Chick’s Picks recalls her training camp holdout

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, September 6, 2018 | 12:54 PM

Welcome to Week 2 of the high school football season.

Chick’s Picks has been hearing all of the chatter this week about Steelers’ running back Le’Veon Bell sitting out. It reminded her of a time when she, herself, held out of prognosticating training camp.

A few seasons back, The Boss was not acknowledging Chick’s Picks’ crystal ball as its own entity, acting as though it was simply an accessory rather than a crucial prognosticating tool. Simply put, Chick’s Picks felt that her crystal ball was entitled to all of the same benefits provided for human employees. So, she decided to take a stand.

Chick’s Picks put her foot down. At the recommendation of her agent, Chick’s Picks and her crystal ball sat out of prognosticating training camp. She still put in a lot of hard work to hone in on her predicting skills over the summer but knew that she had to be the voice for her crystal ball to get it the benefits it deserved.

Finally, The Boss called to set up negotiations. Chick’s Picks, her agent, and the crystal ball headed to Word Headquarters, full of confidence for their meeting with The Boss. Things didn’t go as planned, though.

The Boss took one look at Chick’s Picks and her team and said, “Let’s be honest here. Chick’s Picks is the brains behind his prognosticating operation — not some silly crystal ball. Now get your act together and start predicting! Week Zero is upon us.”

As much as she hated to admit it, Chick’s Picks knew The Boss was right, and her love of prognosticating would win out. Now, she can only hope that our beloved black and gold come to terms just as easily as she did with The Boss.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 50-12 (81 percent) record, though only improving her overall record to 83-38 (69 percent). Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS 6A

No. 3 Central Catholic (2-0) at No. 2 North Allegheny (2-0)

The Tigers welcome their conference rival Vikings to Wexford Friday night. North Allegheny remained perfect last week with a 56-14 win over previously-ranked Norwin. Central picked up its second win of the season, 20-14 over Seneca Valley. The Tigers have relied on the ground game so far this season. Ben Maenza and Gunnar Fisher have combined for 286 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. The Tigers are averaging 50.5 points in each of their first two games, while the Vikings are averaging 22 points. When these two met last season, the Vikings knocked off the Tigers, 14-7. Chick’s Picks predicts a different outcome this time around. North Allegheny over Central Catholic.

CLASS 5A

Woodland Hills (0-2) at No. 5 Peters Township (1-1)

Woodland Hills continues to look for its first win of the season when it faces Peters Township in Allegheny Eight Conference action Friday night. Both the Wolverines and the Indians are coming off of Week 1 losses. Woodland Hills fell to Bethel Park, 41-20, while Peters Township was edged by Upper St. Clair, 16-14. The Wolverines have struggled on both sides of the ball, being outscored 61-27 by their first two opponents. Peters Township quarterback Logan Pfeuffer threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns against Upper St. Clair last week. Chick’s Picks knows the Wolverines have gotten off to a rough start, but predicts that this storied program will turn things around this week. Woodland Hills over Peters Township.

CLASS 4A

No. 1 Thomas Jefferson (1-0) at No. 2 Belle Vernon (1-0)

Big Eight Conference rivals face off Friday night as the Leopards host the Jaguars. Belle Vernon opened its season last week with a 43-0 rout over Ambridge. TJ also blanked Ringgold, 62-0. The Leopards were firing on all cylinders with Jared Hartman passing for 102 yards and Mason Pascoe rushing for 90 yards and two touchdowns. The Jaguars got three touchdowns a piece from Dan Deabner and Jack Konick. When these two met during the regular season last year, Belle Vernon edged TJ, 21-17. The Jaguars got revenge, though, shutting out the Leopards, 27-0, in the WPIAL semifinals before advancing to claim the title. Chick’s Picks predicts that the Jaguars will make it two in a row against the Leopards. Thomas Jefferson over Belle Vernon.

CLASS 3A

No. 3 Quaker Valley (1-0) at No. 1 Aliquippa (2-0)

The defending WPIAL and PIAA champ Quakers head to The Pit to take on the top-ranked Quips in a Tri-County West Conference showdown Friday night. Quaker Valley opened its season last week with an 18-0 shutout of Central Valley, while Aliquippa blanked Waynesburg, 55-0. Both the Quakers and the Quips feature new head coaches this season. Last season, Aliquippa handed Quaker Valley its only regular season loss, 22-7. The Quakers avenged that loss, however, with a 2-0 victory over the Quips in the WPIAL title game. Aliquippa’s powerful offense has posted 103 points in its two games to date. Chick’s Picks does not predict a slowdown for the Quips in this one. Aliquippa over Quaker Valley.

CLASS 2A

No. 1 Riverside (1-0) at Freedom (2-0)

Top-ranked Riverside hits the road to take on undefeated Freedom in Midwestern Conference action Friday night. Last week, the Panthers kicked off their season with a 45-14 win over Neshannock, while the Bulldogs blanked Shenango, 63-0. Freedom quarterback Zack Rosa threw for 152 yards and two scores. Jake Pail added 157 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Riverside finished last season with a 9-3 record before falling to Steel Valley in the WPIAL semifinals. The Panthers graduated 16 seniors from last year’s squad, but did return starting quarterback Ben Hughes and 1,000-yard rusher LaMarcus Cleckley. When these two met last season, Riverside came away with a 26-7 win. Chick’s Picks predicts that the tables will turn this time around. Freedom over Riverside.

CLASS A

No. 2 Imani Christian (2-0) at No. 1 Jeannette (2-0)

Class A’s top two teams face off Friday night in a rematch of last year’s WPIAL championship. Jeannette pulled off a narrow win over Imani Christian, 35-34, to earn the gold. The Saints are off to a hot start this year, outscoring their first two opponents 118-6, including a 38-0 rout of Springdale last week. The Jayhawks shut out Leechburg last week, 38-0. Imani Christian boasts one of the WPIAL’s top quarterbacks in Israel Reed, who has already passed for 575 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Jeannette’s Seth Howard has thrown for 238 yards and four scores. Chick’s Picks knows the Jayhawks have rebuilding to do this season, but home field Friday night will go a long way against the Saints. Jeannette over Imani Christian.

CLASS 6A

Seneca Valley over Canon-McMillan

Mt. Lebanon over Butler

Norwin over Hempfield

CLASS 5A

Allegheny Eight Conference

West Allegheny over Bethel Park

Upper St. Clair over Baldwin

Big East Conference

Penn-Trafford over Connellsville

Franklin Regional over Latrobe

Gateway over Plum