Chicks Picks for Week Seven

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, October 13, 2016 | 12:36 PM

Welcome to Week 7 of the high school football season. Chick’s Picks had a tremendous performance last week, a career week, in fact – correctly predicting 53 winners. Each Sunday, Chick’s Picks spends time reflecting on the weekend’s games, analyzing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Despite her top-notch performance, a few incorrect picks were eating at her.

While she pondered her poor picks, Chick’s Picks tuned into the Steelers game. She watched intensely as Sammy Coates had a career-best game – six receptions, 139 yards, and two touchdowns. Chick’s Picks also witnessed Coates dropping two potential touchdown passes. At that moment, Chick’s Picks knew she could relate to Coates. Even a top-notch performance can have its flaws; yet, at the end of the day, it’s the scoreboard that matters. Chick’s Picks still reigns supreme as the WPIAL’s best prognosticator.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 53-12 (82%) record, upping her season total to 301-85 (78%). Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS 6-A
#3 Seneca Valley (4-2) at #2 North Allegheny (5-2)

Northern Seven Conference action heats up when the Tigers host the Raiders Friday night. North Allegheny is coming off of a 28-21 win over Penn Hills last week, while Seneca Valley edged Bethel Park, 25-21. Tigers’ quarterback Ethan Maenza has nearly 1,300 yards on the year – 548 through the air and 744 on the ground. Raiders’ quarterback Jack Cook surpassed the 1,000-yard mark last week, throwing for 1,103 yards and nine touchdowns so far this season. North Allegheny’s defense is allowing only 20 points per game – five fewer than Seneca Valley. Chick’s Picks predicts a home-field victory in this one.
North Allegheny over Seneca Valley.

CLASS 5-A
#6 Gateway (5-2) at #9 Kiski Area (4-3)

Gateway hits the road to take on Kiski Area in a Big East Conference battle between Top 10 teams Friday night. Last week, the Gators routed Plum, 44-6, while the Cavaliers fell to McKeesport, 42-7. Gateway has outscored opponents by more than 22 points per game this season. Kiski Area has been outscored by opponents, 166-194, in its first seven games. Cavaliers’ running back Ross Greece has rushed for 829 yards and 13 touchdowns. Chick’s Picks predicts that the Gators will bring home win number six.
Gateway over Kiski Area.

CLASS 4-A
#3 Belle Vernon (6-0) at #2 Thomas Jefferson (6-0)

The Jaguars play host to the Leopards in a Big Nine Conference battle of undefeateds Friday night. Thomas Jefferson remained perfect last week, routing Mars, 48-10, while Belle Vernon edged Trinity, 21-15. The Jaguars’ balanced attack features quarterback Bobby Kelley, who has thrown for 822 yards and 16 touchdowns, and running back Quinton hill, who has picked up 754 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Leopards’ quarterback Mike Fine has tallied over 1,000 yards – 646 through the air and 362 on the ground. Thomas Jefferson is averaging over 54 points per game, while allowing only 6.3. Chick’s Picks predicts that the Jaguars’ defense will stand tall.
Thomas Jefferson over Belle Vernon.

CLASS 3-A
#5 Keystone Oaks (5-1) at #7 Apollo-Ridge (5-2)

Keystone Oaks takes on Apollo-Ridge in an Allegheny Conference showdown Friday night. The Golden Eagles are coming off of a 42-6 win over Burrell, while the Vikings rolled over Freeport, 36-7. Keystone Oaks boasts one of the top quarterbacks in the WPIAL in Alex Smith, who has passed for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns. Apollo-Ridge quarterback Kyle Fitzroy is approaching the 1,000-yard mark, and has tossed 10 touchdown passes on the year. The Golden Eagles are averaging nearly 45 points per game – 14 more than the Vikings. Chick’s Picks likes the Golden Eagles to pick up win number six.
Keystone Oaks over Apollo-Ridge.

CLASS 2-A
#2 Washington (6-0) at #4 Chartiers-Houston (6-1)

The Buccaneers host the Little Prexies in Century Conference action Friday night. Last week, Chartiers-Houston edged Charleroi, 14-6, while Washington routed Bentworth, 47-14. Buccaneers’ quarterback TJ Johnson has thrown for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns on the year. Little Prexies’ receiver Isaiah Robinson has found paydirt seven times this season. Washington has outscored opponents by an average of 37 points per game so far this season – more than five times that of Chartiers-Houston. Chick’s Picks predicts that the Little Prexies will remain perfect in this one.
Washington over Chartiers-Houston.

CLASS 1-A
#5 Bishop Canevin (4-2) at #8 Springdale (4-3)

Bishop Canevin travels to take on Springdale in Eastern Conference play Friday night. The Crusaders are coming off of a narrow victory over Imani Christian last week, 33-30, while the Dynamos were blanked by Jeannette, 48-0. The Bishop Canevin backfield duo of Maleik Hemingway and Zach Thisky has combined for 754 yards and 12 touchdowns on the year. Springdale’s Ben Sowinski has rushed for 743 yards and five touchdowns so far this season. The Crusaders have been outscored by opponents this season, 142-146. Chick’s Picks predicts that the Dynamos will rebound in a big way from last week’s loss.
Springdale over Bishop Canevin.

CLASS 6-A

Northern Seven Conference

Pine-Richland over Shaler

Southeastern Conference

Bethel Park over Canon-McMillan

Mt. Lebanon over Peters Township

6-A Non-Conference

Norwin over Butler

Central Catholic over Altoona

Penn Hills over Hempfield

CLASS 5-A

Allegheny Nine Conference