The second half of the season is under way as the 26 District 9 teams try to finish strong – and for many – gear up for a postseason charge.

All four unbeaten D-9 teams won on the road last week, including DuBois’ big 33-21 win at state-ranked McDowell. The Beavers (5-0) host St. Marys (2-3) Friday night in one of 15 games on the D-9 schedule.

The first game of the week is Thursday night as Redbank Valley (2-3) hosts District 10’s Cochranton (1-4) in a non-conference matchup in New Bethlehem. The Bulldogs have played Thursday of late during Autumn Leaf Festival week.

The Bulldogs are trying to bounce back from a tough 29-25 loss to Karns City last week. RB Skyler Smith (468 yards rushing, 7 TDs) and WR Nick Johnston (398 yards receiving, 5 TDs) lead the way.

Cochranton and Redbank Valley share a common opponent, sort of, by stretching the schedule. Sharpsville, which beat Cochranton 24-0, also beat Karns City, 35-14.

Unbeaten Clarion (5-0) goes on the road again to Karns City (3-2) to play the Gremlins on the turf. The Bobcats haven’t won at Karns City since a 20-14 win in 1999. 

Clarion-Limestone (5-0) hosts Keystone (1-4), and in the "something has to give" game, A-C Valley hosts Union in the battle of winless teams. Union is riding a 26-game losing streak and A-C Valley hasn’t won since beating the Knights in Week 5 of last year. The Falcons also have not scored an offensive touchdown since the fourth quarter of Week 7 last year, a streak that now stands at 24 straight.

While the Beavers have to avoid a letdown against an up-and-coming Flying Dutchmen squad, they’ll be sure to play in what should be a packed E.J. Mansell Stadium in DuBois. Head coach Jason Shilala’s team’s win over McDowell has the City of DuBois pretty excited.

In the only other league game, Bradford (2-3) travels to Brookville (1-4), which came close to knocking off Clarion-Limestone in a 7-6 loss. The Raiders scored a touchdown with 9 seconds left, but elected to go for the two-point conversion and the win only to come up short on a fake kick play. The Owls, meanwhile, won a 28-21 thriller over St. Marys.

The AML game of the week has Johnsonburg (3-2) heading to Elk County Catholic (4-1) hoping to tighten the South Division standings. The Rams fell to Brockway last week in overtime while ECC downed Ridgway. What the status of Rams’ junior standout Calvin Grumley is will weigh on the game’s outcome. He didn’t play in last week’s loss to the Rovers. ECC holds a first-place tie with Curwensville and plays the Tide in Week 8.

In the other AML South games, Brockway (3-2) hosts Kane (2-3) and Ridgway (0-5) visits Curwensville (4-1).

In the AML North, Coudersport (5-0) hosts Smethport (2-3) in the 98^th meeting between the teams. Smethport leads the all-time series 57-36-4, but Coudersport has won four straight. A win by the Falcons will match their longest win streak in the series.

In the other games, Port Allegany (4-1) visits Otto-Eldred (2-3) and Cameron County (1-4) hosts Sheffield (0-5).

Clearfield (4-1) hosts Huntingdon (3-2) in what could be an interesting Mountain Athletic Conference-Seven Mountains Division game. Both teams lost to Bellefonte, Clearfield losing 40-34 in double OT and Huntingdon falling, 21-13. In the other MAC game, Lewistown (2-3) hosts Punxsutawney (0-5).

In the other game featuring D-9 teams from teams out of the district, Moniteau (3-2) travels to Bald Eagle Area (1-4).

So far this year, D-9 teams are a combined 6-9 against teams from out of the district.

CLASS A PLAYOFF BERTHS CAN BE CLINCHED

Up to five District 9 Class A playoff spots could be sewed up this weekend (note that all scenarios are unofficial).

Clarion-Limestone and Clarion can claim spots by simply winning their games regardless of what anyone else does.

Coudersport can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Smethport and an Otto-Eldred lost to Port Allegany, while Port clinches a spot with a win and loses by both Keystone (vs. C-L) and Smethport (vs. Coudersport).

Finally, Curwensville claims another spot with a win and loses by Kane (vs. Brockway), Smethport, Cameron County (vs. Sheffield) AND Keystone.