2024 Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy watch: Meet the top contenders to take home this year’s award

August 05, 2024 Last Updated: August 05, 2024 05:10 PM Sports

Karns City’s Hunter Scherer should be in contention for the 2024 Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy. Butler Eagle file photo

Evan Wright was exciting to watch on the gridiron, electrifying Mars High School football fans with his combination of power and speed.

The running back won last year’s Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy with 182 points, the second-most of any winner over the previous 21 years.

Awarded every year since 1990, the trophy recognizes the football player from the Butler County area who scores the most points during the regular season.

Wright became the seventh Planet to win. Three former Mars stars — Bill Bair, Isaiah Johnson and Teddy Ruffner, earned it twice, giving Mars the trophy a total of 10 times. Only Karns City (nine) comes close to the Planets in that respect.

Wright graduated in the spring, along with six of the other top scorers from last year.

The race for the trophy in 2024 may seem wide open, but three players will enter the season with an inside track to the hardware. Here’s a closer look at the trio:

Hunter Scherer (Karns City), junior RB/LB

Placing fifth in last year’s scoring race with 62 points, Scherer is primed to spearhead the Gremlins’ vaunted ground game after the graduation of Luke Cramer.

At 6 feet and weighing 225 pounds, you will not often see this kid brought down by one defender, if at all. Scherer rumbled for 770 yards and averaged more than 6 yards per carry as a sophomore.

The Gremlins like to get a lot of players involved in the rushing attack, but look for Scherer to be the leader of that group. He could join Rick Belles, Jeremy Scherer, Billy Graham, Matt Carnahan, Josh Fiscus, Kaiden Powers, Dalton Beham and Luke Garing as Gremlins who have held the trophy.

Owen Bish (Union/A-C Valley), senior QB/DB

Owen Bish

Bish battled for the starting quarterback job last season but ended up playing tailback for the Falcon Knights. He’s now the clear-cut choice to guide the team’s multiple-formation offense.

Only one quarterback — Slippery Rock’s Jono Powell in 2008 — has won the scoring trophy. Powell was a great athlete, and Bish was cast in the same mold. He tallied more than 1,000 all-purpose yards last year, including a team-leading 517 yards rushing, and scored 10 total touchdowns. His ability to run the ball will remain a focal point as the Falcon Knights look to make the District 9 playoffs for the seventh straight season.

Players from both Union and A-C Valley have won the trophy, but not since the schools combined forces for football in 2016.

Mason Childress (Mars), senior WR/DB/K

Mars' Mason Childress has a chance to compete for the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy with his leg, hands and defensive acumen. Butler Eagle file photo

Childress tallied 77 points last year with his right leg, including an efficiency in booting field goals (8 of 9) not often seen in high school.

He tallied just 12 offensive touches and one touchdown last season, but with Wright’s graduation, Childress could pick up a few more opportunities with the ball in his hands.

Also a standout safety in the team’s defensive backfield, a pick-6 from this guy is not out of the question.

Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy

Previous Winners

Year Winner (School) Points

1990 Brian Kurn (Freeport) 104

1991 Ron DeJidas (Freeport) 114

1992 Ron DeJidas (Freeport) 158

1993 Rick Belles (Karns City) 80

1994 Cory Hooks (Union) 118

1995 Jeremy Scherer (Karns City) 84

1996 Jason Hackwelder (A-C Valley) 132

1997 Steve Spiker (A-C Valley) 124