The Birdie jumps on the bandwagon heading from Westmoreland County to Heinz Field

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 | 6:21 PM

Last week: 4-2 (.667)

Season: 118-27 (.814)

The Birdie has been parading around the office wearing a Harley Davidson leather jacket on his unathletic body and a fire helmet on his egg-shaped head.

“That’s dad bod to you, sir,” Birdie quipped. “Egg-shaped? You’re cracking me up.”

Westmoreland’s Prince of Pigskin added a bright blue strobe light to the top of the helmet and has not turned it off all week.

“Rev up the engines and wind up the sirens,” he said, “Derry is headed to Heinz. Harley, Charlie, Mike — the whole gang. We’re talking blue waves.”

Derry players are welcomed by a gang of motorcycles and blaring fire truck whistles when they take the field for home games. The Trojans will play in their first WPIAL Class 3A title game Saturday, and the Birdie wants the bikes and ladder trucks to come, too.

He plans to ride sidecar.

“Or I can ride in the bucket,” Birdie said. “I know the WPIAL brass well. I can get you all in. We have our own suite, and it has sweets. This is what you call a five-alarm Cinderella story.”

The Birdie, miffed by a 4-2 week and the fact he saw the Jeannette loss coming from a mile away but didn’t pick it, said Derry has been on his radar for some time.

“Derry knows I predicted them to have a big year. (OK, I said they’d ‘go 6-4 and remain competitive.’)” he said. “We’ve had our differences, yes. Co-workers say I am on the bandwagon. They are razzing me. In a world full of hammers, why must I always be a nail?

“The Trojans know I have been with them all along. I knew you’d make it to Heinz eventually, and not just for WPXI Skylights. What time will you be picking me up?”

Friday

Ligonier Valley (12-0) vs. Richland (12-0) at Mansion Park, Altoona

Ligonier Valley has been too strong all season to run out of gas now. Richland will be a test, up front and against the run, but the Rams’ playmakers will come through on both sides of the ball. The Rams will overcome their toughest challenge in months.

Ligonier Valley, 20-14

Saturday

Derry (11-1) vs. Aliquippa (11-1) at Heinz Field

Derry rallied for 21 fourth- quarter points last week to get past North Catholic. The Birdie sees another potential rally on the horizon but believes Aliquippa’s overall speed and title-game experience will be too much for the Trojans to overcome. The Quips will take advantage of field position.

Aliquippa, 28-13

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.