Chicks Picks – 10/20/2011

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, October 20, 2011 | 4:39 PM

Welcome to Week 8 of the high school football season. As the ten-year anniversary of the inception of her prognosticating duties approaches, Chick’s Picks spent a few moments this week reflecting on just how she earned her predicting keep at the Network.

A young, vivacious intern, Chick’s Picks was eager to take on more responsibilities at the Network. She tried repeatedly to get her boss, Mr. Rebel, to take notice of her vast knowledge of scholastic sports; but, to no avail. One day, Mr. Rebel got fed up with his intern’s incessant nagging, and decided to put a deal on the table–a deal that surely, he would not lose.

Chick’s Picks was presented an opportunity to prove her worth by taking on Mr. Rebel and Network Announcer Mike Azadian in a pick-up game of hoops. In the event of a win, Chick’s Picks would have an opportunity to prove herself by prognosticating that Friday’s games. Though she viewed this matchup as unfair at first, Chick’s Picks reasoned that with youth, skill, and determination on her side, she would undoubtedly be victorious. The three headed to a playground just down the road from the Network headquarters to settle the score.

Since her competitors prohibited Chick’s Picks from even changing into appropriate shoes from her career pumps, the game did not swing her way early on. Once Chick’s Picks got the hang of running full court in heels, however, she dug into her old varsity bag of tricks and easily prevailed. Mr. Rebel hung his head, but held up his end of the deal. Chick’s Picks earned her spot as the Network prognosticator, and the rest was history.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 60-8 (88%) record, bringing her season total to 378-95 (80%). Share your picks and follow Chick’s Picks on Twitter @ChicksPicksMSA.

Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS AAAA
#2 North Allegheny (7-0) at #6 Shaler (5-2)

The Titans host the Tigers in Northern Seven Conference action Friday night. Shaler is coming off its second loss of the season last week, falling to Seneca Valley, 28-21, in the last minute of the game. North Allegheny, on the other hand, extended its winning streak to 13 games and maintained its perfect record with a 35-7 win over Pine-Richland. The Tigers have already clinched a playoff spot, and will claim the conference title with a win over the Titans. Shaler has yet to earn a postseason berth, but can with a win in one of its two remaining games. North Allegheny QB Mack Leftwich continues to impress. His 1,378 passing yards and 14 touchdowns are good enough for a #2 ranking among all WPIAL quarterbacks. The Titans have not defeated the Tigers since 2003. Since then, North Allegheny has gone (7-0) and outscored Shaler, 242-54. Chick’s Picks likes the Tigers to make it (8-0).
North Allegheny over Shaler.

CLASS AAA
#6 Ringgold (6-1) at #3 Franklin Regional (7-0)

The streets of Murrysville will be alive Friday night when Franklin Regional hosts Ringgold in this highly anticipated Keystone Conference showdown. Last week, the Rams hammered Derry, 44-7, while the Panthers annihilated Laurel Highlands, 63-0. Ringgold and Franklin Regional have both already locked in playoff spots; however, the home of this year’s conference title has yet to be determined. The ground game will undoubtedly be a key factor on both sides, with each possessing a Top 10 rusher. The Panthers’ Dane Brown is currently fourth in the WPIAL with 1,256 yards and 23 touchdowns. Rams QB Quad Law ranks seventh among WPIAL rushing leaders with 1,133 yards and 13 touchdowns. Franklin Regional also ranks at the top, both offensively and defensively, in Class AAA, averaging nearly 51 points per game and allowing less than five. This is the first of back-to-back tests for the Panthers, who will face Greensburg-Salem in next week’s regular season finale. When these two met last season, Ringgold walked away with the win, 24-13. Chick’s Picks thinks the Panthers will avenge that loss and remain perfect on the year.
Franklin Regional over Ringgold.

CLASS AA
#2 Seton-LaSalle (7-0) at #9 South Fayette (5-2)

The Rebels hit the road to take on the defending WPIAL champ Lions in a Century Conference matchup Friday night. Seton-LaSalle routed Burgettstown last week, 40-0, as South Fayette bested South Allegheny, 32-20. The Rebels have already clinched a playoff spot, and can lay claim to the conference title with a win this week. The Lions have also clinched, but must win out in order to earn a share of the conference title. Seton-LaSalle and South Fayette both boast quarterbacks that rank among the best in Class AA. Luke Brumbaugh has led the Rebels with 869 passing yards and nine touchdowns. John Lerda has been impressive for the Lions with 917 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. When these two met last season, South Fayette rolled to a 42-35 victory, en route to WPIAL gold. The Lions have not lost to the Rebels since 2008. Chick’s Picks thinks the tides will turn for the Rebels this time around.
Seton-LaSalle over South Fayette.

CLASS A
#1 Clairton (7-0) at #9 Fort Cherry (5-2)

Fort Cherry welcomes Class A’s top team Friday night as Clairton comes to town in Black Hills Conference play. Last week, the Rangers routed winless Bentworth, 59-0, while Clairton blanked previously undefeated Brentwood, 32-0. The win extended the Bears’ streak to 38 games, moving them into a tie with Greensburg for the second-longest winning streak in WPIAL history. Fort Cherry and Clairton have both clinched playoff spots, but the Bears have a chance to take home another conference title with a win in this one. The Rangers boast a quarterback ranking among the top in the WPIAL in Tanner Garry, who has passed for 1,487 yards and 14 touchdowns on the year. Garry and his teammates will have their hands full with the Bears, who rank atop Class A both offensively and defensively. Clairton averages nearly 49 points per game, while allowing less than two. The Bears have recorded five straight shutouts, and have not allowed a point since Week 1 against Class AA Washington. Last season, the Bears ousted the Rangers, 42-7. Chick’s Picks thinks the streak continues.
Clairton over Fort Cherry.

CLASS AAAA

Big East Conference

Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Altoona

Fox Chapel over Plum

Penn Hills over Kiski Area

Foothills Conference

Gateway over Connellsville

Latrobe over Norwin

McKeesport over Hempfield

Great Southern Conference

Baldwin over Canon-McMillan

Mount Lebanon over Peters Township