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Wednesday, September 6, 2023 | 6:36 PM
Andrew Palla | For the Tribune-Evaluate
Valley’s Dorian Briggs (left) celebrates a first-half landing final Friday.
Final week, The Birdie gave his stamp of approval to Riverview as his breakthrough staff of the yr. The Raiders got here out and rolled Carlynton, and the outdated chicken crowed for the following six days about how sensible he’s.
Not each staff within the A-Ok Valley is off to pretty much as good a begin as Riverview, in fact. Some want a spark to show their luck round because the season reached Week 2.
The Birdie considers turning luck round considered one of his many specialties.
“Ever since that choose mentioned I’ve a contact of what some individuals name a ‘playing drawback,’ I’ve made it my mission to review what precisely brings luck to some groups and never others,” Birdie mentioned.
His analysis began through the 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs.
“Senior yr of highschool. Morning of Recreation 2 of the Rangers collection. Placed on my black-and-gold argyle socks. Didn’t take them off till June. Pens didn’t lose once more.
“Promenade date thought they seemed somewhat bizarre. In all probability smelled somewhat bizarre by that point too. However what does The Birdie bear in mind most about promenade night time? Mario received two in opposition to the Bruins and Jagr received one. Can’t argue with success.”
Together with his fortunate horseshoe perched atop his laptop monitor, The Birdie proceeded to make his Week 2 picks.
Valley (1-1) at Burrell (0-2): Might a luck turnaround be in progress in New Kensington? Was a strong win over Apollo-Ridge final week the beginning of one thing large? Valley does have greater than a handful of playmakers. It’s not out of the query. Valley, 21-20
Chartiers Valley (0-2) at Highlands (2-0): Blackhawk supplied a fairly good check final week, and the Golden Rams handed with flying colours. Highlands, 30-14
Deer Lakes (1-1) at Apollo-Ridge (1-1): Ought to be an old style defensive slugfest. Lancers have momentum after a shutout of Burrell. Deer Lakes, 19-13
Freeport (1-1) at Quaker Valley (0-2): Maybe the Birdie put an excessive amount of inventory in a season-opening loss to Indiana. That was a matchup with a great staff on the highway. The Yellowjackets received rolling in opposition to South Allegheny final week, and there’s no purpose to suppose they’ll cease now. Freeport, 35-6
Knoch (2-0) at Beaver Falls (1-1): What a begin for the Knights. Threw throughout Hampton. Ran throughout Indiana. Beaver Falls, in the meantime, is a storied program with loads of weapons. The Birdie is selecting the Tigers, however he doesn’t be ok with it. Beaver Falls, 27-26
Laurel Highlands (1-1) at Kiski Space (0-2): Two groups licking their wounds after shedding to defending state champs final week — Kiski Space to Pine-Richland and Laurel Highlands to Belle Vernon. The Birdie insists the Cavaliers are extra harmful than their 0-2 begin has indicated. Kiski Space, 34-21
Leechburg (1-1) at Bentworth (1-1): Birdie thinks the Blue Devils offense might be an excessive amount of for the Bearcats. Leechburg, 34-14
Norwin (0-2) at Fox Chapel (0-2): Knights are most likely somewhat higher than their report suggests. Norwin, 28-14
Plum (2-0) at Shaler (2-0): A superb check for a pair of Class 5A groups off to good begins. If the Mustangs can win this one, they’ll gallop into convention play with tons of momentum. Shaler, 27–26
Riverview (2-0) at Northgate (1-1): May not have felt very similar to it this week, however fall is coming. And the autumn wind is a raider. The Birdie’s staff of the yr rolls on. Riverview, 34-20
Springdale (0-2) at Summit Academy (0-2): The Dynamos have scored some factors the primary two weeks. They only haven’t put all of it collectively. That is the sport to do this. Springdale, 20-18
Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Beaver Falls, Bentworth, Burrell, Chartiers Valley, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Space, Knoch, Laurel Highlands, Leechburg, Northgate, Norwin, Plum, Quaker Valley, Riverview, Shaler, Springdale, Summit Academy, Valley
