scoop

I come before you a befuddled bird.

My beak is bent, my feathers are ruffled, my eagle-eye is out of focus. My 6-6 record of last week is, quite bluntly, unacceptable.

An eagle must be prouder than that. It's all in the image, you know.

So I'll sharpen the claws and pen my poignant pigskin prognostications again, confident of a better outcome by the time Friday night's lights are extinguished:

FOX CHAPEL at BUTLER — The Golden Tornado baffled me and numerous others last week with a mistake-filled loss to Norwin. This group is too good to lose two straight at home. Keep the faith.

Butler, 33-12.SENECA VALLEY at KISKI AREA — The Raiders also stumbled a week ago and now go on the road again. The Cavaliers found some offense last week, and Seneca Valley has plenty of that.

Seneca Valley, 23-17.GREENSBURG SALEM at KNOCH — The Golden Lions make their maiden voyage in the Greater Allegheny Conference and Knoch is coming off a dominating effort against Ringgold. The Knights are at home and the Greensburg contingent will wish it stayed there.

Knoch, 31-15.CLARION-LIMESTONE at KARNS CITY — This isn't the same Clarion-Limestone that's won or shared four straight Keystone-Shortway Athletic Conference titles. This is the same Karns City program that's been at or near the top of the league for years.

Karns City, 35-12.A-C VALLEY at MONITEAU — Yes, the Falcons are improving and Mike Himes flew as high as any bird could last week. Problem is, Moniteau's program is improving as well and is hungry for a solid performance at home.

Moniteau, 47-14.SHENANGO at MARS — It's been the Billy Bair Show the past two weeks for the Planets, who haven't even unleashed their impressive passing attack yet. Shenango will be their next victim.

MARS, 33-14.STO-ROX at SLIPPERY ROCK— Saturday night's loss at East in Erie stung. Sto-Rox is venturing out of conference for the first time in three years. This is a top-notch program catching Slippery Rock at the right time.

Sto-Rox, 30-6.In other games, I see Keystone defeating Union 21-10, Valley knocking off Freeport 38-22, Wilmington getting past Grove City 21-15 and Summit Academy bouncing Shady Side Academy, 18-11.

Last Week:6-6Season:14-9