Chicks Picks – 11/03/2011

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, November 3, 2011 | 6:03 PM

Welcome to Week 10 of the high school football season. MSA Sports guru Don Rebel signed off this week’s broadcast schedule email to Network staffers on an inspirational note, “See you Friday on the Highway to Heinz.” Chick’s Picks cannot help but love this time of year, as the WPIAL embarks on the postseason.

Anxious for Friday night, Chick’s Picks began planning her trip early in the week. Chick’s Picks simply programmed “Highway to Heinz” into her trusty GPS, and altered the voice guidance to that of Mr. T, for a bit of extra motivation. Mr. T reported her arrival time to be 8:00 am on Saturday, November 26.

Chick’s Picks has already begun her navigation of the exciting journey through the playoffs. MSA Sports will be there every step of the way to deliver complete coverage of each and every playoff game. Follow Chick’s Picks on Twitter along the Highway to Heinz @ChicksPicksMSA.

Last week, Chick’s Picks finished with a 53-14 (79%) record, dropping her season total to 489-119 (80%). Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS AAAA
#10 Woodland Hills (6-3) at #7 Mount Lebanon (6-3)

The Wolverines travel to Mount Lebanon to open the 2011 post season against the Blue Devils. Woodland Hills will look to get back on track after back-to-back losses–to Pine-Richland and Penn Hills–to finish out the regular season. Penn Hills upended the Wolverines last week, 14-10, with its only two touchdowns coming off of fake punts. Mount Lebanon fell hard to rival Upper St. Clair, 42-6. Luke Hagy, one of the top rushers in the WPIAL, was held in check by the Panthers, despite his more than 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Woodland Hills can get it done through the air, as well as on the ground. QB Pat Menifee and RB Jaimire Dutrieuille are each approaching 700 yards. These two met in the quarterfinals last season, resulting in a 29-22 Woodland Hills win. Chick’s Picks likes the Wolverines to do it again.
Woodland Hills over Mount Lebanon.

CLASS AAA
#10 Hopewell (6-3) at #7 Indiana (7-2)

The Little Indians jump right into a tough postseason test as they host the Vikings Friday night. Last week, Hopewell knocked off West Allegheny, 31-14, in a must-win-to-get-in game. Indiana glided to a 55-6 victory over Kittanning. The Vikings are led by WPIAL leading rusher Rushel Shell, who is approaching the 1,800-yard mark this season, and has already tallied 21 touchdowns. The Little Indians rely on their high-powered offense with QB Logan Weaver at the helm. Weaver, one of the top passers in Class AAA, has 1,314 passing yards and nearly 600 rushing yards so far this season. His favorite target, Tyral Veney, eclipsed 800 receiving yards last week, and has caught 20 touchdown passes. Taking on a Parkway Conference opponent, however, could be the toughest test to date for Indiana, whose only losses this season came to Knoch and Class AAAA Penn-Trafford. Chick’s Picks thinks that regular season strength of schedule will propel the Vikings into the quarterfinals.
Hopewell over Indiana.

CLASS AA
#10 Beaver (7-2) at #7 Shady Side Academy (7-2)

Beaver will take the Highway to Heinz to Fox Chapel Friday night to face Shady Side Academy in first round action. The Bobcats are coming off a loss to Beaver Falls, 18-0, while the Indians pummeled Deer Lakes, 28-7. Beaver does not present flashy offensive statistics, but instead places its pride in its defense. Despite last week’s loss, Beaver still boasts the top defense in Class AA, having allowed only 52 points all season. The Bobcats, in fact, have recorded four shutouts this year, including three consecutive to open the season. Shady Side Academy relies on do-it-all QB Reggie Mitchell, who has nearly 600 passing yards, but also leads the team in rushing with 1,014 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Indians, coming from the Allegheny Conference, which has, historically, not performed well in the postseason, will need their A-game as they take on the seasoned Bobcats from the perennial power Midwestern Conference. Chick’s Picks takes a strong defense in the playoffs every time.
Beaver over Shady Side Academy.

CLASS A
#9 Springdale (7-2) at #8 Monessen (6-3)

The Greyhounds host a familiar foe as they take on the Dynamos in opening round play Friday night. Monessen fell to Frazier last week, 14-11, after leading 9-0 earlier in the game. Springdale, on the other hand, knocked off Riverview with ease, 56-7. The Greyhounds started the season hot with a 4-0 record, and did not allow a point until Week 4. Since then, however, they have gone 2-3, and recorded losses to North Catholic, Beth-Center, and Frazier. The Dynamos and the Greyhounds both boast similarly strong defenses, each allowing less then 11 points per game. Springdale has the upper hand offensively, averaging 32.7 points per game to Monessen’s 20.2. An accomplished running game has been key for the Dynamos, with three rushers that have combined for nearly 2,000 yards and 35 touchdowns–QB Joe Killian (655 rushing yards, six touchdowns), RB Sean Dugan (722 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns), and RB Chris Liberto (551 rushing yards and ten touchdowns). QB Chavas Rawlins has contributed over 1,100 yards of offense to Monessen’s cause, but has also tossed ten interceptions. When these two met last year, Springdale ended Monessen’s season, 30-6, in the quarterfinals. Chick’s Picks knows the Greyhounds have been trying to stop the bleeding since they were upset by North Catholic, but thinks the Dynamos will take full advantage while they’re down.
Springdale over Monessen.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA

Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Peters Township

Seneca Valley over Penn Hills

Penn-Trafford over Bethel Park

Gateway over Shaler

Upper St. Clair over Connellsville

North Allegheny over Fox Chapel

McKeesport over Erie McDowell

WPIAL CLASS AAA

Thomas Jefferson over Greensburg-Salem

West Mifflin over Mars

Knoch over West Allegheny