The Birdie says some A-K Valley teams’ seasons might turn into metaphorical pumpkin

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, October 10, 2018 | 7:21 PM

Last week: 8-3

Season: 62-16

The Birdie made his weekly pilgrimage to Giant Eagle — “gotta respect a store named after a bird” — over the weekend and was surprised by the number of fall-related products he saw.

“Everything’s got pumpkin spice in it now,” he said. “Coffee. Cereal. Cookies. Ice cream. Everywhere you look, something’s got pumpkin in it. Even dog treats!”

Perhaps he’s old-fashioned, but The Birdie longs for the days of going to pumpkin patches to pick out a nice one to carve into a Jack O’Lantern and then roasting and eating the seeds.

But that’s where his pumpkin nostalgia ends.

“What is it about fall that it’s become all about pumpkins?” he cried. “It should be about football. The only pumpkin reference in football should be about Springdale’s old orange ‘Pumpkin Head’ helmets.”

A few local teams are in danger of seeing their seasons turn into the metaphorical pumpkin carriage from Cinderella. “Not a good loss for Kiski, last week, or Highlands,” The Birdie said. “Tough way for Deer Lakes to go down, too.”

With three weeks left, teams need to make hay — and hay rides are a tradition even The Birdie appreciates.

Burrell (2-5, 2-4) at Freeport (3-3, 3-3)

The Bucs will pull a few tricks, but the Yellowjackets will get the treat. Freeport, 28-14

Deer Lakes (3-3) at Keystone Oaks (4-3)

The Lancers have some playmakers, but KO running back Michael Daure is one of the best in the WPIAL. Keystone Oaks, 34-21

Imani Christian (5-2, 3-2) at Leechburg (3-4, 1-3)

It’s a holy war with the Saints against the Blue Devils. Devils’ Night isn’t for another two weeks. Imani Christian, 44-14

Latrobe (1-6, 1-4) at Plum (2-5, 1-5)

The Mustangs ended their five-game losing streak last week, but a winning streak isn’t in their future. Latrobe, 35-20

Highlands (2-5, 2-3) at South Fayette (6-1, 4-0)

Highlands is headed to the Lions’ den, and not many teams escape there unscathed. South Fayette, 42-14

Kiski Area (3-4) at McKeesport (6-1)

Lions for Highlands, Tigers for Kiski … oh my. After a blowout loss to Woodland Hills, things won’t get much better for the Cavaliers. McKeesport, 40-14

Knoch (2-5, 2-4) at New Castle (3-4, 1-3)

It’s been a couple of bad Knights the last two weeks, and they won’t rule the Castle, either. New Castle, 21-10

Mars (6-1, 3-1) at Fox Chapel (2-5, 1-3)

The Foxes are coming off a victory, but it’s tough to win when you’re fighting an entire planet. Mars, 38-14

Riverview (1-5, 0-4) at Springdale (1-5, 0-3)

Even though both of these teams will miss the playoffs, the winner of this one will feel like it won the Super Bowl. Riverview, 14-8

Steel Valley (5-1, 3-1) at Apollo-Ridge (2-5, 1-4)

The Vikings could assemble all of the Avengers, and it still wouldn’t help against the Ironmen. Steel Valley, 41-13

Summit Academy (0-7, 0-4) at Valley (2-5, 1-3)

For the first time in five weeks, Valley had that winning feeling last Friday. They’ll get it again this week. Valley, 35-7

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski School, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, Valley