After last week, I fear I can no longer show my beak in this town.

I have to hide it in shame.

It wasn't a good week for the Scoopster. In fact, it was a pooper Scoop-er week.

The seven wins were good. The four losses — um, not so good.

The worst part is they came at the expense of a few Butler County teams.

Seneca Valley's rousing win in prime time against Erie McDowell? I thought it would be close, but I didn't see that coming.

Butler starting 2-0? Missed that one, too.

Knoch continues to perplex me. Maybe this will be the Knights' week.

I just can't afford another week for the birds.

On to the picks:

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Penn Hills 27, Butler 20 — You'd think after showing the Golden Tornado so little love last week, I would see the error of my ways and pick Butler.Sorry. Penn Hills is just too good, but Butler makes it close in its home opener.I still don't know why they didn't name it Scoop Stadium. Oh well.•

Seneca Valley 33, Baldwin 17 — Matt Plautz is on pace to catch about a billion passes this season. C.J. Brown is the bomb and he'll probably throw a few to Plautz this week.Baldwin won't run for 500 yards in this one like it did against the Raiders last year. Mark my words.•

Knoch 28, Peters Township 12: The Knights finally get off the canvas. If they don't their season might be in an even bigger tailspin than mine.•

Mars 23, Plum 14: Barely a triple-A school, the Planets will take on quad-A Plum — and win.•

Karns City 30, Brookville 16: Ho-hum. Another win for the Gremlins. But this one, on the road, will not be a cake walk.•

Moniteau 34, Punxsutawney 12: The Chucks see their shadow.•

Slippery Rock 22, Hickory 13: This will be a bare-knuckle brawl worthy of Western Pennsylvania. In a donnybrook, I'm taking the Rockets.•

Freeport 17, Apollo-Ridge 11: There is no doubting the Yellowjackets' defense.They held down a potent Shady Side Academy attack for most of the game last week.If Freeport can find a way to score, the 'Jackets can be dangerous.•

Redbank Valley 42, Union 12: Poor, poor Knights. They're trying against insurmountable odds.•

A-C Valley 13, Clarion-Limestone 11: I have to give the Falcons some love. It's in my contract.•

Wilmington 26, Grove City 16: The Eagles will be without senior quarterback Mike Burk, who has a broken foot, for the foreseeable future.That puts freshman quarterback Tyler Dagres under center in the biggest game of the season so far.Dagres acquitted himself well last week, but the Greyhounds can throw the smack down on offense and defense.It should be closer than last year's 37-0 thumping, but Grove City will fall short.•

Burrell 29, Summit Academy 13: Give the Knights a few weeks and they might sting someone. It won't be Burrell this week, though.Scoop went an embarrassing 7-4 last week and is 16-7 on the season. He promises to do better. Honest.