Birdie paints playoff picture, makes Week 7 A-K Valley picks

By: The Birdie
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 | 5:12 PM

Last week: 9-2 (81.8%)

Overall: 61-19 (76.3%)

When The Birdie strolled into the office Monday morning, he was whining up a storm.

He was mad that the temperature had dipped below 50 degrees.

“Once you put your Bermuda shorts in the back of the closet, they’re not coming back out until May,” he groused.

He was mad about Matt Canada.

“Are you familiar with Canada geese?” he asked. “They’re ill-tempered, and they leave their droppings all over the place. I think this guy is related to them.”

He was mad about yard work.

“I want my back to hurt because I played 36 on Saturday, not because I raked 36 bags of leaves,” he cried.

Realizing this was going to be a long day if someone didn’t take action, a part-timer spoke up.

“Hey Birdie,” he said. “Which A-K Valley teams do you think are going to make the playoffs this year?”

The Birdie falls for that one every time. He immediately launched into a 20-minute dissertation, citing conference standings, Gardner points, the whole nine yards.

A summary of his analysis:

“Highlands is on the outside looking in in the Greater Allegheny, but the Golden Rams still have a good shot. The schedule is in their favor.

“Knoch’s a lock. That rhymes, and it’s a fact.

“Deer Lakes closes out with East Allegheny, Shady Side Academy and Freeport, and one of those four teams isn’t getting in. It’s an Allegheny Six battle royal.

“Burrell’s got a tough one this week, but the Bucs are still sitting pretty.

“Riverview vs. Leechburg on Saturday just might be winner-take-all for a spot in the Eastern Conference top four.”

Before he gets too far ahead of himself, The Birdie then made his Week 7 picks:

Kiski Area (2-5, 1-3) at Highlands (4-3, 1-2): A must-win for the playoff hopes of both teams. Stakes are high. Highlands, 28-27

Penn-Trafford (3-4, 2-1) at Plum (2-5, 0-3): Warriors got their running game going a few weeks into the season. Penn-Trafford, 35-20

Fox Chapel (0-7, 0-3) at Woodland Hills (5-2, 2-0): The meat grinder of a schedule continues for the Foxes, but this is a good chance to snap their scoreless streak. Woodland Hills, 41-12

Deer Lakes (5-2, 1-1) at East Allegheny (5-2, 2-0): This is not a knock on the Lancers, who are a fine football club, but the Wildcats are humming. East Allegheny, 21-19

Knoch (7-1, 2-0) at Freeport (2-5, 0-2): An upset pick here is tempting, but the Knights offense is just too nice. Knoch, 27-20

Shady Side Academy (4-3, 1-1) at Valley (2-5, 0-2): The Bulldogs were on a roll before an illness going through the team forced a forfeit last week. Shady Side Academy, 23-18

Burrell (4-3, 3-1) at Steel Valley (5-1, 4-0): I’ve said before the Bucs are built to pull off an upset, but the Ironmen are on a roll. Steel Valley, 30-14

Yough (2-5, 1-3) at Apollo-Ridge (1-6, 0-4): The Vikings are stuck in a slump. Yough, 21-20

Springdale (1-6, 0-3) at Frazier (0-7, 0-4): A good chance for the rebuilding Dynamos to show progress. Springdale, 14-12

Leechburg (4-3, 2-2) at Riverview (4-3, 1-2): It’s a Saturday afternoon game, but the playoff spotlight is shining bright on this one. Both teams have had good moments and bad moments this season. Who wants to be the hero? Leechburg, 27-26

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, East Allegheny, Fox Chapel, Frazier, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Penn-Trafford, Plum, Riverview, Shady Side Academy, Springdale, Steel Valley, Valley, Woodland Hills, Yough