Yeah, yeah, yeah ... it's football season or whatever. But today is Brendan Howe's last show, and we're ... sending him out in style?

He's off to Yinzer pastures and reflects on his five years at the Butler Eagle and two years on Eye on Sports. And as our going away present, can he beat Derek in a game of "Numbers Game?"

Oh, yeah, the football! We've got Week 1 reactions from Butler, Karns City-Moniteau, Mars-Seneca Valley and more plus our predictions for this week's games. Who you got?

Go to www.butlereagle.com/section/sports for more Week 2 football previews today.

Sponsors:

https://www.gotothebeacon.com/

https://www.rstephensjewelers.com/

https://www.troyalanchevrolet.net/

For more on Butler Eagle Sports go to:

https://www.butlereagle.com/section/sports/

Follow on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/altereaglepodcast/

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www.alter-eagle.com

Host: Derek Pyda

Co-Host: Brendan Howe

Co-Host: Jake Merda Adams

Producer: Laura Crago

Max Gallagher and Logan Skibinski shredded defenses last year for Union/A-C Valley football en route to the co-op's best season on record. No matter, the Falcon Knights are confident the newest edition of the offense will be just fine.

Parker Bish, Nick Ielase and Noah Yori join "Eye on Sports" for a special Butler Eagle Football Media Day episode to talk about an encore, young quarterback Andrew Kifer and more as they chase more success in District 9. Plus, which chore do they hate to do at home the most (sorry mom and dad!) Find out in our new segment, "Wingin' It," brought to you by The Beacon Hotel. This episode is also brought to you by Robert Stephens Custom Jewelers and Troy-Alan Chevrolet Buick GMC in Slippery Rock.

Sponsors:

https://www.gotothebeacon.com/

https://www.rstephensjewelers.com/

https://www.troyalanchevrolet.net/

For more on Butler Eagle Sports go to:

https://www.butlereagle.com/section/sports/

Follow on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/altereaglepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/butlereaglenews/

www.alter-eagle.com

Host: Jake Merda Adams

Producer: Laura Crago

Steve Monteleone takes over a football program for the first time in his long coaching career, and there's enthusiasm already in Year 1 for the Slippery Rock Rockets as they look recover from injuries and graduation losses.

Some of those Rockets —Aiden Shay, Cole Schwartz and Logan Schlobohm — hop on a special Butler Eagle Football Media Day episode of "Eye on Sports" to talk about their new coach, roster changes, goals and more ahead of the PIAA season. Then during our new segment, "Wingin' It," brought to you by The Beacon Hotel, we dive into some hard-hitting questions: are flats or drumsticks the best kind of wing? This episode is also brought to you by Robert Stephens Custom Jewelers and Troy-Alan Chevrolet Buick GMC in Slippery Rock.

Sponsors:

https://www.gotothebeacon.com/

https://www.rstephensjewelers.com/

https://www.troyalanchevrolet.net/

For more on Butler Eagle Sports go to:

https://www.butlereagle.com/section/sports/

Follow on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/altereaglepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/butlereaglenews/

www.alter-eagle.com

Host: Jake Merda Adams

Producer: Laura Crago

"Let's go!" We're kicking off Season 3 from Mars Athletic Complex, with the Planets practicing for their season opener against Seneca Valley.

First-year Mars head coach Zachary Benedek and Planets players XXX, XXX and XXX sit down to talk with Derek Pyda, Brendan Howe and Jake Merda Adams about the 2026 PIAA football season. Plus, the guys make their picks for the first week of WPIAL, District 9 and District 10 games. Will the Planets beat the Raiders for Benedek's first win? Or will Don Barclay's crew spoil the big moment?

Looking for more high school football and other fall sports previews to get ready for the season? Click this link for everything you need to know: https://www.butlereagle.com/20260816/piaa-high-school-football-2026-butler-county-team-previews-top-players-and-fall-sports-breakdowns/

Sponsors:

https://www.gotothebeacon.com/

https://www.rstephensjewelers.com/

https://www.troyalanchevrolet.net/

For more on Butler Eagle Sports go to:

https://www.butlereagle.com/section/sports/

Follow on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/altereaglepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/butlereaglenews/

www.alter-eagle.com

Host: Derek Pyda

Co-Host: Brendan Howe

Co-Host: Jake Merda Adams

Producer: Laura Crago

Quarterback Jamen Alwine and two of his weapons, Julian Hunt and Josiah Edwards, are eager to kick off Year 2 of the Don Barclay era at Seneca Valley the way 2025 ended: with a bang.

That trio is here on "Eye on Sports" for a special Butler Eagle Football Media Day episode to talk about the upcoming PIAA football season, how the Raiders have evolved and raising the bar to get back into the WPIAL playoffs. Then in our new segment, "Wingin' It," brought to you by The Beacon Hotel, we talk Super Bowl food spreads, wings and more. This episode is also brought to you by Robert Stephens Custom Jewelers and Troy-Alan Chevrolet Buick GMC in Slippery Rock.

Sponsors:

https://www.gotothebeacon.com/

https://www.rstephensjewelers.com/

https://www.troyalanchevrolet.net/

For more on Butler Eagle Sports go to:

https://www.butlereagle.com/section/sports/

Follow on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/altereaglepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/butlereaglenews/

www.alter-eagle.com

Host: Jake Merda Adams

Producer: Laura Crago

After showcasing a prolific offense in 2025, the North Catholic Trojans are back with the same lofty expectations for the PIAA football season but plenty of new faces in important roles.

Will Waskiewicz, Louisi Iaquinta and Joseph Colluiton hop on "Eye on Sports" for a special Butler Eagle Football Media Day episode to talk about all the new skill position guys, being in the same WPIAL section as Knoch and Freeport and more. Plus, in our new segment, "Wingin' It," brought to you by The Beacon Hotel, we grill them on important topics like which is their least favorite drill at training camp. This episode is also brought to you by Robert Stephens Custom Jewelers and Troy-Alan Chevrolet Buick GMC in Slippery Rock.

Sponsors:

https://www.gotothebeacon.com/

https://www.rstephensjewelers.com/

https://www.troyalanchevrolet.net/

For more on Butler Eagle Sports go to:

https://www.butlereagle.com/section/sports/

Follow on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/altereaglepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/butlereaglenews/

www.alter-eagle.com

Host: Jake Merda Adams

Producer: Laura Crago

Vibes are high in Warrior Country, where second-year head coach Clay Kohlmeyer and Moniteau football are looking to build off last year's 3-7 season in District 9, a marked step up from the year before.

Senior Carter Knight and juniors Bryce Stamm and Bryan Hazlet sit down for a special Butler Eagle Football Media Day episode of "Eye on Sports" to talk about the upcoming PIAA season, getting ready for rival Karns City in Week 1 and what's new for the young team — particularly on offense. Then we dig into some wings in our new segment, "Wingin' It," brought to you by The Beacon Hotel, to talk Savannah Bananas football rules, who is the best dancer in the Moniteau locker room and more. This episode is also brought to you by Robert Stephens Custom Jewelers and Troy-Alan Chevrolet Buick GMC in Slippery Rock.

Sponsors:

https://www.gotothebeacon.com/

https://www.rstephensjewelers.com/

https://www.troyalanchevrolet.net/

For more on Butler Eagle Sports go to:

https://www.butlereagle.com/section/sports/

Follow on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/altereaglepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/butlereaglenews/

www.alter-eagle.com

Host: Jake Merda Adams

Producer: Laura Crago

First-year head coach Zachary Benedek is bringing a new energy to the Mars Fightin' Planets football program after they had another successful run to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs in 2025.

Jameson Garvin, Jameson Dickman and Ryan Walker join Eye on Sports for a special Butler Eagle Football Media Day episode to talk about the upcoming PIAA season, what life is like under Benedek, how they'll replace standout skill position players and more. Then they crack some jokes at their own expense in our new segment, "Wingin' It," brought to you by The Beacon Hotel. This episode is also brought to you by Robert Stephens Custom Jewelers and Troy-Alan Chevrolet Buick GMC in Slippery Rock.

Sponsors:

https://www.gotothebeacon.com/

https://www.rstephensjewelers.com/

https://www.troyalanchevrolet.net/

For more on Butler Eagle Sports go to:

https://www.butlereagle.com/section/sports/

Follow on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/altereaglepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/butlereaglenews/

www.alter-eagle.com

Host: Jake Merda Adams

Producer: Laura Crago