The Birdie talks WPIAL realignment before making A-K Valley playoff picks

By: The Birdie
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 4:35 PM

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Last week: 4-3

Season: 93-23 (80.2%)

One of the hottest topics of the long, cold football offseason that lies ahead is sure to be WPIAL realignment.

“The world needs to know what I think about this topic,” The Birdie said without a hint of sarcasm or self-awareness this week.

“The Birdie likes the idea of regional realignment. Take a map of Western Pennsylvania. Draw a big X with the city of Pittsburgh at the center. Those are your four regions — north, south, east and west.

“People have talked about a return to four classes. Birdie has a better idea. Three classes. There are 107 football schools in the WPIAL. Draw your X, and that’s about 27 per region. Split each region into three classes, and that’s nine teams per class.

“Those nine teams play each other in the regular season for a division championship. Four division champs play off with finals at Acrisure. That’s 10 weeks to crown three champs. Nice and tidy.

“We can work out the PIAA playoff points later. Don’t worry about that so much. The emphasis would be on beating your neighbors every week, not some team from Dauphin County in the middle of November.

“Been thinking a lot about what to name the 12 divisions. Considered Pittsburgh Brewing products, but that sends a bad message about underage drinking. Like the idea of naming each division after all-time greats from Western Pa. I like the ring of something like Mike Ditka Division champion Central Valley vs. Willie Thrower Division champion Highlands in the Class B playoffs.

“But the best idea is to make some money by selling division sponsorships. Looking at you, Sheetz. Mozzarella Sticks Division champ Apollo-Ridge vs. Pretzel Meltz Division champ Western Beaver in the Class C semifinals. Now you’re talking.

“None of this will ever happen. The WPIAL will make minor tweaks to the current format, call it realignment and that’s that. But it’s fun to think about, right?

“Now on to the picks for the second week of playoff action.”

Highlands (8-3) at Central Valley (6-4): These teams have seven losses between them, but that is terribly misleading. Not a bad loss in the bunch. What The Birdie sees is two teams sharpened by tough schedules.

The Golden Rams have some things going for them here. They have the game’s most explosive player in Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg, and they’ve shut out their last two opponents. But the Warriors are nicely balanced and fundamentally sound. They won’t beat themselves. Central Valley, 27-21

Freeport (8-3) at Avonworth (10-0): Here’s a good illustration of what the Yellowjackets are up against this week. There are four teams left in the WPIAL Class 4A playoff field. Class 3A Avonworth beat two of them this season (Aliquippa and Thomas Jefferson) by a combined score of 64-21.

So how could Freeport pull the upset? First, the Antelopes are going to get their points, but make them earn them. Control field position. Don’t miss tackles. Second, stun them with a return or two, preferably early. Few in the WPIAL are better at that than Amos Glenn. Avonworth, 24-7

Apollo-Ridge (8-3) at Western Beaver (9-1): No matter what happens, the Vikings have already had a great season, so they should be able to play free and easy. This is house money.

How do they beat the Golden Beavers, a team with two home run hitters in the backfield in running back Wyatt Sparbanie and freshman quarterback Amari Marshall? Bully them in the trenches and grind it out. They’ve got a shot. Western Beaver, 21-14

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Avonworth, Central Valley, Freeport, Highlands, Western Beaver