Get a little stitious with The Birdie’s playoff picks in A-K Valley football

By: The Birdie
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | 7:16 PM

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Last week: 10-1

Season: 81-22 (78.6%)

The Pittsburgh Steelers, with their six Lombardi trophies and 676 all-time victories, haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, with their five Stanley Cup championships and 2,030 all-time victories, haven’t won a playoff series since the 2018 season.

There are lots of lessons that could be learned from the above facts, but here’s the big one: It’s really hard to win in the playoffs.

So as four A-K Valley football teams get ready for their playoff openers Friday night, The Birdie is ready to lend a helping hand.

“Game plan advice?” the old bird scoffed. “Nah, I don’t have any of that. I barely know a blitz from a blintz. Anybody’s who has read this column over the years could tell you that.

“No, I’m here to help out with what’s really important. Superstitions. Mojo. Can’t win a playoff game without the proper vibes.

“Patrick Mahomes’ good luck charm is his underwear. He wears the same pair for every game. Do this. People will tell you to make sure to wash them between games, but, hey, that’s optional. I mean, would you rather play good or smell good? Easy choice.

“Brian Urlacher used to eat two chocolate chip cookies before every game. Do this. It’s good to show dietary discipline before a big game. Thursday afternoon, I’ll polish off a whole row of Chips Ahoy. Friday afternoon, I mean business.

“Josh Allen throws up before every game. Don’t do this. Waste of perfectly good chocolate chip cookies.

“Former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle John Henderson used to have a member of the team’s training staff give him a hard slap in the face before every game. Don’t do this. I used to ask co-workers to slap me in the face before every column I’d write, but the line would go out the door and it got really disruptive.

“Finally, tails. Tails never fails. Now go get ‘em, boys.”

Mt. Pleasant (5-5) at Freeport (7-3): The Yellowjackets have come a long way since a deflating loss to Derry in Week 1. They’ve won six of eight, Drew Ross has become a quarterback who can carve up a defense and they’re a team nobody wants to see in their corner of the bracket.

One important caveat: When Freeport has been scored on, it’s often been via the big play, and Mt. Pleasant has a big-play threat in receiver Jarett Garn. Freeport, 28-21

Highlands (5-4) at Southmoreland (7-3): If everyone were healthy, this one probably would have been a barnburner with Menage Lucas’ high-octane Golden Rams offense trading scores with freshman gunslinger Anthony Smith of Southmoreland.

As it stands, the Scotties have been decimated by injuries and illness. Barring quick recoveries, the Golden Rams will be heavily favored. Highlands, 34-13

North Catholic (4-6) at Deer Lakes (8-2): The Trojans are going to try to outscore the Lancers. Quarterback Joey Felitsky led the WPIAL in passing yards in the regular season, and receiver Ryker Kennedy led in catches.

On the other hand, the Trojans have allowed at least 40 points in five straight games. Even The Birdie knows the more the ball is in the hands of Deer Lakes star Zier Williams, the less it will be in Felitsky’s. Deer Lakes, 40-34

Cornell (8-2) at Leechburg (8-2): The Blue Devils have only two losses this season, and both came against teams with dynamic weapons on offense: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Samir Crosby and Clairton’s group of game-breakers.

So do the Raiders fit that description? Yeah, probably. Walter Clarit is a 1,000-yard rusher who can light up a scoreboard. Jayden Floyd’s offense can keep up, of course, but this will be a battle. Leechburg, 28-26

Tags: Cornell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Highlands, Leechburg, Mt. Pleasant, North Catholic, Southmoreland