PIAA football Week 2 predictions: Can Mars stay hot, Butler snag first win? North Catholic or Knoch?

Eagle Sports Staff

August 29, 2024 Last Updated: August 28, 2024 06:29 PM Sports

There were quite a few surprises in Week 1 of the high school football season.

Perhaps one of the biggest: Mars’ offensive dominance in Florida that saw Gabe Hein set multiple single-game receiving records.

It’s possible the second week of games provides similar shocks as teams make adjustments off what they did right — and wrong — in their openers.

Here is how the Butler Eagle sports staff and Scoop see Week 2’s games unfolding. The staff breaks down five of the games in more detail while predicting winners and scores for every Butler County game on the schedule.

Standings after Week 1

Brendan Howe — 7-3

Jake Adams — 5-5

Derek Pyda — 5-5

Scoop — 5-5

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Owen Trettle and the Butler Golden Tornado are looking for their first win this season when they face Brashear on Friday night. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Brashear at Butler, 7

Adams — Brashear was popped 44-0 last week and has lost the last two meetings in this series by two-plus scores. Butler showed more offensive life in the second half last week it might be able to carry over. Butler 35-13

Pyda — Butler proved to me last week it has the skill players. Just cut out the mistakes. Butler 24-20

Howe — It was the small things that did Butler in last week. Not again. Butler 28-14

Scoop — The Golden Tornado won’t find themselves in a 20-0 hole this week. Butler 22-14

Karns City at Brookville, 7

Adams — I could get this one wrong, I'm not confident in the pick. There's enough returning on Brookville's offense that has me believing they'll still have KC's number. Brookville 44-35

Pyda — Brookville’s Jack Pete graduated and took his game-breaking speed with him. Karns City now has the upper hand in this showdown. Karns City 28-21

Howe — Seeing Karns City from the sidelines last week, its physicality stood out to me. Good luck stopping that rushing attack. Karns City 21-19

Scoop — Brookville has its hands full with KC’s powerful ground attack. Karns City 24-17

North Catholic at Knoch, 7

Adams — Also no idea on this one. Neither offense was good last week, but they faced quality teams. Scoring should be easier this week. North Catholic 28-24

Pyda — Both of these teams had rough starts to the season. I’m going with the home team ... and the one with more proven skill players. Knoch 21-17

Howe — Knoch has some things to work out after a loss that surprised me. It’ll take them another week to get everything fixed. North Catholic 22-14

Scoop — I guess the Knights have more wrinkles to work out than I thought. North Catholic 17-14

Seneca Valley at North Hills, 7

Adams — I don't like what I saw reading Derek's recap from last week. SV turned the ball over too much. North Hills could snap four-game skid in series here. North Hills 28-21

Pyda — The Raiders win this one by feeding their running backs the ball. Seneca Valley 17-10

Howe — It’s still early in the season and the Raiders are finding themselves, it seems. North Hills 44-21

Scoop — SV may be a bit gun-shy after last week’s turnovers. North Hills 20-10

Bethel Park at Mars, 7

Adams — I underestimated the Planets last week. BP's got college talent on the roster and dismantled Seneca Valley a week ago. But I'll pick Mars this week and see what happens. Mars 38-36

Pyda — Slowing down Mars’ passing attack will take a team that can run the ball. Bethel Park has two backs to get the job done. Bethel Park 29-26

Howe — Mars might have the most dangerous offense I’ve seen at the high school level — and that’s after graduating last year’s county scoring leader. Mars 35-33

Scoop — After their winning effort in Florida last week, I can’t pick against the Planets. Mars 38-28

Bradford at Moniteau, 7

Adams — Bradford 31-14

Pyda — Moniteau 27-22

Howe — Bradford 45-6

Scoop — Bradford 33-14

Freeport at Derry, 7

Adams — Freeport 28-20

Pyda — Freeport 31-15

Howe — Freeport 30-12

Scoop — Freeport 37-12

Ridgway at Union/A-C Valley, 7