The Birdie gets pushy as he makes his Week 5 picks in Westmoreland County

By: The Birdie
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | 6:31 PM

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Last week: 11-4

Season: 46-19 (71%)

Last week, the Birdie was at a local game and, like clockwork, got hungry at halftime.

The clock operator gave a side-eye stare as the growl from the Birdie’s stomach reverberated through the press box.

“I had one of those cravings for a walking taco,” he said. “You know that feeling.”

So, the friendly football fowl took a stroll to the concession stand.

There was a long line, and the bands were winding up their shows, so Birdie began to get antsy.

Then, things got worse.

He heard there was only one bag of Fritos left, and he noticed the Crock-Pot of ground meat was getting low.

Suddenly, like some kind of snack-bar MacGyver, he improvised.

“I had a couple people behind me line up and shove me forward,” Birdie said. “All of the sudden, I was at the front of the line and got my walking taco. Last one. Tush Push!”

The Birdie scarfed down his snack, bought each of his helpers a cold drink and went back to the press box.

“More teams should try the Brotherly Shove,” Birdie said. “I saw Yough try it last season, but I have not seen it this year. Trust me, it works.”

Now for the pushy prognosticator’s Week 5 picks:

Canon-McMillan (3-2, 1-0) at Hempfield (3-2, 0-2): Look for Hempfield to start fast at home and put up some points with the passing game and bounce back from a bad one last week. A blocked kick could make a difference. Hempfield, 20-17

Franklin Regional (0-5, 0-2) at Kiski Area (1-4, 0-2): Who doesn’t want to finish last in the Big East? Though Franklin Regional has shown it can run the ball, Kiski Area will do it better. Kiski Area, 21-14

Latrobe (2-3, 1-1) at Woodland Hills (3-2, 1-0): The Birdie is always looking for a good “Scoop.” Woodland Hills has one, and he will give the Wildcats fits. Woodland Hills, 36-14

Thomas Jefferson (4-1) at Belle Vernon (1-3): One of the best rivalries around, but Thomas Jefferson’s rushing attack will make this a one-sided affair. Thomas Jefferson, 31-14

Elizabeth Forward (4-1) at Greensburg Salem (2-3): Greensburg Salem will be chasing the Warriors around Offutt Field from the start. Elizabeth Forward, 38-13

Southmoreland (5-0) at Derry (3-2): Speed and finesse vs. throwback grit. The Birdie loves this matchup but doesn’t think Derry will have enough in the tank to go four quarters with the Scotties. Southmoreland, 41-21

Yough (2-3) at Mt. Pleasant (3-2): Don’t expect to see much passing unless a team falls way behind. The better ground game will get the upper hand, and that will belong to the Vikings. Mt. Pleasant, 24-14

Ligonier Valley (0-5, 0-2) at South Allegheny (5-0, 2-0): Ligonier Valley has had trouble putting points on the board. South Allegheny has done it with ease. South Allegheny, 42-7

Clairton (3-1, 2-0) at Jeannette (3-2, 1-1): The Birdie has watched tape of Clairton’s passing attack and thinks it is one of the best in the classification. Jeannette’s defensive backs could be in for a long night. Clairton, 41-14

Norwin (3-2) at North Hills (1-4): After that slugfest with North Allegheny, Norwin will step out of conference and regain its confidence on the road. Norwin, 28-14

Penn-Trafford (4-1) at Plum (3-2): The difference here will be the play of Penn-Trafford’s line — its defensive line — which will send a message early. The Warriors will make a splash on defense. Penn-Trafford, 20-9

South Side (4-1) at Monessen (4-1): After getting dealt its first loss of the season, Monessen will rebound in a game of big plays. Monessen, 26-24

Greensburg Central Catholic (3-2, 1-1) at Riverview (3-2, 1-1): If GCC can bottle up the run, it can have a big day at Riverside Park. Short fields will lead to a Centurions win, but it won’t be pretty. GCC, 22-14

Tags: Belle Vernon, Canon-McMillan, Clairton, Derry Area, Elizabeth Forward, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, North Hills, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Plum, South Allegheny, South Side, Southmoreland, Thomas Jefferson, Woodland Hills, Yough