Chicks Picks for Week Six

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, October 6, 2016 | 3:55 PM

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Welcome to Week 6 of the high school football season. Chick’s Picks attended her favorite yearly golf outing last week.  Though the event is for charity, Chick’s Picks – a scratch golfer – often gets bored rather easily with the lackluster play of average golfers.  While driving to the 16^th hole, a very brief rain shower passed through, but then rewarded the golfers with a rainbow.

Chick’s Picks had to make the most of this opportunity, so she took her cart off of the path in order to get a better view of the rainbow.  On the way, however, she hit an unexpected bump, and – before she knew it – her precious, brand new crystal ball went airborne.  Chick’s Picks watched the terror unfold in slow motion, as her prized prognosticating tool slammed into the ground.

Whimpering, Chick’s Picks scoured the course in an attempt to gather all of the pieces of her crystal ball, and her shattered dreams.  This unfortunate event explains the prognosticator’s poor performance Friday night.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 49-16 (75%) record, dropping her season total to 218-73 (77%).  Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS 6-A
#2 North Allegheny (4-2) at #6 Penn Hills (3-3)        

The Indians host the Tigers in a Northern Seven Conference showdown Friday night.  Penn Hills looks to rebound after falling to Seneca Valley last week, 32-7, while North Allegheny topped Mt. Lebanon, 22-15.  The Indians are led by the WPIAL’s top passer in Cam Tarrant, who has thrown for 1,763 yards and 23 touchdowns on the year.  The Tigers boast versatile quarterback Ethan Maenza, who has passed for 500 yards and rushed for a team-best 584 yards so far this season.  Chick’s Picks predicts that the Tigers will pick up a big road win in this one.
North Allegheny over Penn Hills.

CLASS 5-A
#3 Woodland Hills (5-1) at #10 North Hills (4-2)

Woodland Hills hits the road to face North Hills in an Allegheny Nine Conference battle Friday night.  The Wolverines are coming off of a 43-7 win over Hampton, while the Indians routed Baldwin, 35-7.  Woodland Hills has allowed only 86 points so far this season.  Saeed Holt has found paydirt 11 times for the Wolverines, who are averaging nearly 39 points per game – two touchdowns per game more than the Indians.  Nick Santucci leads North Hills with nine touchdowns.  Chick’s Picks predicts that the Wolverines could hand over loss number three.
Woodland Hills over North Hills.

CLASS 4-A
#10 Highlands (2-3) at #6 Montour (3-2)

The Spartans play host to the Golden Rams in Northwest Nine Conference play Friday night.  Last week, Montour blanked Albert Gallatin, 42-0.  Highlands picked up its first win since Week 1, 34-21 over Knoch.  Spartans’ quarterback Kavon Morman has passed for 424 yards and rushed for another 210 yards.  Golden Rams’ quarterback Brayden Thimons has also shown versatility, throwing for 473 yards and picking up another 192 yards on the ground.  Chick’s Picks predicts that the Golden Rams will show they’re a bit better than their record indicates.
Highlands over Montour.

CLASS 3-A
#8 Mount Pleasant (5-1) at #6 Derry Area (6-0)

Mount Pleasant heads to Derry to take on the Trojans in an Interstate Conference showdown Friday night.  The Vikings are coming off of a 49-13 win over Elizabeth Forward last week, while the Trojans remained perfect with a 28-7 victory over Frazier.  Derry hasn’t gotten off to a start this good since the 1983 season.  The Trojans will have their hands full with a Viking offense led by Johnny Yester.  The veteran quarterback has already passed for over 1,000 yards this season.  Derry’s defense is allowing only 13 points per game.  Chick’s Picks has been waiting years for her crystal ball to heat up for the Trojans, and the time has finally come.
Derry over Mount Pleasant.

CLASS 2-A
#6 Cardinal Weurl North Catholic (3-2) at #9 Laurel (4-2)

The Spartans host the Trojans in a Midwestern Conference clash Friday night.  Laurel looks to rebound after falling to Neshannock last week, 30-13.  Cardinal Weurl North Catholic routed Avonworth, 50-13.  Spencer Jones leads the Spartans’ ground attack, rushing for 416 yards and five touchdowns on the year.  The Trojans rely on Mario Latronica, who has rushed for 673 yards and eight touchdowns so far this season.  Laurel’s defense has held opponents to less than 16 points per game, but will have its hands full with a high-powered Cardinal Weurl North Catholic attack that is averaging 34 points per game.  Chick’s Picks predicts that the Trojans will pick up win number four in this one.
Cardinal Weurl North Catholic over Laurel.

CLASS 3-A vs 1-A
#3 (Class 3-A) Aliquippa (5-1) at #1 Clairton (5-0)

Clairton hosts Aliquippa in a non-conference battle that has been highly anticipated for many years.  The Bears have been perfect so far this season, knocking off Imani Christian last week, 48-6.  The Quips knocked off South Park last week, 48-6, but suffered a rare regular season loss to Beaver in Week 3, 28-14.  Clairton boasts the highest-scoring offense in the WPIAL, posting 288 points in just five games.  Lamont Wade leads the Bears’ ground attack, rushing for 756 yards and eight touchdowns on the year.  Clairton’s defense is also ranks among the best in the WPIAL, allowing only 25 points in five games.  Aliquippa’s backfield is impressive once again, with Avante McKenzie and Davion Jones combining for nearly 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns.  Chick’s Picks knew that this one was too close to call, so she left it solely in the hands of the crystal ball.
Clairton over Aliquippa.

CLASS 6-A

Northern Seven Conference

Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Butler

Southeastern Conference

Hempfield over Altoona

Mount Lebanon over Norwin

Non-Conference

Pine-Richland over Peters Township

Bethel Park over Seneca Valley

Canon-McMillan over Shaler

CLASS 5-A

Allegheny Nine Conference

Chartiers Valley over Moon

Fox Chapel over Hampton

West Allegheny over Upper St. Clair

Big East Conference

Penn-Trafford over Franklin Regional

McKeesport over Kiski Area

Armstrong over Latrobe

Gateway over Plum

Non-Conference

Baldwin over Connellsville

CLASS 4-A

Big Nine Conference

Greensburg Salem over Albert Gallatin

Belle Vernon over Trinity

Ringgold over Uniontown

West Mifflin over Laurel Highlands

Northwest Nine Conference

Blackhawk over Ambridge

Indiana over Knoch

South Fayette over New Castle

Non-Conference

Thomas Jefferson over Mars

CLASS 3-A

Allegheny Conference

Keystone Oaks over Burrell

Seton-LaSalle over Deer Lakes

Freeport over Apollo-Ridge

Valley over Shady Side Academy

Beaver Valley Conference

Central Valley over Hopewell

Beaver Falls over Quaker Valley

Beaver over Ellwood City

Interstate Conference

McGuffey over Southmoreland

South Park over Waynesburg

Yough over Elizabeth Forward

CLASS 2-A

Century Conference

Burgettstown over Beth-Center

Frazier over Brownsville

Chartiers-Houston over Charleroi

Washington over Bentworth

Midwestern Athletic Conference

South Side over Freedom

Mohawk over New Brighton

Neshannock over Riverside

Three Rivers Conference

East Allegheny over Avonworth

Brentwood over South Allegheny

Steel Valley over Carlynton

Serra Catholic over Vincentian Academy

CLASS 1-A

Big Seven Conference

Union over Cornell

Rochester over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Summit Academy over Shenango

Sto-Rox over Western Beaver

Eastern Conference

Greensburg Central Catholic over Riverview

Jeannette over Springdale

Bishop Canevin over Imani Christian

Tri-County South Conference

Fort Cherry over Avella

Carmichaels over California

Mapletown over Jefferson-Morgan

1-A Non-Conference

Northgate over Monessen

West Greene over Leechburg

PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE

Brashear over Carrick

Westinghouse over University Prep

City League Non-Conference

Allderdice over Hollidaysburg

Howland (OH) over Perry

Tags: Aliquippa, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Clairton, Derry Area, Highlands, North Catholic, Woodland Hills