Chicks Picks – Week Five – 2013

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, September 26, 2013 | 11:35 AM

Welcome to Week 5. Throughout her travels, Chick’s Picks sees many fascinating sights. It is not every day, though, that she runs into a giant rubber duckie—especially here in Pittsburgh. In case you have missed the news, The Rubber Duck Project is making its way to our fine city this weekend.

Chick’s Picks decided to do a bit of research on the project. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust described it best, “The friendly, floating, four-story-high Rubber Duck has healing properties: it can relieve mondial tensions as well as define them.” Chick’s Picks pondered the statement for a moment, then quickly realized just how much she and the rubber duckie had in common.

After more than a decade of WPIAL football prognosticating, Chick’s Picks’ predictions alone have surely healed many, in addition to relieving and defining plenty of tensions. Why hadn’t an artist yet approached her to create a four-story replica of she and her crystal ball to send floating down the Allegheny River? Some questions simply have no answers.

One thing that was not in question, though, was last week’s performance. Chick’s Picks finished with a 57-9 (86%) record, upping her season total to 208-55 (79%). Here are this week’s predictions.

Agree with her picks? Disagree? Chick’s Picks wants to hear from you! Be sure to follow her on Twitter @ChicksPicksMSA. Don’t forget to tweet your scores to us @MSASports!

CLASS AAAA
#5 Seneca Valley (4-0) at #1 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (4-0)

After knocking off defending champ North Allegheny in Week 3, Seneca Valley takes on top-ranked Central Catholic in a Northern Eight Conference showdown Friday night. The Raiders are coming off of a 36-0 rout of Connellsville last week, while the Vikings continued to roll over Fox Chapel, 49-10. Seneca Valley boasts one of the top quarterbacks in Class AAAA in TJ Holl. Central Catholic’s offense ranks atop Class AAAA with 48.5 points per game. Luigi Lista-Brinza has led the Vikings with his 538 yards and nine touchdowns. When these two met last season, Seneca Valley topped Central Catholic, 34-7. Chick’s Picks likes the Vikings to get their revenge this time around.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Seneca Valley

CLASS AAA
#3 Central Valley (4-0) at #1 West Allegheny (4-0)

The competition keeps getting tougher in the brutal Parkway Conference. This week, defending champ West Allegheny hosts Central Valley. Last week, both the Indians and the Warriors recorded shutouts—West Allegheny 55-0 over Hopewell and Central Valley 41-0 over Blackhawk. The Warriors have not allowed a point since Week 1, making them the top-ranked defense in the WPIAL. Last season, Central Valley handed West Allegheny a 28-14 loss. This time around, however, the Warriors will have to make do without the services of their head coach. Mark Lyons was suspended by the district for two weeks, including games against West Allegheny and Moon. Chick’s Picks likes the Indians to take advantage of the situation.
West Allegheny over Central Valley

CLASS AA
#2 Washington (4-0) at #8 Jeannette (4-0)

An Interstate Conference battle of undefeateds will take place Friday night at McKee Stadium. Jeannette will look for revenge from last season’s 18-15 loss to Washington. A lot has changed since then, however. The Jayhawks have a new quarterback in Julian Batts, who has passed for 365 yards and four touchdowns so far this season. The Little Prexies suffered the devastating loss of RB Shai McKenzie to an ACL injury in Week 3. In his absence, though, QB Jonathan Spina has stepped up, passing for 262 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 35-13 win over Yough. Jeannette and Washington are both a part of a three-way tie for first place in the Interstate Conference, along with Mount Pleasant. Chick’s Picks likes the Jayhawks’ home field advantage in this one.
Jeannette over Washington

CLASS A
#5 Apollo-Ridge (3-1) at #6 Avonworth (4-0)

The Antelopes host the Vikings in an Eastern Conference matchup Friday night. Last week, Avonworth blanked West Shamokin, 48-0, while Apollo-Ridge knocked off Leechburg, 58-13. The Vikings’ only loss this season came to #2-ranked North Catholic, 22-21. Both Apollo-Ridge and Avonworth are averaging over 40 points per game. The Antelopes’ defense has allowed only 19 points all season—the best in Class A. Both also boast solid quarterbacks in Jesse Zelonka and Matt Donovan. Apollo-Ridge’s Zelonka has passed for 493 yards and seven touchdowns. Avonworth’s Donovan has 474 yards and seven touchdowns. When these two met last season, the Vikings came out on top, 28-21. Chick’s Picks likes the Lopes’ stingy defense this time around.
Avonworth over Apollo-Ridge

CLASS AAAA:

Foothills Conference:

McKeesport over Altoona

Gateway over Hempfield

Penn-Trafford over Latrobe

Norwin over Connellsville

Northern Eight Conference:

North Allegheny over Butler

Fox Chapel over Shaler

Southeastern Conference:

Plum over Canon-McMillan

Bethel Park over Peters Township