Butler, Seneca Valley and the Eagle Traveling Trophy.

It was good to see the three of them together again this weekend.

Unfortunately, neighboring football teams just don’t get together all that often anymore. It’s bad enough to see that at the college level. Now we’re seeing it at the high school level as well.

Some people — including myself — believe that Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia should play each other every year. The scene at Acrisure Stadium a few weeks back is enough evidence of that.

Similar atmospheres — albeit on a much smaller scale — could be had at more high school football games around here.

Karns City plays Moniteau in football every single year. Can you imagine if they skipped a year, even once. That’s just not going to happen. The game means too much to both communities.

Butler and Knoch have never faced each other in a football game. They’ve scrimmaged each other, but have not met in an actual game.

Yes, I know, the programs are in different classifications. That shouldn’t matter. Steubenville Big Red — a longtime football power in Ohio — played Steubenville Catholic Central annually in what was known as the city championship gae every year even though those schools were three or for divisions apart in terms of size.

Big Red won most of those games, but they were always entertaining and always packed the house with thousands of people. They were neighboring schools. It just made sense to play each other.

The same could be said for Butler and Knoch. That could be a mutual season opener. Mars and Knoch should play each other every year, too, regardless if they’re in the same section.

There are too many divisions in Pennsylvania high school football anyway. The WPIAL consists of five Class 6A schools. Five. That tells you all you need to know.

Wouldn’t it be fun to see Slippery Rock play Karns City? The Rockets and Grove City play every year, regardless of size, because it’s a great community game. That’s what high school football should be all about.

North Catholic has used Mars’ football stadium on occasion to play home games. The Trojans and Planets should play each other. Freeport and Knoch should get together on the football field annually.

High school football used to be that way. The addition of divisions and neighboring schools classified into different sections helped the sport get away from all that.

Butler, Seneca Valley and the Eagle Trophy? Welcome back.

I hope you all stick around for a while.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle