Chicks Picks – Week 5 – 2015

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, October 1, 2015 | 3:06 PM

Welcome to Week 5 of the high school football season. After missing out on last Friday night’s football action due to a scheduling conflict, Chick’s Picks came down with a nasty case of the somethings on Saturday. When this bug continued to wreak havoc for a few days, Chick’s Picks decided it was time to seek help from the good doctor.

At the exam, Chick’s Picks began explaining her symptoms to the doc. He seemed as bewildered as she was, unable to pinpoint the cause of the illness. The doc continued his questioning though, “Chick’s Picks, give me a timeline of your last few days before the illness hit you.”

Chick’s Picks replied, “Well doc, I had to take Friday night off from prognosticating so that I could handle another matter. Then Saturday…”

The doctor cut her off, “Wait Chick’s Picks, that’s it. That explains everything. You have a bad case of Friday night fever. This can attack when one does not have enough high school football in their system for an extended period of time.”

Suddenly it all made sense. The good doctor assured Chick’s Picks that she would be back to normal in no time once she and her crystal ball got back to work. Chick’s Picks was thankful, hoping to not miss a beat after a stellar Week 4 performance.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 55-10 (85%) record, upping her season total to 203-57 (78%). Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS AAAA
Upper St. Clair (2-2) at #1 Woodland Hills (4-0)

Woodland Hills will play host to Upper St. Clair in a Southeastern Conference matchup at the Wolvarena Friday night. The Wolverines remained perfect last week with a 42-7 win over Baldwin, while the Panthers dropped their second straight, 31-6, to North Allegheny. Woodland Hills boasts a powerful backfield featuring Miles Sanders and Jo-El Shaw, who have combined for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns so far this season. Thomas Vissman has led the way for Upper St. Clair, rushing for 440 yards and five touchdowns. The Panthers, who have been outscored by opponents, 64-75, this season, will need much more than Vissman against the Wolverines, who are averaging 42 points per game. When these two met last season, Woodland Hills blanked Upper St. Clair, 48-0. Chick’s Picks predicts much of the same this time around.
Woodland Hills over Upper St. Clair.

CLASS AAA
#3 Belle Vernon (4-0) at West Mifflin (3-1)

Belle Vernon travels to West Mifflin for yet another Big 10 Conference showdown Friday night. The Leopards continued to roll last week with a 66-7 victory over Yough. The Titans picked up their first loss of the season, 14-7, to Ringgold. Belle Vernon’s Mike Fine is a threat on both sides of the ball—as a dual-threat quarterback leading an offense that averages 39.3 points per game, and as integral part of the Leopards defense that has allowed only 38 points all season. West Mifflin RB Russell Tyree ranks among the best in the WPIAL, rushing for nearly 600 yards and nine touchdowns on the year. When these two met last season, the Titans came out on top, 35-28. Chick’s Picks knows this one could go either way, but thinks the Titans will rebound from last week’s loss with a narrow victory in this one.
West Mifflin over Belle Vernon.

CLASS AA
#4 Washington (4-0) at #7 Mount Pleasant (4-0)

The Little Prexies hit the road to take on the Vikings in an Interstate Conference battle for first place Friday night. Washington is coming off of a 42-6 win over Brownsville last week, while Mount Pleasant rolled over Waynesburg, 42-6. The Little Prexies boast the top defense in Class AA, recording two shutouts and allowing only 13 points all season. The Vikings run a balanced offensive attack with QB Johnny Yestery, who has thrown for 448 yards, and RB Chris Wagner, who has rushed for 528 yards and seven touchdowns. When these two met last season, the Little Prexies topped the Vikings, 34-15. Chick’s Picks predicts a similar result this time around.
Washington over Mount Pleasant.

CLASS A:
#4 Jeannette (4-0) at Springdale (3-1)

The Dynamos host the Jayhawks in Eastern Conference action Friday night. Springdale recorded its first loss of the season last week, falling to top-ranked Clairton, 48-13. Jeannette remained perfect with a 44-6 win over Wilkinsburg. Jayhawk QB Gio Vonne Sanders gets it done through the air and on the ground, passing for 421 yards and rushing for another 210 yards. The Dynamos are stacked in the backfield with running backs Ben Sowinski and Ethan McFarland, who have combined for 547 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this season. The Jayhawks defense ranks among the best in the WPIAL, allowing less than seven points per game. When these two met last season, Jeannette came out on top, 41-7. Chick’s Picks predicts another Jayhawk victory.
Jeannette over Springdale.

CLASS AAAA:

Foothills Conference

Norwin over Altoona

McKeesport over Hempfield

Penn-Trafford over Latrobe

Plum over Kiski Area

Northern Eight Conference

Seneca Valley over Butler

North Allegheny over Shaler

Pine-Richland over North Hills

Southeastern Conference

Penn Hills over Baldwin