District 9 Media Day – Part 2

Tagged under: District 9, pfn

Phil Myers | August 1, 2025

As divulged in Part 1, the D-9 committee has broken down the league into four divisions of five teams.  Part 2 will consider Division II which looks to be quite competitive.  Division II is the only division that boasts two state finalists in the past 4 years in Redbank Valley (2021) and Port Allegany (2024), plus it has the 2024 3A district champ in Brockway.  The coaches have tabbed Port Allegany as the favorite for the upcoming season.  Bradford and Brookville round out Division II.

Bradford Owls – Numbers, an undefeated JV team, and a one loss Middle School eleven has Bradford excited about 2025, and the Owls’ hopes of building on their 3-7 record of a year ago.  There will be a change in the offense as head coach, Jeff Puglio, will also take on the duties as the offensive coordinator.  After slinging the ball around the past few years with Talen Reese, Puglio has decided to install the Wing-T which is a very successful system once the players adapt.  The only thing holding back the Owls may be the schedule as the young team will face 8 playoff teams from last year.

Bradford L to R: Logan Kohler and Head Coach Jeff Puglio.

Brockway Rovers – Speaking of a daunting schedule and facing 8 playoff teams from a year ago, Brockway will be in the same boat as Bradford.  After being successful with a D-9 title in Class 3A and sporting a 7-5 record, the players’ goal this year is to take one week at a time, win another title, and make a deeper playoff run in 2025.  The Rovers did not play their best game in losing to Somerset last year and that appears to also be one of the motivational factors for the players coming into this season.  Aiden Patton returns as QB having a fantastic year last season, but he and the coaches realize that a running game is a big necessity to being successful.  Look for Brockway to be more balanced and dangerous in 2025.

Brockway L to R: Head coach Jake Heigel, Ben Yale, Jonathan Winnings, Xavier Schwentner, Madox Decker, and Aiden Patton.

Brookville Blue Raiders – Brookville had a disappointing sub=par season last year going 2-8.  “Going 2-8 was not a good feeling.  We felt bad for the coaches,” said one player.  Having noted that Coach Morrison reiterated that success in high school to him and his staff is not always about ‘W’s but about ‘seeing the kids 10 to 15 years down the road and how they have grown into young men with family and job responsibilities.’  The Blue Raiders are going to be more organized and take things week to week hoping to improve each outing.  If they can do that and keep free from the injury bug, look for Brookville to make a run in the playoffs for a D-9 title.

Brookville L to R: Trenton Colgan, Connor Ansinger, Hayden Freeman, and Sam Krug.

Port Allegany Gators – If ever there was a team from District 9 poised to repeat the accomplishments of the prior season, it may be Coach Justin Bienkowski’s Port Allegany Gators.  Going 14-1 and playing for a state title was ‘a dream come true’ stated one player.  Another said the experience was, “unreal.”  The Gators want to build on that positive experience from last year and there is no reason they can’t as they just have a couple positions to replace.  They return all the skill guys including the state’s leading rusher from last year, Aiden Bliss.  Support from the community was huge for the players and coaches, but they will tell you they have put last season behind them.  In 2025 they plan to have fun while seeking to accomplish the same goals as in 2024, including a state title this time.

Port Allegany L to R: Nick Wilfong, Ethan Tarbox, Aiden Bliss, and head coach Justin Bienkowski.

Redbank Valley Bulldogs – Coach Blane Gold noted that even though the Bulldogs went 9-4 last year it was his worst record as a head coach to date.  But, in his defense, 3 of their 4 losses were to Central Clarion and Port Allegany both of whom made the state title game.  Braylon Wagner returns as QB, and let me tell you, he is fun to watch as he can really pitch the pigskin and has an uncanny scrambling ability.  The Bulldogs scored a lot of points on Port Allegany when no one else could in 2024.  Harder work, consistency, and having fun are key points from the players’ standpoint for success in 2025.  Coach Gold says he and his staff want to have good game preparation, continue to be good teachers, and to get the kids to play with ‘controlled violence.’  “This group genuinely cares for each other and loves each other,” said Gold.  That is a recipe for success.  The overall feeling is Redbank and Port will again have a couple of real battles this year.

Redbank Valley L to R: Head Coach Blane Gold, Jaxon Huffman, Carson Gould, Brock George, and Braylon Wagner.

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