Chicks Picks for Week Three

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, September 15, 2016 | 11:12 AM

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Welcome to Week 3 of the high school football season. Chick’s Picks heard a rumor recently that The Fumbler was running for office.  Office of what, she was not quite sure, since WPIAL prognosticating and politics seem to be a far cry from one another.  Nonetheless, Chick’s Picks wanted to offer her support to her fellow prognosticator.

With the upcoming presidential debates right around the corner, Chick’s Picks decided to challenge The Fumbler to a debate of their own, thinking this would give her rival an opportunity to get a practice round in before his campaign heated up.  Much to her surprise, though, The Fumbler declined Chick’s Picks’ challenge, stating that he, “knows more about prognosticating than the crystal balls,” and needed no practice.  Chuckling to herself at The Fumbler’s rejection, Chick’s Picks politely wished him well on his political journey.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 48-16 (75%) record, bringing her season total to 96-31 (76%).  Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS 6-A
#2 Pine-Richland (2-1) at #3 Penn Hills (2-1)

Two of the WPIAL Class AAAAAA’s top three teams will face off in a Northern Seven Conference showdown Friday night.  Pine-Richland is coming off of a 51-20 victory over Seneca Valley, while Penn Hills rolled over Canon-McMillan, 56-21.  This game will feature two of the top passers in the WPIAL.  The Rams’ Phil Jurkovec and the Indians’ Cam Tarrant have each already thrown for over 1,000 yards this season.  Both Pine-Richland and Penn Hills are averaging more than 40 points per game.  Chick’s Picks predicts that Jurkovec’s big game experience will lead the Rams to a win in this one.
Pine-Richland over Penn Hills.

CLASS 5-A
#3 Woodland Hills (3-0) at #4 Penn-Trafford (3-0)

 The Warriors host the Wolverines in a Class AAAAA non-conference battle Friday night.  Last week, Penn-Trafford knocked off Plum, 24-7, while Woodland Hills rolled over Fox Chapel, 54-12.  The Warriors are led by quarterback Cam Laffoon, who has thrown for 425 yards and seven touchdowns on the year.  The Wolverines boast a solid backfield in Saeed Holt and Ja’Juan Hill, who have combined for 413 yards and 12 touchdowns so far this season.  The Warriors’ defense is allowing less than 10 points per game.  Chick’s Picks predicts that they will take a stand against the Wolverines.
Penn-Trafford over Woodland Hills.

CLASS 4-A
#4 Belle Vernon (2-0) at #3 Ringgold (2-0)

Belle Vernon hits the road to take on Big Nine Conference rival Ringgold Friday night.  Last week, the Leopards blanked Uniontown, 40-0, while the Rams thumped Albert Gallatin, 42-6.  Belle Vernon relies on the services of quarterback Mike Fine, who has passed for 152 yards and three touchdowns, and leads the team in rushing with 117 yards and five touchdowns.  Ringgold’s offense is led by RB Brenden Small, who has racked up 426 yards and six touchdowns in his first two games.  Chick’s Picks predicts a road upset for the Leopards in this one.
Belle Vernon over Ringgold.

CLASS 3-A
#7 Quaker Valley (2-0) at #1 Beaver (2-0)

The Bobcats host the Quakers in a Beaver Valley Conference showdown Friday night.  Beaver took over the top spot in the WPIAL Class AAA rankings after ending Aliquippa’s 62-game conference winning streak last week, 28-14.  Quaker Valley picked up its second win of the season with a 25-20 victory over Neshannock.  Bobcats’ do-it-all quarterback Darius Wise has thrown for 189 yards and two touchdowns, but leads the team in rushing with 303 yards and five touchdowns on the year.  Chick’s Picks predicts that the Quakers will be handed their first loss of the year.
Beaver over Quaker Valley.

CLASS 2-A
#9 Serra Catholic (2-1) at #8 Avonworth (1-1)

Serra Catholic travels to Avonworth to take on a Three Rivers Conference foe Friday night.  The Eagles are coming off of a 25-20 win over South Side, while the Antelopes were blanked by Steel Valley, 50-0.  Serra Catholic features a balanced offensive attack behind quarterback Even Honick, who has passed for 432 yards and seven touchdowns, and Khalil Smith, who has rushed for 345 yards and four touchdowns.  Avonworth is led by quarterback Garrett Day.  The Antelopes have been outscored 26-75 so far this season.  Chick’s Picks does not predict things getting any easier this week.
Serra Catholic over Avonworth.

CLASS 1-A
#3 Rochester (2-0) at #4 Sto-Rox (3-0)

Sto-Rox hosts Rochester in a Big Seven Conference battle Friday night.  Last week, the Rams routed Summit Academy, 42-18, while the Vikings topped Shenango, 36-12.  Rochester quarterback leads both the passing and running attacks for the Rams, totaling over 500 yards and nine touchdowns on the year.  Sto-Rox boasts one of the elite passers in the WPIAL in Brady Doubt, who has thrown for 717 yards and seven touchdowns already this season.  Chick’s Picks predicts that the Vikings will continue to roll.
Sto-Rox over Rochester.

CLASS 6-A

Northern Seven Conference

North Allegheny over Shaler

Seneca Valley over Butler

Southeastern Conference

Altoona over Peters Township

Norwin over Bethel Park

Mount Lebanon over Canon-McMIllan

6-A Non-Conference

Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Hempfield

CLASS 5-A

Allegheny Nine Conference

West Allegheny over Chartiers Valley

North Hills over Fox Chapel

Hampton over Moon

Upper St. Clair over Baldwin

Big East Conference

Armstrong over Gateway

Kiski Area over Latrobe

McKeesport over Connellsville

Franklin Regional over Plum

CLASS 4-A

Big Nine Conference

Thomas Jefferson over Greensburg Salem

Laurel Highlands over Trinity

West Mifflin over Albert Gallatin

Northwest Nine Conference

New Castle over Ambridge

Blackhawk over Indiana

Highlands over Knoch

Mars over Montour

4-A Non-Conference

South Fayette over Uniontown

CLASS 3-A

Allegheny Conference

Keystone Oaks over Deer Lakes

Burrell over Seton-LaSalle

Shady Side Academy over Apollo-Ridge

Beaver Valley Conference

Beaver Falls over Ellwood City

Interstate Conference

Mount Pleasant over McGuffey

Derry over Southmoreland

Elizabeth Forward over Waynesburg

Class 3-A Non-Conference

Aliquippa over Freeport

Hopewell over Yough

Class 3-A vs Class 2-A Non-Conference

Central Valley over Cardinal Weurl North Catholic

Steel Valley over Valley

Washington over South Park

CLASS 2-A

Century Conference

Bentworth over Burgettstown

Chartiers-Houston over Brownsville

Charleroi over Frazier

Midwestern Conference

South Side over Laurel

Neshannock over New Brighton

Riverside over Mohawk

Three Rivers Conference

East Allegheny over Vincentian Academy

South Allegheny over Carlynton

2-A Non-Conference

Brentwood over Freedom

CLASS 1-A

Big Seven Conference

Northgate over Shenango

Summit Academy over Cornell

Western Beaver over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Eastern Conference

Clairton over Greensburg Central Catholic

Bishop Canevin over Leechburg

Jeannette over Riverview

Tri-County South Conference

Mapletown over Avella

Monessen over Fort Cherry

Carmichaels over West Greene

1-A Non-Conference

Springdale over Beth-Center

California over Imani Christian

Union over Jefferson-Morgan

PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE

Allderdice over University Prep

Westinghouse over Brashear

Perry over Carrick