Chicks Picks – Championship Saturday – 11/21/2013

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 21, 2013 | 5:49 PM

Welcome to Championship Week. Chick’s Picks received a delightful phone call over the weekend.  The recording on the other end of the line delivered the best news—Chick’s Picks was the lucky winner of an all-expenses paid, undoubtedly legit, dream vacation to Aruba next week.  Having never been the recipient of such a lavish price, Chick’s Picks was thrilled.

The forecast predicted temperatures in the upper 80s during her trip.  But the excitement came to a crashing halt when Chick’s Picks looked closely at the calendar.  This, her dream vacation, would interfere with Championship Saturday.  What would she do?  Stay in Pittsburgh, with temps in the 30s and a chance of snow, or head south to the steamy Caribbean?

The decision was a simple one.  Championship Saturday is like a holiday for Team MSA Sports—a holiday that Chick’s Picks would not miss for the world…or even Aruba.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 7-1 (88%) record, bringing her season total to 524-122 (81%).

Agree with her picks?  Disagree?  Chick’s Picks wants to hear from you!  Be sure to follow her on Twitter @ChicksPicksMSA.  Don’t forget to tweet your scores to us @MSASports

WPIAL CLASS AAAA:

#4 Woodland Hills (10-2) vs. #2 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (12-0)

How They Got Here

First Round: Woodland Hills 35 – Pine-Richland 14, Central Catholic 56 – Baldwin 10

Quarterfinals: Woodland Hills 28 – Seneca Valley 14, Central Catholic 27 – Gateway 21

Semifinals: Woodland Hills 28 – Upper St. Clair 21, Central Catholic 49 – Penn-Trafford 10

The Wolverines will meet the Vikings in the second game of Saturday’s quadruple header at Heinz Field.  Woodland Hills is led by do-it-all QB Harry Randall, who has passed for over 800 yards and nine touchdowns, and rushed for another 700 yards and 13 touchdowns.  RB Miles Sanders heads up the Wolverines ground game, with 1,074 yards and 14 touchdowns on the year.  Central Catholic boasts two 1,000-yard rushers this season in Luigi Lista-Brinza and Riley Redman.  The duo has combined for 28 touchdowns.  Woodland Hills went (0-2) to start the season, but since then has been a perfect (10-0), outscoring opponents 366-119.  The Vikings have had one of the WPIAL’s top defenses this season, allowing only 68 points and recording six shutouts.  The Wolverines are making their second consecutive title game appearance after falling to North Allegheny one year ago.  Central Catholic has won three championships, with the last coming in 2007.  Chick’s Picks likes the stingy Vikings defense to bring home number four.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Woodland Hills

WPIAL CLASS AAA:

#1 West Allegheny (12-0) vs. #3 Central Valley (11-1)

How They Got Here

First Round: West Allegheny 38 – Hollidaysburg 6, Central Valley 40 – Belle Vernon 7

Quarterfinals: West Allegheny 38 – Indiana 7, Central Valley 35 – Mars 21

Semifinals: West Allegheny 21 – Franklin Regional 12, Central Valley 23 – Thomas Jefferson 13

Defending champion West Allegheny will face Central Valley in the final game of Championship Saturday.  These two met previously this season in a Week 5 Parkway Conference showdown.  The Indians snuck by with a 13-7 win, handing the Warriors their only loss of the season.  West Allegheny QB Andrew Koester has thrown for 1,363 yards and 19 touchdowns.  Central Valley’s triple threat of John George, Jordan Whitehead, and JaQuan Pennington has found the end zone 41 times this season.  The Warriors have been impressive on the other side of the ball, as well, allowing only 7.3 points per game.  West Allegheny has six WPIAL championships under its belt, including 2012.  Central Valley is looking for its second title since 2010.  Chick’s Picks likes the Warriors to avenge their sole loss of the season.
Central Valley over West Allegheny

WPIAL CLASS AA:

#1 Aliquippa (12-0) vs. #2 South Fayette (12-0)

How They Got Here

First Round: Aliquippa 41 – South Park 0, South Fayette 49 – Greensburg Central Catholic 0

Quarterfinals: Aliquippa 43 – Quaker Valley 26, South Fayette 31 – Seton-LaSalle 7

Semifinals: Aliquippa 57 – Beaver 14, South Fayette 35 – Beaver Falls 7

It will be a battle of undefeateds when the Quips face the Lions in the third of four championship games on Saturday.  Aliquippa is no stranger to Heinz Field, with this being their sixth consecutive WPIAL title game appearance.  The Quips’ story is much of the same since claiming gold for the 15^th time last season.  RBs Terry Swanson and Dravon Henry have combined for over 2,700 yards and 46 touchdowns on the year.  Aliquippa also boasts a 1,000-yard passer in Darrien Fields.  South Fayette is led by QB Brett Brumbaugh, who has thrown for 2,781 yards and 31 touchdowns this season.  The multi-dimensional Lions can also look to the ground game behind RB Grant Fetchet’s 1,100 yards and 19 touchdowns.  South Fayette has won three WPIAL championships—the most recent over Aliquippa in 2010.  Chick’s Picks likes the Quips to bring home number 16.
Aliquippa over South Fayette

WPIAL CLASS A:

#1 Sto-Rox (12-0) vs. #2 Cardinal Weurl North Catholic (12-0)

How They Got Here

First Round: Sto-Rox 36 – Avella 7, Cardinal Weurl North Catholic 24 – Western Beaver 0

Quarterfinals: Sto-Rox 40 – Apollo-Ridge 28, Cardinal Weurl North Catholic 14 – Avonworth 7

Semifinals: Sto-Rox 24 – Clairton 19, Cardinal Weurl North Catholic 27 – Neshannock 14

Sto-Rox and Cardinal Weurl North Catholic kick off Championship Saturday at 11am.  The Vikings are back at Heinz Field for another shot after falling to Clairton last season.  The Trojans are in the WPIAL championship game for the first time in school history.  Sto-Rox is led by WPIAL career passing leader Lenny Williams, who has racked up 2,500 yards and 34 touchdowns this season.  Cardinal Weurl North Catholic suffered what should have been a devastating loss with QB Adam Sharlow went down with a knee injury early this season.  PJ Fulmore has filled in nicely, however, leading the team in rushing with 845 yards and nine touchdowns.  Chick’s Picks likes the Vikings to seek redemption.
Sto-Rox over Cardinal Weurl North Catholic

Tags: Aliquippa, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Central Valley, North Catholic, West Allegheny, Woodland Hills