The Birdie gets ready for Week Zero by picking A-K Valley winners

By: The Birdie
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 | 6:39 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Unlike past years, The Birdie is unsure about his season-opening picks.

The Birdie was sitting in on the weekly high school football planning meeting and just couldn’t keep his big beak silent. It was new quarterbacks this, young players that and he went on and on about Week Zero games.

“Pretty much all the teams are playing this week. I don’t know why they call it Week Zero. Just call it Week 1 and get the regular season started already,” Birdie said.

The early start to the season has the Birdie flustered, but that’s not the only thing that has him squawking around the newsroom. Throughout his years of picking games in the A-K Valley, he never has been more distraught.

The whole high school sports staff got to hear about it as he mumbled to himself throughout the meeting and labored over his picks.

“Man, Leechburg is going to make me pay this season, I’ll tell you what,” he squawked. “The arm on that new quarterback at Burrell, whew.

“Did you see that 6-foot-8 wide receiver at Kiski Area? He’s huge.

“Deer Lakes had how many more kids come out? Do they turn it around this year?”

Alas, the Birdie made his picks for Week Zero of the high school football season, but he’s never been so unsure about what could happen.

“I really don’t know,” he said with a sigh.

He gives his best shot at Week Zero below:

Burrell at Valley

The Bucs will play fast, and the Vikings won’t have the size to contain them like in years past. Burrell, 35-14

Allderdice at Kiski Area

Look for this game to be a repeat of last year’s opener. With new faces and young talent, Kiski Area cruises to a season-opening victory. Kiski Area, 28-14

Apollo-Ridge at Leechburg

The Blue Devils won this game a year ago. This year will be no different. Dylan Cook and Jake Blumer will lead Leechburg to an impressive win. Leechburg, 21-7

Deer Lakes at Springdale

With a surge in numbers, Deer Lakes is too big for the Dynamos to handle. The Lancers take this Week Zero matchup handily. Deer Lakes, 21-7

Fox Chapel at Peters Township

Peters Township is too big and too bad for Fox Chapel. The Foxes get off to a slow start in 2019. Peters Township, 28-7

Hampton at Knoch

The Brandon Mowry era at Knoch gets off to a good start as the Knights take down Hampton in a close one. Knoch, 14-7

Plum at Highlands

Plum returns enough experience to get a road victory and beat the Golden Rams for a second straight year. Plum, 27-21

Tags: Allderdice, Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Peters Township, Plum, Springdale, Valley