Chicks Picks – Week Eleven – 2017

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 10, 2017 | 1:45 PM

Welcome to Week 11 of the high school football season. Last weekend, Chick’s Picks scoured her neighborhood’s annual flea market for any hidden treasures that she may stumble upon. Throughout her travels, she stumbled upon quite a surprise – a crystal ball.

This was no ordinary crystal ball, either. Chick’s Picks would recognize it anywhere. She turned it over to confirm her thinking, and there they were – her initials, CP, engraved in the base of the ball. How did this happen? Who would do such a thing?

Chick’s Picks tracked down this particular yard sale’s proprietor to find out where he had come up with this prized possession he was offering for sale. The man said, “It was the strangest thing – this man approached my yard sale this morning stating that he had a donation. He handed me this beautiful crystal ball. How could I refuse?”

Chick’s Picks politely explained to the proprietor that this, in fact, was her crystal ball that had unknowingly been stolen from her home. She offered the gentleman a reward as a token of her appreciation for the exceptional care he had given her crystal ball.

The prognosticator can only come up with one explanation. One of her rivals, likely The Birdie, realized her magnificent opening round performance, and took matters into his own hands. Well, guess what, Birdie? Chick’s Picks has an eye on you.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 29-4 (88%) record, bringing her season total to 485-120 (80%). Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS 6-A
#2 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (9-2) vs. #6 Penn Hills (8-3)

Central Catholic takes on Penn Hills in Class 6A semifinal action Friday night at Fox Chapel. In last week’s quarterfinals, the Vikings knocked off Peters Township, 27-20, while the Indians edged Bethel Park, 30-28. These two Northern Seven Conference rivals met just two weeks ago to close out the regular season. Central Catholic blanked Penn Hills in that matchup, 21-0. The Vikings’ defense is allowing 17.3 points per game. That defense will be challenged this week, facing one of the WPIAL’s top quarterbacks. Hollis Mathis leads Penn Hills with 2,328 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. Chick’s Picks knows the challenge in beating the same team twice in one season, but she predicts that the Vikings will pull it off.
Pitssburgh Central Catholic over Penn Hills.

CLASS 5-A
#1 Penn-Trafford (10-1) vs. #4 Upper St. Clair (8-3)

The top-ranked Warriors face off against the Panthers in a Class 5A semifinal showdown Friday night at West Mifflin. Penn-Trafford survived a scare last week to edge Fox Chapel, 28-21, while Upper St. Clair snuck by Franklin Regional, 6-3. The Warriors’ high-powered offense is averaging more than 34 points per game. Quarterback Cam Laffoon has thrown for 1,317 yards and 14 touchdowns. John Gay has rushed for 1,171 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Panthers rely on their passing game behind quarterback Jack Hansberry, who has 1,515 passing yards and 10 touchdowns on the year. Chick’s Picks thinks the Warriors’ quarterfinal scare will boost them into the title game.
Penn-Trafford over Upper St. Clair.

CLASS 4-A
#2 Belle Vernon (10-0) vs. #3 Thomas Jefferson (9-1)

Big Nine Conference foes Belle Vernon and Thomas Jefferson face off Friday night in a Class 4A semifinal battle at Baldwin. The Leopards are coming off of a 42-7 rout of Mars in last week’s quarterfinals, while the Jaguars blanked Trinity, 42-0. These two met earlier this season, when Belle Vernon handed Thomas Jefferson its only loss on the year, 21-17. The Leopards split their time in the air and on the ground. Quarterback Jared Hartman has thrown for 816 yards and 14 touchdowns. Running back Mason Pascoe has rushed for 732 yards and five touchdowns. TJ leads a similar attack with quarterback Shane Stump racking up 1,330 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, and running back Justin Vigna rushing for 1,498 yards and 22 touchdowns. Chick’s Picks asked her trusty crystal ball if the Leopards could take down the Jaguars twice in one season. The crystal ball cannot be disputed.
Thomas Jefferson over Belle Vernon.

CLASS 3-A
#2 Quaker Valley (10-1) vs. #3 Seton-LaSalle (9-1)

The Quakers square off against the Rebels in a Class 3A semifinal showdown at North Hills Friday night. In last week’s quarterfinals, Quaker Valley rolled over Derry, 51-29, while Seton-LaSalle topped Freeport, 35-18. The Quakers boast do-it-all quarterback Ricky Guss, who has 1,835 passing yards and 21 touchdowns on the year to go along with his team-best 894 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. Quaker Valley’s high-powered offense is averaging 40.4 points per game – nearly 10 points more per game than Seton-LaSalle. The Rebels’ offense features the WPIAL’s leading rusher in Lionel Deanes, who has 2,058 yards and 27 touchdowns on the year. Seton-LaSalle’s only loss this season came in a late-October non-conference matchup with this very Quaker Valley squad. The Quakers walked away with an easy 42-7 win. Chick’s Picks predicts a similar outcome this time around.
Quaker Valley over Seton-LaSalle.

CLASS 2-A
#4 Riverside (8-2) vs. #12 Avonworth (4-5)

Riverside meets Avonworth in a Class 2A quarterfinal battle at Seneca Valley Friday night. The Panthers opened the postseason with a 34-0 rout of Frazier, while the Antelopes played Cinderella and upset #5 Charleroi, 21-12. Riverside quarterback Ben Hughes has passed for 1,418 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Panthers’ backfield duo of Noah Harris and LeMarcus Cleckley have combined for more than 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns on the year. Avonworth is led by quarterback Derek Johncour’s 1,795 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. The Antelopes are the only remaining team with a sub-.500 record. Chick’s Picks predicts that Cinderella’s run comes to an end in this one.
Riverside over Avonworth.

CLASS 1-A
#4 Imani Christian (9-2) vs. #5 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (9-2)

The Saints take on the Chargers in Class A quarterfinal action Friday night at Chartiers-Houston. In last week’s opening round, Imani Christian routed Sto-Rox, 52-0, while Our Lady of the Sacred Heart rolled over Springdale, 56-26. This matchup features two of the top quarterbacks in the WPIAL. Tawan Wesley leads the Saints with 2,336 passing yards and 29 touchdowns so far this season. Wesley’s favorite target has been Sam Fairley, who has more than 1,000 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. The Saints also boast a 1,000-yard rusher in Asante Watkins. The Chargers are captained by Tyler Bradley, who has thrown for 2,526 yards and 30 touchdowns on the year. Richard Banks has been on the receiving end of 740 yards, and also leads Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in rushing with 1,061 yards. Chick’s Picks predicts a slight advantage to the Saints in this one.
Imani Christian over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

CLASS 6-A SEMIFINALS:

Pine-Richland over North Allegheny

CLASS 5-A SEMIFINALS:

Gateway over McKeesport

CLASS 4-A SEMIFINALS:

South Fayette over Monto

CLASS 3-A SEMIFINALS:

Aliquippa over Beaver

CLASS 2-A QUARTERFINALS:

Steel Valley over Burgettstown

Washington over East Allegheny

Cardinal Weurl North Catholic over Serra Catholic

CLASS 1-A QUARTERFINALS: