Chicks Picks – Week Four – 2014

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, September 18, 2014 | 12:22 PM

Welcome to Week 4 of the high school football season. Throughout the first two weeks of the season, Chick’s Picks had seen remarkable scores posted by Clairton—70-0 over California and 86-0 over Wilkinsburg. Despite heavy criticism from the peanut gallery that the Bears were running up the score, opposing coaches did not seem to share that opinion. So, Chick’s Picks decided to head out to Westmoreland County last Friday night to bear witness as Clairton took on Greensburg Central Catholic.

The trusty MSA Sports Press Pass was good enough to get her a spot on the field, and due to an unfortunate injury, Chick’s Picks was even able to score a spare Clairton uniform, and a spot on the Bears’ bench. Shortly after kickoff, the game began to take shape just as the previous two had, with Clairton looking like men amongst boys, even with second and third string players in the game.

Seeing first hand that this year’s Clairton squad was just that good brought a sense of comfort to Chick’s Picks—that is, until Coach Wayne Wade had mistaken her for the injured owner of her borrowed uniform, and put her in the game late in the fourth quarter. Chick’s Picks, without hesitation, took the handoff and broke free, scoring the Bears’ final touchdown of the game.

Upon arrival back at MSA Sports World Headquarters for postgame reporting Friday night, Chick’s Picks decided to keep her performance to herself – so as not to intimidate the guys with her still-exceptional athletic abilities.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 45-20 (69%) record, bringing her season total to 137-59 (70%). Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS AAAA
#5 Mount Lebanon (3-0) at #8 Penn Hills (2-1)

The Indians play host to the #5-ranked Blue Devils in Southeastern Conference play Friday night. Penn Hills is coming off of a 35-14 loss to one of Class AAA’s best in Central Valley, while Mount Lebanon routed Baldwin, 54-14. The Indians will continue to rely on the abilities of QB Billy Kisner, who has passed for 138 yards, and also leads the team in rushing with 217 yards. The Blue Devils boast one of the top defenses in Class AAAA, allowing less than seven points per game. When these two met last season, Mount Lebanon edged Penn Hills, 24-21. Chick’s Picks likes the Indians to get one back.
Penn Hills over Mount Lebanon.

CLASS AAA
#7 Ringgold (2-1) at #4 West Mifflin (3-0)

Big Nine Conference rivals meet in West Mifflin Friday night when the Titans host the Rams. Last week, West Mifflin cruised past Albert Gallatin, 45-7, as Ringgold managed a 20-12 victory over Knoch. QB Nico Law, a dual threat for the Rams, has passed for 443 yards and four touchdowns on the year, and rushed for another 177 yards and two touchdowns. West Mifflin DiAngelo Mitchell has emerged as one of the top running backs in the WPIAL this season, rushing for 513 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Titans topped the Rams last season, 42-28. Chick’s Picks is leaning toward a repeat performance in this one.
West Mifflin over Ringgold.

CLASS AA
#10 Apollo-Ridge (3-0) at #7 Shady Side Academy (3-0)

Apollo-Ridge broke into the Top 10 this week after a 44-41 upset of Kittanning last week. Shady Side Academy rolled over Valley, 32-20. The two meet this week in yet another Allegheny Conference showdown. Tre Tipton has done it all for the Vikings – literally – racking up over 600 yards of offense passing, receiving, and rushing. The Indians have a stacked backfield in Eric Harris, Lewis Berry, and Jackson Fitzgerald. The trio have accounted for 915 yards and 15 touchdowns already this season. Apollo-Ridge’s offense averages 45 points per game, but will face a strong Shady Side Academy defense that allows less than 16 points per game. Chick’s Picks likes the Indians at home.
Shady Side Academy over Apollo-Ridge.

CLASS A
#8 Brentwood (2-1) at #1 Cardinal Weurl North Catholic (3-0)

Brentwood visits top-ranked Cardinal Weurl North Catholic in a Black Hills Conference showdown Friday night. The Spartans look to rebound after a 35-7 loss to Avonworth last week. The Trojans, on the other hand, continued to dominate, knocking off Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 40-7. Brentwood boasts one of the top quarterbacks in the WPIAL in Connor McWilliams, who has passed for nearly 600 yards and six touchdowns on the season. CWNC will counter with a running attack led by Jerome Turner and PJ Fulmore. The duo has combined for nearly 700 yards and 15 touchdowns in just three games. Chick’s Picks predicts the defending champs will roll full steam ahead through this one.
Cardinal Weurl North Catholic over Brentwood.

CLASS AAAA:

Foothills Conference

Penn-Trafford over Altoona

Hempfield over Connellsville

McKeesport over Latrobe

Norwin over Plum

Northern Eight Conference

Central Catholic at Fox Chapel

North Hills over Seneca Valley

Butler over Shaler

Southeastern Conference

Woodland Hills over Baldwin