There have been a couple of surprises through two weeks of high school football.

Karns City starting 2-0 is not one of them. The Gremlins have plastered their first two opponents by a combined score of 123-20. Now they face their first true test of the young season as they host DuBois on Friday night.

Karns City is one of six Butler County teams eyeing 3-0 starts. That list includes Butler, Mars, Freeport, Union/A-C Valley and North Catholic. Do our reporters have all of them going 6-0 combined this week?

The Butler Eagle sports staff and Scoop return for our weekly game predictions. As with last year, sports editor Jake Merda Adams, reporters Derek Pyda and Brendan Howe, and Scoop will predict the winner and score of each local game. We’ll add additional analysis for five of those games. And we’ll discuss these games every Thursday on Alter Eagle’s “Eye On Sports” podcast, wherever you get your podcasts.

Here are our predictions for this week’s games:

Brendan Howe — 16-5 (7-3 last week)

Derek Pyda — 16-5 (9-1)

Scoop — 16-5 (8-2)

Jake Merda Adams — 15-6 (8-2)

Union/A-C Valley at Keystone, 7

Merda Adams — Union/A-C Valley 35, Keystone 30

Pyda — Union/A-C Valley 36, Keystone 22

Howe — Union/A-C Valley 34, Keystone 20

Scoop — Union/A-C Valley 27, Keystone 16

Meadville at Butler, 7

Merda Adams — Jordan Lawrence and the Bulldogs’ run game presents the toughest challenge on the ground the Tornado have faced in this young season. He’s averaged 147.5 yards per game, but Butler’s defense is up to the test. Butler 28, Meadville 14

Pyda — A one-dimensional Connellsville team ripped off some big runs against Meadville last week, albeit in a Bulldogs’ win. Butler’s ground attack will be too much. Butler 28, Meadville 13

Howe — The Golden Tornado are confident, but coach Eric Christy is making it a point to keep them focused on the task at hand. Butler 27, Meadville 20

Scoop — Butler will win the battle at the line of scrimmage with ease, and that will translate to the scoreboard. Butler 39, Meadville 6

DuBois at Karns City, 7

Merda Adams — Trey Wingard (52 of 85, 824 yards, 10 TDs, five INTs) and receiver Jaxson Hanzely (21 for 445, five TDs) are the engine of this pass first, second and third offense. The Gremlins can match the Beavers point for point. Karns City 42, DuBois 35

Pyda — The Gremlins have the running game — and a quarterback playing with confidence in Cole Johnston — to keep the potent Beavers on the sideline just enough. Karns City 40, DuBois 34

Howe — DuBois has an impressive passing attack led by Wingard. It’s early enough in the season where an aerial game is dangerous. DuBois 28, Karns City 27

Scoop — This may turn out to be the highest scoring game in the county this year. Karns City 41, DuBois 37

Bucktail at Moniteau, 7

Merda Adams — Bucktail snapped its own long losing streak (12 games) last week, but only because Renaissance Academy forfeited when only one official arrived for the game. We’ll learn a lot about the Warriors based on how they respond to last week’s loss. Moniteau 28, Bucktail 14

Pyda — Bucktail can win by forfeit, but can the Bucks win on the field? Not this week. Moniteau 41, Bucktail 12

Howe — I doubted Moniteau in Week 1. I’m not gonna make that same mistake this time. Moniteau 10, Bucktail 7

Scoop — The Bucks’ defense is in for a heavy dose of Moniteau running back Brendin Sankey. Advantage: Warriors. Moniteau 30, Bucktail 7

Seneca Valley at Pine-Richland, 7

Merda Adams — This Raiders offense already looks better than last year — they’ll keep things close. But the defending WPIAL Class 5A champs are better tested and have Division I talent across the trenches. Pine-Richland 35, Seneca Valley 24

Pyda — Quarterback Aaron Strader and running back Maclane Miller will stay one step ahead of the Raiders. Pine-Richland 36, Seneca Valley 24

Howe — The Rams have a roster fit for Class 6A football. They’ll prove that point again this week. Pine-Richland 35, Seneca Valley 21

Scoop — I’m impressed with SV’s offense through two games, but keeping up with the talent-laden Rams is a very tall task. Pine-Richland 40, Seneca Valley 24

Sharon at Slippery Rock, 7

Merda Adams — Kole Scott and Doug Popovec rushed for three combined touchdowns in a Saturday win to get to 1-1. Is the defense up to the challenge of slowing a Tigers team that’s averaging 39 points? Sharon 42, Slippery Rock 28

Pyda — The Tigers have stars galore at the offensive skill positions. Sharon 29, Slippery Rock 17

Howe — Sharon never presents an easy matchup for the Rockets, who are still coalescing. Sharon 35, Slippery Rock 14

Scoop — Sharon lost a shootout (43-41) to Cathedral Prep last week. That tells me more than its blowout win over Mercyhurst Prep in Week 1. Sharon 33, Slippery Rock 13

Freeport at Quaker Valley, 7

Merda Adams — Freeport 31, Quaker Valley 21

Pyda — Freeport 27, Quaker Valley 17

Howe — Freeport 27, Quaker Valley 14

Scoop — Freeport 32, Quaker Valley 20

Fox Chapel at Knoch, 7

Merda Adams — Fox Chapel 42, Knoch 14

Pyda — Knoch 16, Fox Chapel 14

Howe — Fox Chapel 28, Knoch 8

Scoop — Fox Chapel 17, Knoch 16

Mars at North Hills, 7

Merda Adams — Mars 31, North Hills 14

Pyda — Mars 38, North Hills 7

Howe — Mars 34, North Hills 14

Scoop — Mars 31, North Hills 3

Blackhawk at North Catholic, 7

Merda Adams — North Catholic 44, Blackhawk 21

Pyda — North Catholic 43, Blackhawk 16

Howe — North Catholic 49, Blackhawk 7

Scoop — North Catholic 45, Blackhawk 10

Summit Academy at Freedom Area, 7

Merda Adams — Freedom Area 41, Summit Academy 28

Pyda — Freedom Area 36, Summit Academy 18

Howe — Freedom Area 35, Summit Academy 20

Scoop — Freedom Area 24, Summit Academy 12