Chucks and Bulldogs, that’s where it’s at Friday night as the featured game of the week in District 9 which enters Week 3 of the high school season.
Both teams are two of still seven unbeaten teams in District 9. The number be only trimmed by one for sure as Punxsutawney’s trip to New Bethlehem will knock out an early perfect record in this non-region matchup.
Overall, 14 games dot the schedule this week, all of them Friday but one with Sheffield (0-2) hosting Montrose (0-1) Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
In other games, the two region games have Port Allegany (1-1) host Smethport (0-2) while in Region 3, it’s unbeaten Bucktail (2-0) out of District 4 hosting Elk County Catholic (0-2).
The rest of the non-region District 9 League schedule for the week has Keystone (0-2) visiting Brookville (0-2), Central Clarion (2-0) traveling to Union/A-C Valley (1-1) in Rimersburg, St. Marys (2-0) hosting Kane (0-2), Otto-Eldred (2-0) at Bradford (1-1), DuBois (1-1) visiting Northern Bedford (2-0), Ridgway (0-2) hosting Karns City (0-2), Cameron County (2-0) at Moniteau (1-1) and Brockway (2-0) hosting Coudersport (1-1).
Also, Clearfield (1-1) hosts Philipsburg-Osceola (1-1) and Curwensville (0-2) travels to Mount Union (1-1).
With the Bulldogs and Chucks in New Bethlehem, both teams have rolled to lopsided wins, the Bulldogs a combined 106-13 margin and the Chucks 100-6. While the Bulldogs were playing an injury-shortened game last week at Karns City, the Chucks routed Kane 56-6 last week.
The Chucks have gained 962 yards so far as sophomore quarterback Maddox Hetrick (21-for-27, 332 yards, 3 TDs), senior running back Landon Martz (25-295, 5 TDs) and junior back Griffin White (18-182, 1 TD), and sophomore receiver Beau Thomas (12-115, 2 TDs) and senior receiver Zach Presloid (8-203, 1 TD) lead the offense.
Similar numbers highlight the Bulldogs’ start. They’ve amassed 894 yards in their start as sophomore quarterback Braylon Wagner (28-for-39, 551 yards, 6 Tds, 1 Int.), receivers Mason Clouse (10-186, 2 TDs), Ashton Kahle (8-181, 2 TDs), Rylan Rupp (5-108, 1 TD) and Ashton George (4-85, 1 TD), and running back Drew Byers (21-152, 2 TDs) lead the Bulldogs offense.
The Bulldogs have beaten the Chucks seven straight times, including 28-14 last year, dating back through 2011. The Chucks last beat the Bulldogs, 47-0, back in 2010.
In other games:
Region 2
Smethport (0-2) at Port Allegany (1-1)
The Gators host the Hubbers looking to shake off last week’s lopsided loss at Central Clarion. Smethport is coming off a 14-0 loss at Cameron County.
Port Allegany quarterback Nick Wilfong has completed 11 of 20 passes for 168 yards with a touchdown while Aiden Bliss (23-149, 2 TDs rushing; 4-76 receiving) and Peyton Stiles (31-123, 4 TDs rushing; 3-51 receiving).
The Hubbers have been outscored 85-7 in two losses.
Region 3
Elk Co. Catholic (0-2) at Bucktail (2-0)
The Bucks haven’t been 3-0 since 2011, so they’ll try to keep the ball rolling as the Crusaders come to town after a 34-14 Thursday night loss to Moniteau.
Season statistics are unavailable via Max Preps.
Non-Region
Keystone (0-2) at Brookville (0-2)
The Raiders look for their first win after losses to Central Clarion and Struthers, Ohio, two straight Wildcats teams with last week’s trip to Ohio finishing with a 48-7 loss. The Panthers dropped their second straight loss in a 24-13 setback to Union/A-C Valley at home.
Brookville quarterback Charlie Krug (25-for-40, 342 yards, 3 TDs) and receivers Jack Pete (5-122, 2 TDs), Easton Belfiore (6-80, 1 TD) and Hayden Freeman (6-36) lead the passing game while Krug (19-60, 1 TD), Kolton Griffin (10-58) and Tony Ceriani (12-37) are the Raiders’ leading rushers.
Keystone’s Rayce Weaver has rushed for 146 yards on 25 carries.
Kane (0-2) at St. Marys (2-0)
The Flying Dutchmen look to keep their unbeaten run to the season started against the winless Wolves. St. Marys beat Ridgway, 28-14, last Thursday while the Wolves were routed 56-6 by Punxsutawney.
Dutch running back Matthew Davis is off to a strong start, anchoring his team’s offense with 437 yards rushing on 50 carries with five TDs. Sophomore quarterback Cameron Coudriet has completed 9 of 16 passes for 117 yards with one TD and one interception.
The Wolves, outscored by a combined margin of 98-6 in their two losses to the Chucks and Brockway. Reese Bechakas ran for a TD in the loss to the Chucks for the season’s first points. The Wolves have gained 302 yards in two games. Quarterback Kyle Zook has completed 23 of 44 passes for 207 yards.
Central Clarion (2-0) at Union/A-C Valley (1-1)
The Falcon Knights host the high-flying Wildcats at Vidunas Stadium in Rimersburg after notching their first win last week in a 24-13 decision over Keystone.
The Wildcats have outscored foes, 106-33, including last week’s 57-6 rout of Port Allegany. They’ve piled up 773 yards of offense so far as quarterback Jase Ferguson (21-for-32, 375 yards, 6 TDs, 1 Int.) is off to a hot start. He’s also rushed for 247 yards and a TD.
The Falcon Knights got 129 rushing yards from Logan Skibinski last week along with three interceptions from Trey Fleming. Quarterback Brody Dittman has completed 31 of 47 passes for 287 yards and two TDs along with two interceptions.
Central Clarion won last year’s matchup at PennWest-Clarion’s Memorial Stadium, 43-6, in the first matchup between the co-op programs.
Otto-Eldred (2-0) at Bradford (1-1)
With a 30-game losing streak behind them, the Owls try to make it 2-0 when they host unbeaten Otto-Eldred at Parkway Field. While the Owls were beating Coudersport 34-12, the Terrors racked up big numbers in a 67-27 win over Sheffield.
Owls quarterback Talan Reese (32-for-42, 430 yards, 3 TDs) is coming off a 341-yard game against the Falcons as he completed 27 of 32 passes with three TDs. His top receiver is Jake Franz (12-288, 3 TDs).
The Terrors offense is headed by quarterback Shane Magee (22-for-35, 273 yards, 6 TDs, 1 Int.), running back Hunter App (38-278, 5 TDs) and Manning Splain (10-176, 4 TDs).
DuBois (1-1) at Northern Bedford (2-0)
The Beavers, coming off their 14-13 overtime loss to Brockway, try to rebound with a trip to unbeaten Northern Bedford.
DuBois lost quarterback senior quarter Trey Wingard (23-for-40, 364 yards, 5 TDs) to an injury in last week’s game against the Rovers, so his status is uncertain moving forward. Landon Schrock finished at QB last week. Running back Garret Nissel (30-155, 1 TD) and receivers Carter Vos (8-141, 1 TD) and Kaden Clark (6-109, 1 TD) help lead the Beavers offense.
The Panthers are led by do-it-all quarterback Eion Snyder (17-for-29, 253 yards, 6 TDs, 1 Int.; 20-225, 2 TDs rushing).
Karns City (0-2) at Ridgway (0-2)
The Gremlins and Elkers will face off one week after Karns City lost its quarterback Mason Martin to an on-field injury. While the Gremlins wound up losing that shortened game 35-6 to Redbank Valley, the Elkers played last Friday and lost 28-14 to St. Marys.
So both teams are searching for their first wins of the season. Gremlins running backs Hunter Scherer (14-106, 1 TD) and Luke Cramer (21-79, 3 TDs) lead the offense.
Ridgway, blanked 40-0 by Port Allegany in its opener, scored twice against the Dutch on runs by quarterback Cameron Larkin and Rocco Delhunty. Larkin ran for 68 yards on 21 carries, completing 5 of 20 passes for 31 yards with two interceptions.
Cameron County (2-0) at Moniteau (1-1)
The Red Raiders haven’t been 3-0 since starting 2009 with nine straight wins. They’ll look to stay unbeaten with a two-plus hour trip to play the Warriors, who are coming off a 34-14 win last Thursday at Elk County Catholic.
The Red Raiders, with wins over Union/ACV (20-19) and Smethport (14-0), average 259 yards of offense per game. They ran for 250 yards in last week’s win over the Hubbers. Quarterback Maddox Baughman (13-for-30, 168 yards, 2 TDs; 24-127, 2 TDs rushing) and running back Malakai Zucal (42-167) lead the offense.
Moniteau has rushed for 311 yards in two games as Logan Campbell (25-164, 2 TDs) and Kole Scott (19-130) key the ground attack. Quarterbacks Trent Beachem and Brandin Sankey have combined to throw for 176 yards with Beachem tossing three TDs. Campbell (5-54, 2 TDs) and Scott (3-56, 1 TD) are the leading receivers.
Coudersport (1-1) at Brockway (2-0)
The Rovers haven’t been 3-0 since starting 2018 4-0. After edging DuBois 14-13 in overtime last week, they’ll face a Coudersport team that lost 34-12 to Bradford, which ended its 30-game losing streak.
The Rovers’ Jendy Cuello has rushed for 248 yards in the first two games on 41 carries with two TDs. That’s two less carries than the number of passes Brayden Fox has thrown. He’s completed 24 of 43 for 333 yards and three TDs with one interception. His top receivers are Blake Pisarcik (11-195, 2 TDs), Matthew Brubaker (7-103, 1 TD) and Caleb Daugherty (3-100, 1 TDs).
The Falcons scored on John Wright’s 85-yard kick return and Gavin Ayres threw a 22-yard TD pass to Colby Lewis. Ethan Ott (22-81, 2 TDs) is the Falcons’ top rusher out of the backfield.
Other
Philipsburg-Osceola (1-1) at Clearfield (1-1)
The Bison look to rebound from last week’s 22-13 loss to Forest Hills and face a Mounties team that lost 34-3 at Penn Cambria. The Mounties haven’t beaten the Bison since 2011, a string of 11 straight Clearfield wins, including 55-0 last year.
Quarterback Will Domico (26-for-49, 395 yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int.), and running backs Brady Collins (19-162, 1 TD) and Carter Chamberlain (16-111, 2 TDs) along with receiver Carter Freeland (12-184, 1 TD) lead the Clearfield offense.
Mounties QB Zach Meyers (22-for-35, 298 yards, 1 TD, 2 Ints.) and running back Jakodi Jones (25-112, 3 TDs) lead the P-O offense.
Curwensville (0-2) at Mount Union (1-1)
The Golden Tide search for their first win after last week’s 42-7 loss to Windber. The Trojans lost 38-7 last week after a 35-6 season-opening win over Tussey Mountain.
Tide quarterback Tyler Dunn (25-of-49, 345 yards, 2 TDs, 3 Ints.; 21-112 rushing) accounts for most of the Tide offense from scrimmage along with running back Braden Holland (29-96, 2 TDs) and receiver Hunter Tkacik (9-133, 1 TD).
Trojans quarterback Bryce Danish (14-for-24, 174 yards, 1 TD, 2 Ints.; 19-232, 1 TD rushing) is much of the focal point for their offense. Je’Shaun Robinson (17-153, 3 TDs) and Josh Ryan (24-144, 1 TD) are the other leading rushers.
