The Birdie reflects on a season to remember, makes A-K Valley playoff picks

By: The Birdie
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 6:30 PM

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Last week: 9-2

Season: 89-20 (81.7%)

When the regular season ends and playoffs begin, The Birdie tends to get a little melancholy.

“At this point, the season can be over in the blink of an eye,” the football fowl philosophized.

So before he makes his picks for the first week of the postseason, The Birdie wants to write a quick first draft of history to make sure nothing important gets forgotten.

“What will this season be remembered for?” he mused, offering a quick list.

The Mustang Miracle: “People will be talking about this play for decades to come,” Birdie predicted, referring to the last play of Friday’s Plum-Penn Hills game when Austin Kolankowski picked up a blocked field goal and was tush-pushed into the end zone for the winning score.

“A perfect combination of brains and brawn. Kolankowski was quick to recognize the situation. His teammates had the muscle to get him over the line.

“And, by the way, I’m the one who called it the ‘Mustang Miracle.’ Gave that beauty to the Friday night headline writers. Not that I want any credit, of course.”

Touchdown Makers: “According to my records, 11 WPIAL players have scored at least 23 touchdowns this season. Four of them play for A-K Valley teams.

“This season will be remembered for the playmaking, point-scoring exploits of Leechburg’s Timmy Andrasy, Freeport’s Amos Glenn, Highlands Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg and Burrell’s Antonio Perkins.”

Here’s the Kicker: “This will be remembered as a year where kicking took a giant step forward in the high school game, led by the record-setting 57-yard boot by Fox Chapel’s Harran Zureikat. Birdie will be keeping at eye on you in Athens, HZ.”

Menu Mangling: “Finally, this will be remembered as the season Sheetz got rid of its grilled chicken sub and replaced it with something called a “shredded chicken” sub. It’s shredded, breaded chicken tenders. Gross.

Now, on to the picks:

Kiski Area (4-6) at Shaler (3-7): Tough game to pick. The Cavaliers probably have more playmakers. The Titans beat common opponent Plum, and the Cavaliers didn’t. Ask me tomorrow and I might change my mind. For now … Kiski Area, 27-26

Plum (5-5) at Upper St. Clair (8-2): The Birdie loves the way the Mustangs bit down on their mouthpieces and got into the playoffs. The Panthers, though, are a wagon. Upper St. Clair, 34-20

Beaver (5-5) at Freeport (7-3): The Birdie might ruffle some feathers with this pick, but he likes the Bobcats. Beaver might be the best five-loss team you’ll ever see. Its losses are to the teams seeded first, second, third and fifth in Class 3A and fifth in Class 4A. The Yellowjackets are explosive enough to make me eat these words, of course. Beaver, 21-20

Burrell (4-6) at North Catholic (7-3): A good spot for an upset. The best way to stop QB Joey Felitsky is to keep him on the sidelines, and Burrell has the ground game to do just that. If The Birdie had any guts, he’d pick the Bucs. North Catholic, 20-14

Derry (6-4) at Highlands (7-3): Here’s what the Golden Rams have to worry about: Derry’s huge, powerful line. Here’s what the Golden Rams can count on: big plays on offense and special teams. Highlands, 34- 21

Riverside (5-5) at Apollo-Ridge (7-3): You know what would be a great exclamation point on a thrilling breakout season? A playoff win. Apollo-Ridge, 28-13

Neshannock (7-3) at Leechburg (7-3): The Birdie wonders if a loss in the season finale hurt Leechburg’s seed because this is a tough draw. Andrasy and the Blue Devils’ offense will dictate the pace, but it won’t be easy. Leechburg, 21-20

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Beaver, Burrell, Derry Area, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Area, Leechburg, Neshannock, North Catholic, Plum, Riverside, Shaler, Upper St. Clair