The truth is out there as Birdie makes his Week 6 Westmoreland County picks

By: The Birdie
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 | 5:37 PM

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Last week: 11-2

Season: 57-21 (73%)

We interrupt this regularly scheduled column to bring you this special bulletin: The Birdie has been spotted in Derry.

Witnesses say a large, hairy creature was seen stomping through a wooded area near Trojan Stadium.

“Are we sure that wasn’t Bigfoot?” Birdie asked, looking in the mirror and brushing his hand across his chin scruff. “I’m not that hairy, am I?

“You know Derry is the Sasquatch hub, just like Kecksburg is with its UFOs. Maybe that wasn’t me.”

Then again …

The Birdie, who has been called a lot worse than “mythical figure,” admits he was in Derry last week to see the Trojans play Southmoreland and he stopped to snap a quick selfie with the Bigfoot statue on Chestnut Street. He parked his Chevette near the glorious monument and got lost walking to the stadium.

As he stepped over crackling sticks and dry leaves, he got hungry. Fortunately, he had some Jack’s Links in his back pocket to curb his hunger on the 1.2-mile walk.

“I saw some people pointing at me from beyond the trees,” he said. “I saw one of the photos on Instagram. It was someone shaped like me in that mid-step with my arms swinging. You know the pose.”

The Birdie also attended the Derry Railroad Days festival where he picked up a T-shirt that says “Believe” on the front.

“If you believe in Bigfoot, you can believe in me,” Birdie said. “I have a better chance at seeing Bigfoot this week than getting an injury report from local coaches.”

Now for this week’s mythical predictions:

Hempfield (4-2, 1-0) at Norwin (4-2, 1-1): The Birdie thinks this can be the game of the year in Westmoreland County. He sees a lot of scoring. A spillover crowd will get its money’s worth. A lot of this hinges on the injury report, of course. Norwin, 34-28

Gateway (2-4, 2-1) at Penn-Trafford (5-1, 1-1): Gateway is having a down year. Penn-Trafford is having another good year. Take the Warriors and their ground attack in a real bell-ringer. Penn-Trafford, 34-14

Latrobe (2-4, 1-2) at Kiski Area (2-4, 1-2): Neither team is going to win an award for defense, but the offenses have shown flashes. Look for the Cavaliers to show out at home. Kiski Area, 20-18

Belle Vernon (1-4, 0-1) at Chartiers Valley (5-1, 1-0): Chartiers Valley has a potent offense and will hit some big plays early on. Chartiers Valley, 27-17

Derry (3-3, 0-1) at Elizabeth Forward (5-1, 1-0): Defense has been Elizabeth Forward’s calling card, and it will shut down the Trojans with better play up front. Elizabeth Forward, 36-13

Greensburg Salem (2-4, 0-1) at Mt. Pleasant (4-2, 1-0): If Mt. Pleasant can establish control early on the line of scrimmage, the Vikings can possess the ball and keep the Golden Lions quiet. Mt. Pleasant, 21-14

Southmoreland (6-0, 1-0) at Yough (2-4, 0-1): Southmoreland might be the best team in the county, and the Scotties will show why with a fast start. Southmoreland, 42-13

Greensburg Central Catholic (3-3, 1-2) at Jeannette (3-3, 1-2): One of the WPIAL’s top rivalries is banged up. GCC has numerous injuries to overcome. The Jayhawks get the nod at home. Jeannette, 31-16

Fox Chapel (2-4) at Franklin Regional (0-6): Franklin Regional is running out of chances to get wins, but this game will help that cause. Franklin Regional, 28-21

Chartiers-Houston (3-3, 1-2) at Monessen (4-2, 1-1): The Birdie doesn’t bet as much as he used to, but if he had any loose change, he’d put it on Monessen. Monessen, 18-14

Charleroi (1-5) at Ligonier Valley (0-6): Ligonier Valley will join the ranks of the winning. The Rams will get the running attack going and finish. Ligonier Valley, 21-13

Tags: Belle Vernon, Charleroi, Chartiers Valley, Chartiers-Houston, Derry Area, Elizabeth Forward, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Yough