The list of unbeatens was cut by two in District 9 football last week. This week, the remaining four perfect teams have at least two stiff challenges to keep the run going.

Karns City (5-0), coming off its impressive 23-7 win over unbeaten Redbank Valley, travels to 3-2 Clarion Friday night at Clarion University. The Gremlins will try to bolster their hold on a share of first place in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference.

In another marquee matchup involving one of the unbeaten D-9 teams, the Bradford Owls host 4-1 Brookville.

The other unbeaten KSAC team, Moniteau, will take a week off from conference play with a home game against 2-3 Bald Eagle Area. The Eagles may be better than their record, with losses to strong programs Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis.

Coudersport will try to make it 6-0 with a Saturday afternoon trip to Sheffield.

Week 6 gets an early start this week as Redbank Valley (4-1) travels to Titusville (4-1) out of District 10 Thursday night.

Here’s a closer look at this week’s games:

Brookville had an extra week of practice to prepare for its big game at Bradford, a place it hasn’t won since a 7-6 overtime win back in 1998.

The Owls and Raiders boast the top two running games in the district. The Owls have three backs -- Taylor O’Brien (626 yards, 12 TDs), E.J. Moore (503-5) and Nick Johnson (316-4) -- over 300 yards. The Raiders have similar numbers with Max Kutz (598-5) coming off a 300-yard rushing effort. Joe Galbraith (204-2) and quarterback Shane Heschke (204-2) also have good running numbers. Heschke has good passing numbers as well with 411 yards and 5 TDs.

But don’t forget Bradford’s passing, believe it or not. The run-oriented Owls have a talented Ben Walter calling the plays. He’s thrown for 324 yards and 5 TDs.

Could it be a foreboding fact for the Raiders? Bradford roughed up Clearfield, 56-35, in a game not as close as the score. One week later, Clearfield rallied to beat Brookville in the fourth quarter, 39-35.

In the other District 9 League game, it’s a battle of the winless when DuBois heads to St. Marys. The Beavers, with seven straight losses, now own the district’s longest losing streak.

The Karns City Gremlins can’t rest on the laurels of their big win over Redbank Valley last week. They have to travel to Clarion to face a Bobcats team that’s looking to knock off a KSAC contender.

Last year, these teams played into overtime where Karns City won 17-14. The Gremlins were 3-2 before that game while Clarion came in with a 5-0 record. This year, the records are reversed.

Clarion is led by running back Brad Rapp (592 yards, 7 TDs) and quarterback Adam Bevevino (496 yards, 6 TDs). Karns City is paced by running back Roy Beham (406-8) and quarterback Matt Endlish (485-4).

In other KSAC games Friday, Clarion-Limestone (1-4) is scheduled to return to action after forfeiting non-conference games to North East and Brookville when it travels to Keystone (2-3). Union (1-4) hosts A-C Valley (0-5).

Heading into Week 6, it’s not too early to glance at the playoff outlook, especially in Class A. One game that’ll weigh in on how the seeds fall is the Elk County Catholic at Ridgway game. Both teams are 3-2 and are two of three teams -- Cameron County is the other -- who own that record. For the Crusaders, it’s the first of three tests in as many weeks. ECC hosts Cameron County next week and travels to Johnsonburg in two weeks.

For Ridgway, it’s the start of a stretch that includes a Saturday trip to Port Allegany and a game at home against AML-South leader Curwensville.

ECC’s Eric Mastrogiacomo (417 yards, 4 TDs) and Ridgway’s Jerico Weitzel (517-8), last week’s co-player of the week.

In other AML games, Johnsonburg (4-1) visits Brockway (2-3) as the Rams try to shake off their first loss last week to Curwensville. The Golden Tide (4-1), meanwhile, are at home against Kane (2-3). In the AML North Friday, Smethport (0-5) travels to Otto-Eldred (1-4). Saturday, Coudersport (5-0) heads to Sheffield (1-4) and Cameron County (3-2) travels to Port Allegany (2-3).

Starting with Thursday’s game, Redbank Valley treks to Titusville in a game featuring two 4-1 teams. The Bulldogs, led by sophomore running back Alex Bladel (770 yards, 9 TDs), take on the Class AAA Rockets, who have won four straight games.

Titusville started the year with a loss to Corry, then notched three shutouts in four wins. Three wins against Oil City, Meadville and Erie Central came against a trio that’s a combined 2-13.

Unbeaten Moniteau hosts Bald Eagle Area. It’s the second year in a row these teams have met. Last year, the Warriors won at BEA, 21-6. The Warriors will need to stay sharp as they close their KSAC schedule with a trip to Karns City next week, a home game against Redbank Valley and another road game at Clarion.

Clearfield (4-1) and Punxsutawney (1-4) both play Mountain Athletic Conference-Seven Mountains Division games. The Bisons try to win their fifth straight against tough Huntingdon (4-1). The Bearcats and Bisons share two common opponents with similar results. Huntingdon beat Bellefonte 26-14 and Lewistown 42-0. Clearfield beat Bellefonte3 21-17 and Lewistown 31-0. Last year, Huntingdon won at Clearfield, 27-21.

Bisons quarterback Andrew Janocko was the first D-9 passer to go over 1,000 yards. He’s at 1,079, completing 61 percent of his passes with six touchdowns. Adam Jury has 609 yards receiving on 38 receptions.

The Chucks look to knock off their second winless opponent this year and Lewistown could be the one. The Panthers have scored just six points so far.