Butler County high school football roundup Week 9: Freeport clinches WPIAL playoff berth; Knoch, Seneca Valley, North Catholic lose
Freeport locked up a WPIAL Class 3A playoff berth Friday night with a 42-15 rout of East Allegheny.
The Yellowjackets (7-2, 4-1 section) return to the postseason after missing last season. They got two special teams touchdowns in the blowout: a 90-yard kickoff return from Danny King to start the game and a 50-yard punt return from Amos Glenn in the fourth quarter.
Glenn finished with 92 yards and a score on 18 carries. Quarterback Drew Ross completed 6 of 8 passes for 95 yards and a TD and ran seven times for 45 yards and another score.
Freeport hosts Imani Christian in the regular season finale Oct. 25.
West Mifflin 48, Knoch 21 — Armand Hill carved up Knoch’s defense as West Mifflin ran away with a 48-21 victory.
Hill finished with 334 yards and four touchdowns on just 25 carries, averaging 13.4 yards a touch.
Knoch slipped to 3-5 (2-2 section) as it fights for a WPIAL playoff spot. The Knights close the regular season against section-leading McKeesport (5-4, 4-0).
The Knights’ Codi Mullen, who according to reports from the game briefly exited with an injury, had 136 yards on 13 carries. He ran for a 71-yard touchdown in the second half and a 16-yarder in the first quarter. He also threw a 55-yard touchdown to Ethan Rouleau right before halftime, briefly giving Knoch at 14-13, and finished 6-of-14 passing for 90 yards and two interceptions.
Central Catholic 61, Seneca Valley 7 — The Raiders scored first on an Andrew Loebig 73-yard touchdown pass to Danny Drennan, but it was all Vikings from there.
Loebig finished with 93 yards on 5-of-11 passing, and Drennan caught three balls for 80 yards.
Kyle Mancing had four tackles and a sack on defense.
Seneca Valley (3-5, 3-2) still has an inside track for a WPIAL playoff spot but has not locked one up. The Raiders, who had won two straight going into Friday night, visits North Allegheny in the regular season finale.
Avonworth 48, North Catholic 28 — The Trojans playoff chances took a hit with Friday’s loss against favored Avonworth.
North Catholic trailed 35-0 at halftime before scoring four touchdowns in the second half. Joey Felitsky scored on a 6-yard run and tossed touchdown passes of 56 and 34 yards to Jack White.
North (3-6, 2-3 section) must beat Hopewell in Week 10 to have a chance to make the 3A WPIAL tournament. Avonworth improved to 6-2 with the win.
Neshannock 47, Summit Academy 6 — The Knights dropped their eighth straight game, this one on the road. They visit Shannango next week to close the season.
