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Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review
Jeannette quarterback Brad Birch passed for more than 1,600 yards and 30 touchdowns as a freshman.
Oregon assistant football coach Joe Moorhead called Team 412 Elite coach Will Reynolds on Wednesday, and Reynolds turned it into a conference call.
He called Jeannette freshman quarterback Brad Birch on another cellphone and let him hear the good news from Moorhead, a Central Catholic grad and former Penn State offensive coordinator.
With Moorhead as its conduit, Oregon offered Birch a scholarship. Just like that, the wheels were set in motion.
A long and competitive recruiting sweepstakes could be ahead as schools look to land the budding quarterback. The first offer usually leads to many more.
Submitted by Diana Cholock
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
The Hempfield coed rifle team achieved one of its goals Wednesday. Now, it will be shooting for the other next week.
The Spartans captured their fifth WPIAL title, third in the past four seasons, by outscoring Trinity, Waynesburg and Bethel Park.
All four teams advance to the PIAA championship Tuesday or Wednesday at Avella.
Hempfield finished with a score of 799-60x, ahead of Trinity (798-57x), Waynesburg (798-47x) and Bethel Park (797-50x). Penn-Trafford placed fifth (797-47x), followed by Mt. Lebanon (795-58x), Butler (794-45x), McGuffey (791-34x) and Armstrong (786-44x).
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 | 4:23 PM
Jeannette’s Brad Birch (12) rushes the ball during their game against Clairton on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020.
What seemed like an innocent follow on Twitter led to a college scholarship offer for Jeannette freshman quarterback Brad Birch.
It is another example of, as coaches often tell their players, “you never know who is watching.”
Birch announced a Division I offer from Oregon on Wednesday, the first for the strong-armed, 6-foot-2, 190-pound standout. Many believe it will be the first of many.
The Pac-12 offer surprised Birch, who just won the Pylon seven-on-seven 15-under tournament with Team 412 Elite out of Pittsburgh. His deep touchdown throw to Central Catholic freshman Jackson Pons, who played at Norwin this year, drew attention on social media.