2 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2022 • TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Acrisure or bust for Westmoreland Co. powers
Acrisure or bust.
That is the Birdie’s
slogan for the 2022
season.
He wants to be back on the
big stage.
“Penn-Trafford, Belle
Vernon, I’m looking at you,”
the bullish prep prognosticator
said as he prepared
his season-opening remarks.
“You can take the Heinz
out of that stadium, but you
can’t take the stadium out
of Heinz … or something
like that. Anyway, I still will
put my favorite ketchup on
everything and that place
will always be the paragon of
WPIAL pigskin. I plan to be
on the North Shore to cover a
county team going for gold.”
The new season sneaked
up on the Birdie, who
finished one win shy of 100
last season, although he
predicted the exact score of
the Penn-Trafford vs. Imhotep
Charter PIAA 5A final
(17-14), his crowning achievement
of 2021.
He hasn’t stopped talking
about it. Not when he went
on vacation with Mrs. Birdie,
not when he shot his age
on the front nine at Birdsfoot
Golf Course, not when he
stopped by Pittsburgh Steelers
training camp and not
when he patrolled the WCCA
7-on-7 tournament.
“This season came out of
nowhere,” he said. “I mean,
it hit me like Will Smith.
I have to get used to all of
these new coaches and teams
moving all around. I am not
big on change, ya know.
“It seems like I was just
in Hershey watching the
Warriors win it all. They will
always have that last win at
Heinz for the scrapbooks.
“At least I know my exact
lock will age well. The old
bird’s still got it.”
The Birdie is working
overtime getting ready for
PENN-TRAFFORD CELEBRATES A WPIAL TITLE LAST SEASON
the season after a potential
NIL deal fell through.
He stuffed the work fridge
with Choco Tacos, which are
being discontinued — much
to his chagrin.
“We had come to terms,
Klondike and I,” he said.
“They were going to pay
me the big bucks. Now, I’m
stuck with boxes of Chocos.
Oh well, guess it’s a win-win
for me. Let’s go!”
While he’s upset Burrell
didn’t invite him to the
linemen hot dog-eating contest
over the summer, he is
hungry for some football but
always has room for dessert.
Belle Vernon
The Leopards will drop to
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3A, but their expectations
might rise.
Wins: 9
Playoffs: Yes
Derry
It will be a getting-to-knowyou
year for a new coaching
staff and system.
Wins: 1
Playoffs: No
Franklin Regional
A lot of skill and size to
replace this season for the
Panthers. Can they stay
healthy?
Wins: 5
Playoffs: Yes
Greensburg
Central Catholic
Look for the scoring to
be up and the turnovers to
be down for the talented
Centurions.
Wins: 6
Playoffs: Yes
Greensburg Salem
A change of scenery will
help, but the Golden Lions
have some talent that could
win on merit.
Wins: 6
Playoffs: No
Hempfield
Depth will be better, and
a move to 5A could send the
Spartans in a new direction.
Wins: 5
Playoffs: Yes
Jeannette
The good news for the
Jayhawks: Nobody transferred.
The bad news: The
Eastern Conference is still
brutal.
Wins: 2
Playoffs: No
Latrobe
A new coach and system
has the Wildcats thinking
big as they drop to 4A.
Wins: 5
Playoffs: Yes
Ligonier Valley
A team that appears much
more acclimated to the
WPIAL, the Rams should
make some noise.
Wins: 6
GOOD LUCK
TO ALL AREA TEAMS!
from your friends at Donahue’s
Last
year’s
record:
99-39
(71.2%)
Playoffs: Yes
Monessen
Numbers are improving,
but the Greyhounds will
have some work to do.
Wins: 4
Playoffs: No
Mt. Pleasant
The Vikings have some
new opponents and will feel
graduation losses, but they
will compete.
Wins: 5
Playoffs: Yes
Norwin
Moving down to 5A will
do wonders for their confidence,
but the Knights still
have a tough schedule.
Wins: 4
Playoffs: No
Penn-Trafford
The returning WPIAL and
PIAA 5A champs should be
very good again — especially
up front.
Wins: 9
Playoffs: Yes
Southmoreland
If a few athletes pan out,
the Scotties could be dangerous.
But can they stop
anybody?
Wins: 4
Playoffs: No
Yough
Same theme as a lot of
local teams: new coach, new
system. Nothing will come
easy.
Wins: 3
Playoffs: No
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