Butler Football vs. New Milford - Evan Diaz — Butler's Evan Diaz (Photo by Christopher Shannon/OnNJ Sports)

September 11, 2026

IMAGES: Second Half Defensive Pressure Helps Butler Football Top New Milford

Butler , Ethan Diaz , Evan Croker , football , Friday Night Lights , high school football , high school sports , Kobe St. Hilaire , New Milford , NJ sports

Butler Football vs. New Milford - 9.11.2026

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Action from a high school football game between Butler and New Milford on Sept. 11, 2026. (Photo by Christopher Shannon/OnNJ Sports)

After allowing 21 first-half points, Evan Croker snatched a 42-yard pick-six in the third quarter, and the rest of the Butler defense held New Milford to only seven additional points in the second half as the Bulldogs downed the Knights 41-28 on Sept. 11, 2026.

Ethan Diaz led the Butler offense, carrying the pigskin 29 times for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Croker complemented Diaz’s ground game, adding 131 yards through the air on five of eight passing and a TD.

Kobe St. Hilaire was the workhorse of the New Milford offense. St. Hilaire carried the ball 24 times for 203 yards and a touchdown. Brady Gilchrist added an additional 125 yards on four of seven passing and one TD. Gilchrist was intercepted twice.

With the win, Butler improves to 3-0 and will host North Arlington next Friday, while New Milford falls to 2-1 with the loss and will host Secaucus next Saturday.

About the Author

Christopher Shannon

Photo Editor

Christopher is the Photo Editor at OnNJ Sports. You can often find Christopher along the sidelines at sporting events in Northern Jersey, or at West Point photographing athletic, and other, events there. Christopher’s favorite events that he has had the opportunity to cover, so far in his career, include Penn State football White Out games and Army-Navy football games. While Christopher enjoys photographing a wide variety of sports, his favorite to cover include football, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, and lacrosse.