PIAA District Nine Season Preview

Tagged under: District 9, News

Tristan Klinefelter | August 27, 2026

The 2026 PIAA football season kicks off this week, and teams across District Nine will be aiming for the top spot in their respective classifications.

In 2025, Port Allegany (Class 1A), Karns City (Class 2A), Brockway (Class 3A), and Punxsutawney (Class 4A) took home gold in District Nine. This season, previous champions have moved classifications and are returning top players to compete around District Nine and beyond.

Class 1A

The Brockway Rovers enter the 2026 season as back-to-back District Nine champions. Last year, the Rovers took down Saint Mary’s in the District 3A championship before losing to Penn Cambria the following week. The Rovers return several key players, including quarterback Aiden Patton and receiver Caleb Daugherty. Patton finished 2025 with 2,149 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. Daugherty returns as a fourth-year starter, hauling in more than 150 catches for 2,458 yards and 31 touchdowns. The Rovers open the 2026 campaign at Keystone.

Redbank Valley comes into the 2026 season with a chip on its shoulder. In 2024 and 2025, the Bulldogs advanced to the District Nine title game but fell short against Port Allegany. The Bulldogs open the 2026 season at Kane.

The defending District Nine champion Port Allegany Gators enter 2026 without leading rusher Aiden Bliss. Bliss was a huge factor in the Gators’ back-to-back district title crowns. The Gators will look to make it three straight this season as they kick off against Coudersport to start the year.

Class 2A

The Karns City Gremlins enter the 2026 season as defending District 9 2A champions. The Gremlins lost to Farrell in the PIAA playoffs. Head coach Joe Sherwin will have starting quarterback Cole Johnston back.

The Central Clarion Wildcats lost to the Karns City Gremlins in the District 9 finals last season. The Wildcats will look to return to the D9 title game as they open the season against Union-AC Valley.

Class 3A

The Saint Marys Flying Dutch return several players this season after falling to the Brockway Rovers in the District Nine 3A championship game. Head coach Chris Dworek said in an interview, “We’ve had a great offseason starting in January with lots of kids in the weight room and participating in many offseason activities. Their work ethic is solid, and we expect to have a solid season.”

Known for Punxsutawney Phil, the Chucks head into 2026 as defending District Nine champions. The Chucks defeated Clearfield in the district championship in 2025 in Class 4A but are now reclassified to Class 3A. The Chucks lost several key players but are still looking to have success in 2026.

Class 4A

The Clearfield Bison roll into 2026 looking to bounce back from the 2025 title-game defeat. Head coach Myles Caragein enters his fourth season as the Bison head coach.