the regional schedules with all 22 teams playing games that cound in the standings.
And adding the District 6-scheduled teams at Clearfield and Curwensville, there are 13 games once again on the docket with the first one getting played Thursday night in Brockway between the Rovers and Redbank Valley. The rest of the schedule is Friday night.
So what games matter, or stand out?
Second place is at stake in Region 1 and 3 as Brookville (6-2) visits Punxsutawney (6-2) for their annual Route 36 Trophy game and the winner gets the runner-up spot behind Central Clarion in Region 1. In Region 3, Cameron County (6-2) travels from Emporium to Duke Center to face Otto-Eldred (6-2) with the winner getting second place behind champion Coudersport.
For Clearfield, it’s the third week in a row that it’ll face an unbeaten squad as the Bison (6-2) travel to Central-Martinsburg (8-0).
In other games in Region 1, it’s unbeaten Central Clarion (8-0) hosting St. Marys (4-4) at Clarion-Limestone, Bradford (3-5) traveling to Karns City (3-5) and Moniteau (1-7) visiting DuBois (3-5).
In Region 2, Ridgway (2-6) visits Union/A-C Valley (4-4) in Rimersburg, Kane (0-8) hosts Smethport (1-7) and Keystone (4-4) visits Port Allegany (6-2).
Then in Region 3, the other games have Sheffield (0-7) visiting Elk County Catholic (1-7) and Bucktail (5-3) hosting Coudersport (5-3).
In the Inter-County Conference, Curwensville (1-7) hosts Glendale (2-6).
This week appears to be the final regular-season game for Elk County Catholic, Bucktail, Sheffield and Smethport. The rest of the district’s teams have Week 10 games scheduled.
In Punxsutawney, the Chucks host the Raiders looking for a second straight win over their county rivals for the first time since 2014-15. Both teams have losses to Central Clarion — Brookville 49-27 in Week 1 and Punxsutawney 41-13 in Week 4. The Chucks also lost to Redbank Valley (50-27) and the Raiders lost to Struthers, Ohio.
The Chucks average 422 yards per game offensively led by 1,000-yard rusher Landon Martz (156-1,031, 15 TDs), quarterback Maddox Hetrick (85-for-127, 14,54 yards, 12 TDs, 4 Ints.) and receivers Noah Weaver (23-541, 4 TDs), Beau Thomas (33-496, 6 TDs; 41-298 rushing, 6 TDs) and Zach Presloid (21-367, 2 TDs).
Brookville weighs in at 357 offensive yards per game with quarterback Charlie Krug (89-for-148, 1,306 yards, 18 TDs, 4 Ints.; 71-275, 5 TDs rushing) leading the way with running back Tony Ceriani (87-546, 5 TDs), and receivers Jack Pete (32-685, 9 TDs), Sam Krug (24-492, 6 TDs), Hayden Freeman (19-220, 2 TDs) and Easton Belfiore (15-161, 4 TDs).
In the Cameron County/Otto-Eldred game, both teams lost their lone Region 3 outing to Coudersport — the Terrors 49-28 two weeks ago and the Red Raiders 26-14 in Week 5.
For the Red Raiders, quarterback Maddox Baughman (60-for-120, 939 yards, 7 TDs, 2 Ints.; 59-295, 3 TDs) and running back Malakai Zucal (105-524, 6 TDs; 21-428, 2 TDs).
Otto-Eldred quarterback Shane Magee (119-for-194, 1,674 yards, 24 TDs, 6 Ints.; 30-205, 4 TDs rushing) leads the Terrors offense with running back Hunter App (100-715, 10 TDs) and Manning Splain (36-665, 10 TDs).
The Red Raiders beat the Terrors, 28-22, last year for the first time since 2015.
SPEAKING OF BLOWOUTS, In Week 8, at least six more games involving District 9 teams used the PIAA Mercy Rule running clock (up by at least 35 points in the second half). That’s at least 41 Mercy Rule games this year compared to what was at least 23 lopsided games through eight weeks last year.
The season of the Haves vs. Have-Nots continues.
Here’s a look at the rest of the week’s schedule:
REGION 1
St. Marys (4-4) at Central Clarion (8-0), at C-L
The Wildcats host the Dutch at the C-L Sports Complex. They’re still averaging a state-best 61.8 points per game, just ahead of No. 2 Mercyhurst Prep (61.1) out of District 10.
Wildcats quarterback Jase Ferguson (94-for-138, 1,815 yards, 33 TDs, 2 Ints.; 54-461, 4 TDs rushing) triggers the high-powered offense with running backs Noah Naser (43-347, 7 TDs) and Noah Harrison (40-307, 5 TDs), and receivers Dawson Smail (30-662, 12 TDs), Mason Burford (23-441, 10 TDs) and Brady Quinn (15-306, 3 TDs).
For St. Marys, running back Matthew Davis (164-1,399, 15 TDs) leads the district in rushing with quarterback Cam Coudriet (40-for-76, 508 yards, 3 TDs, 3 Ints.) leading the passing game with receivers Ben Reynolds (11-192, 1 TD) and Lucas Bauer (13-141, 1 TD) as his top targets.
Bradford (3-5) at Karns City (3-5)
The Gremlins will try to finish the season .500 with two straight wins starting with a home tilt with the Owls before next week’s matchup with District 6’s Mount Union (7-1) at home.
Luke Cramer (95-508, 10 TDs) is the Gremlins’ leading rusher. Quarterback Cole Johnston (27-for-61, 302 yards, 2 TDs, 4 Ints.) runs the passing game.
Bradford quarterback Talan Reese (125-for-203, 1,511 yards, 13 TDs, 3 Ints.) keys the Owls offense with Jake Franz (34-558, 9 TDs) his top receiving target.
Moniteau (1-7) at DuBois (3-5)
The Beavers host the Warriors looking to get back on track after last week’s 70-0 loss to Central Clarion, which beat Moniteau 70-6 to weeks ago.
DuBois still has a shot for a .500 regular season with Hollidaysburg (3-4) awaiting next week. The Beavers are led by running back Garret Nissel (126-705, 7 TDs), quarterback Landon Schrock (50-for-109, 436 yards, 0 TDs, 8 Ints.) and receiver Kaden Clark (24-256, 1 TD).
For Moniteau, it’s quarterback Trent Beachem (46-for-102, 703 yards, 11 TDs, 7 Ints.), running back Logan Campbell (65-280, 2 TDs; 19-203, 2 TDs receiving) and receiver Ashton Grossman (15-361, 3 TDs).
REGION 2
Keystone (4-4) at Port Allegany (6-2)
The Gators try to shake off a lopsided loss at Redbank Valley last week with a home game against the Panthers, who are coming off a 19-12 win at Kane. The Gators beat the Wolves, 41-7, three weeks ago.
Port’s Peyton Stiles (115-797, 10 TDs) and Aiden Bliss (103-788, 14 TDs) get the bulk of the work running the ball with Nick Wilfong (42-for-72, 680 yards, 8 TDs, 5 Ints.), Stiles (17-255, 2 TDs), Bliss (13-246, 2 TDs) and Tristan Kiser (11-235, 4 TDs) leading the passing game.
For Keystone, it’s quarterback Dom Corcetti (40-for-77, 632 yards, 6 TDs, 9 Ints.), running backs Eli Nellis (92-632, 9 TDs; 14-223, 1 TD), Rayce Weaver (106-487, 2 TDs) and Jacob Henry (67-413, 7 TDs), and receiver Drew Keth (21-350, 4 TDs).
Ridgway (2-6) at Union/A-C Valley (4-4)
The Falcon Knights host the Elkers looking for a second straight win. Two weeks ago, the Elkers beat the Hubbers at home, 31-7. Last week, the Falcon Knights beat the Hubbers on the road, 51-26.
For Ridgway, quarterback Cameron Larkin (65-for-115, 747 yards, 5 TDs, 8 Ints.; 114-355, 6 TDs rushing) keys the offense. Running back Rocco Delhunty (63-258, 2 TDs) and receiver Broc Kudrick (23-280, 3 TDs) are other key contributors.
The Falcon Knights are led by quarterback Brody Dittman (98-for-156, 1,196 yards, 7 TDs, 12 Ints.), running backs Owen Bish (50-423, 6 TDs; 12-166, 2 TDs receiving) and Logan Skibinski (51-335, 3 TDs), and receivers Trey Fleming (31-409, 2 TDs), Aidan Fox (14-264, 2 TDs), Zach Cooper (21-234, 1 TD).
Smethport (1-7) at Kane (0-8)
The Hubbers’ lone win came in Week 4 against Coudersport (33-26) while the Wolves search for their first win of the season. The Hubbers lost 51-26 to Union/A-C Valley last week. The Wolves lost 40-0 to Union/ACV in Week 5.
Neither team keeps updated stats on maxpreps.com.
REGION 3
Sheffield (0-7) at Elk County Catholic (1-7)
The last time these teams played, the Crusaders beat the Wolverines 46-12 in Week 4. The Wolverines’ losing streak now sits at 25 games.
Neither team has statistics posted on maxpreps.com.
Coudersport (5-3) at Bucktail (5-3)
The Falcons, who won Region 3 last week, look to push their winning streak to five straight games as they travel to District 4 to face the Bucks who are coming off a 20-14 loss to Otto-Eldred. The Falcons beat the Terrors 49-28 two weeks ago.
Falcons quarterback Gavyn Ayers (43-for-116, 608 yards, 7 TDs, 5 Ints.; 70-472, 11 TDs rushing) keys his team’s offense along with running back John Wright (59-302, 4 TDs) and Danny Vanvladricken (12-253, 3 TDs).
Bucktail’s statistics are unavailable on maxpreps.com.
OTHER
Clearfield (6-2) at Central-Martinsburg (8-0)
The Bison are 1-1 against unbeaten teams the past two weeks, beating Bald Eagle Area (13-7) and losing 35-28 to Richland last week. This time, it’s the Scarlet Dragons who haven’t played either BEA or Richland.
Clearfield had its five-game winning streak snapped in last week’s loss. The Bison are led by quarterback Will Domico (82-for-160, 1,413 yards, 13 TDs, 4 Ints.; 52-332, 7 TDs rushing), running backs Carter Chamberlain (80-451, 7 TDs) and Brady Collins (64-401, 1 TD) and receiver Carter Freeland (36-761, 7 TDs).
The Dragons are led by quarterback Ethan Muthler (121-for-200, 2,020 yards, 22 TDs, 6 Ints.), running back Hunter Smith (111-552, 13 TDs) and receiver Jack Dunn (35-670, 8 TDs).
Glendale (2-6) at Curwensville (1-7)
The Golden Tide host the Vikings trying to end a four-game slide since their only win in a 55-13 rout of Southern Huntingdon. Glendale beat Southern 47-6 one week later. The Vikings also have a 34-7 win over Claysburg-Kimmel, which beat the Tide, 55-20 two weeks before losing to Glendale.
The Tide’s quarterback Tyler Dunn (83-for-179, 1,276 yards, 9 TDs, 13 Ints.; 90-448, 6 TDs), running back Braden Holland (107-480, 4 TDs) and receiver Connor Luzier (26-325, 1 TD) lead the offense. Dunn also leads the team with 57 tackles on defense.
The top players for the Vikings are Troy Misiura (27-for-56, 335 yards, 1 TD, 4 Ints.; 64-334, 5 TDs rushing) and Connor Potutschnig (57-274, 1 TD rushing; 23-347, 2 TDs receiving).
