INDEX HIGH SCHOOLFOOTBALLGAMEPLAN2018
Belle Vernon 17
Derry 22
Franklin Regional 10
Greensburg Central Catholic 29
Greensburg Salem 20
Hempfield 4
Jeannette 30
Latrobe 12
In an effort to keep up with the
ON THE COVER: Norwin’s Jayvon Thrift, Latrobe’s Trent Holler, Jeannette’s Marcus Barnes and Norwin’s Gianni Rizzo
younger crowd, the Birdie tries
to stay hip to new trends on
social media, the same way he is
hip to another high school football
season.
“Is there anything better?” the
Westmoreland County football
expert asked, leaning on a crutch
and wearing a neck brace. “Well,
maybe there is: being healthy for
the start of a new
season. Hip, you
say? Both of mine
are still good—
for now. The rest
of me is a mess.”
The Birdie fractured
his ankle
—“Lower-body
injury if you print anything,” he
quipped—while attempting a
Twitter dance challenge. “One of
the photographers was filming
and forgot to tell me about the
fast-approaching fire hydrant.
Boom,” he said. “Saw more stars
than there are on the cover of our
preseason preview magazine.”
As for his neck, that was another
dare gone awry.
“Zoom challenge,” he said,
demonstrating with his hand that
glistens with a cubic zirconia band
he claims is a Jeannette championship
ring. “Photographer got
me again. Head snapped back
like a Pez. Whiplash. Concussion
protocol, too.”
Taking a break from Fortnite,
he channels his inner Mother
Hen: “You kiddos need to be more
careful with these challenges. I
gotta teach you the value of paper
football.”
Ligonier Valley 34
Monessen 32
Mt. Pleasant 23
Norwin 6
Penn-Trafford 14
Southmoreland 27
Yough 25
Back for a second season despite
rumors the school board wanted
him gone, the Birdie is primed to
pick winners, follow local storylines
and try to untangle the
mire of rumors that tend to beset
his kind every fall.
“That’s what I am here for,” he
said, pecking at a moldy piece of
bread on his desk. “I told you the
5A championship would be at Norwin.
Good people at Norwin.
“And I predicted they’d build a
Pittsburgh Steelers roller coaster
at Kennywood. And you thought
TribLive HSSN media day brought
out the crowds?”
A co-worker peers over from
behind his desktop: “No, you
didn’t predict those things in your
column. Slow your roll. You can’t
take credit for everything. Stay in
your lane.”
Birdie limps away like a defensive
back beaten on a deep route.
“My head still hurts,” Birdie
said. “I’m even seeing multiple
The Tribune-Review welcomes you to GAMEPLAN 2018, an in-depth look at the upcoming
high school football season in Western Pa. The tabloid includes coverage of area high school teams,
including schedules, statistics, rankings, players to watch and games to watch. It is designed to serve
as a reference for the Trib’s high school football fans throughout the season. Starting Thursday, the Trib
will begin its expanded game previews in THURSDAY GAMEPLAN, a look at the week’s top games,
players to watch and statistical leaders. We will take you from Week Zero through the PIAA finals. ... And don’t forget
to pick up your Tribune-Review newspaper every Saturday for complete coverage of Friday night’s action
and visit our website, Tribhssn.triblive.com, for season previews of every team in the WPIAL.
Dave Keefers. Let’s get to the
season predictions. When I get
back to normal, nobody is beating
me. Who’s up to that challenge?”
Belle Vernon
The Birdie thinks the Leopards have
the look of a winner with their top
passer, rusher and kicker/punter back.
Record: 7-2
Derry
The Birdie got pancaked for picking
against the Trojans last year. He
learned his lesson and thinks they will
remain competitive.
Record: 6-4
Franklin Regional
Senior leadership meant a lot to
the Panthers last year. It might take
overachieving play up front and no
big injuries for the offense to find its
rhythm.
Record: 6-4
Greensburg C.C.
A new system endured a whole
season, but is it enough to take root
and produce more wins? Birdie thinks
it is, but not many more.
Record: 4-6
Greensburg Salem
The Golden Lions learned to play
through injuries last season, which
gave some younger players valuable
experience. But new performers will
have to emerge quickly.
Record: 3-7
Hempfield
With virtually all of the Spartans’ offensive
pop gone, life in 6A could be a
grind. “That line is a lot better,” Birdie
said. “That should help … some.”
Record: 2-8
Jeannette
The returning WPIAL and PIAA
champions are the favorites in Class A
but, “The defense needs to match
that prolific offense,” Birdie said. “This
team doesn’t want a lot of shootouts.”
Record: 9-1
Latrobe
Improvement was the key word
around this team last season, and
momentum is on the Wildcats’ side.
But it will take a big push from the
defense to equal last year’s output.
Record: 4-6
Ligonier Valley
The high-powered Rams don’t look
like their run will end any time soon.
Another big season awaits.
Record: 9-1
Monessen
The Greyhounds will be better with
new schemes in place, but a lot fewer
teams make the playoffs this year in
Class A.
Record: 3-7
Mt. Pleasant
The Vikings had their streak of eight
straight playoff trips snapped and face
an uphill battle to start a new string of
postseason appearances.
Record: 4-6
Norwin
While it plays in the WPIAL’s
largest and most competitive class,
Norwin has the weapons to make
noise. “Signature wins,” Birdie said.
“Need more than a couple against the
big-namers.”
Record: 7-3
Penn-Trafford
Some key playmakers are gone,
“Household names in Harrison City,”
Birdie said, and new ones will have to
fill spots for the Warriors to stay in the
playoff chase.
“Watch that running back, Lisbon,”
Birdie said.
Record: 6-4
Southmoreland
A new coach and playbook have the
Scotties feeling refreshed, but change
takes time to blend into a program.
Record: 2-8
Yough
A nice looking senior group, led
by tailback Dustin Shoaf, whom the
Birdie calls “the most under-recruited
player in the county,” could pull out a
few surprises.
Record: 5-5
2 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 • TRIBUNE-REVIEW
SPORTS EDITOR | Kevin Smith HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS EDITOR | Bill Hartlep DESIGNERS | Chuck Curti, Brady Hunter, Mel Wass
HIGH SCHOOL STAFF WRITERS | Bill Beckner Jr., Doug Gulasy, Chris Harlan, Mike Kovak, Michael Love, Don Rebel, Paul Schofield
HIGH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTING WRITERS | George Guido, Dave Mackall, Jerin Steele, D.J. Vasil, William Whalen
PHOTOGRAPHERS | Shane Dunlap, Bill Hartlep, Christopher Horner, Chaz Palla, Louis B. Ruediger, Louis Raggiunti, Kristina Serafini, Nate Smallwood Dan Speicher
The Birdie predicts records for Westmoreland teams
Last season’s record:
119-30 (.799)
JEANNETTE’S BASIL WILSON (LEFT) AND NICK CEASAR