Chicks Picks – Week 9 – 2015

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, October 29, 2015 | 10:01 AM

Welcome to Week 9 of the high school football season.

Each year, Chick’s Picks heads up the official MSA Sports Network Halloween Costume Committee. This is a critical role, as finding a group costume that suits the personalities of the entire MSA Sports Network team can be quite a challenge. After managing this task for 15 years and running low on ideas, Chick’s Picks found this challenge to be exceptionally daunting this Halloween.

Then, an email came through from The Boss, and it suddenly all made sense. The Boss wrote, “MSA Sports will continue our tradition in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month by wearing PINK on Friday. Do what you can to wear pink for the cause at your football game.”

So that we will do. We will wear pink for our heroes—the survivors, the fighters, and those who lost their battles. Look for our MSA Sports Network crew dressed in pink at your games Friday night. We hope you, too, will join us in pink to show your support.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with an impressive 58-7 (89%) record, upping her season total to 426-93 (82%). Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS AAAA
#7 Mount Lebanon (7-1) at #9 Upper St. Clair (5-3)

The Panthers host the Blue Devils in Southeastern Conference action Friday night. Mt. Lebanon was dealt its first loss of the season last week, falling to Woodland Hills, 21-17. Upper St. Clair topped Montour, 34-21. The Blue Devils are led by quarterback Eddie Jenkins, who has thrown for 1,333 yards and 19 touchdowns on the year. Upper St. Clair’s boasts one of the top running backs in the WPIAL in Thomas Vissman, who has rushed for 1,210 yards and 16 touchdowns so far this season. When these two met last season, the Panthers rolled to a 49-14 victory. Chick’s Picks predicts that the Blue Devils will turn the tables this time around.
Mount Lebanon over Upper St. Clair.

CLASS AAA
#5 Central Valley (7-1) at #1 West Allegheny (7-1)

A share of the Parkway Conference title will be on the line Friday in Imperial when the Indians host the Warriors. Last week, West Allegheny knocked off Moon, 42-7, while Central Valley topped Hopewell, 41-7. The Indians boast the top offense in Class AAA, averaging over 42 points per game. Terence Stephens, Jr. is a top contributor to that high-powered offense, rushing for 1,115 yards and 18 touchdowns so far this season. Chris Callaghan captains the Central Valley ship, passing for 1,473 yards and seven touchdowns. The Warriors had the Indians’ number twice last season, topping them, 28-17, in Week 9, and again in the WPIAL Championship, 35-28. Chick’s Picks predicts the Indians will get one back this time around.
West Allegheny over Central Valley.

CLASS AA
#2 Aliquippa (8-0) at #3 Beaver Falls (8-0)

Aliquippa hits the road to face Beaver Falls Friday night, with the winner taking home the Midwestern Conference title. The Quips and Tigers both maintained their perfect records last week, as Aliquippa knocked off Mount Pleasant, 50-38, and Beaver Falls topped New Brighton, 43-7. Quips running back Kaezon Pugh surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the year, and has found paydirt 17 times. The Tigers’ backfield duo of Malik Shepherd and Torian Leak have combined for over 1,300 yards and 28 touchdowns. When these two met last season, Aliquippa rolled to a 56-5 victory. Chick’s Picks predicts the same outcome this time around.
Aliquippa over Beaver Falls.

CLASS A
#5 Jeannette (7-1) at #6 Greensburg Central Catholic (7-1)

Greensburg Central Catholic hosts Eastern Conference rival and neighbor Jeannette Friday night. The Centurions are coming off of a 56-21 win over Springdale, while the Jayhawks blanked Bentworth, 68-0. Jayhawk quarterback Giovonne Sanders surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in the win. Centurions’ running back Alvin Ross has rushed for 1,194 yards and 17 touchdowns so far this season. Jeannette’s offense is averaging nearly 43 points per game—10 points more per game than Greensburg Central Catholic. When these two met last season, the Jayhawks blanked the Centurions, 36-0. Chick’s Picks predicts much of the same this time around.
Jeannette over Greensburg Central Catholic.

CLASS AAAA

Foothills Conference

Altoona over Connellsville

McKeesport over Kiski Area

Penn-Trafford over Norwin

Plum over Latrobe

Northern Eight Conference

Central Catholic over Butler

North Allegheny over North Hills

Seneca Valley over Shaler

Southeastern Conference

Bethel Park over Baldwin