Chicks Picks – Week Nine – 2014

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, October 23, 2014 | 4:12 PM

Welcome to Week 9 of the high school football season. Every so often, Chick’s Picks has a run in with an internet heckler, one who enjoys stirring up some healthy banter over predictions that are not necessarily agreed upon. This occurred last week on Twitter, regarding one particular big-game pick.

The loyal reader’s taunting began shortly after Chick’s Picks was posted on Thursday, calling out the prognosticator for what was deemed a terrible prediction. Chick’s Picks monitored the situation closely throughout the day, noticing that the same reader also called out other local prognosticators for the same prediction.

Meanwhile, a few other loyal fans maintained their season-long tradition of trending Chick’s Picks’ favorite hashtag: #ChicksPicksSaidSo. Always aiming to please everyone, Chick’s Picks pondered how she could have possibly gone so wrong with some fans, and so right with others. With no answers in sight, Chick’s Picks consulted her go-to advice guru.

“Boss – I don’t get it. Why can’t I just make all of my fans happy?” Chick’s Picks questioned. The Boss replied, “Chick’s Picks, it’s simple. You can’t please everyone. You’re a celebrity, and this comes with the territory. You’re the closest thing we’ve got to perfect at this network. It’s your imperfect picks that keep your fans reading.”

After receiving those words of wisdom from The Boss, Chick’s Picks headed off to make her final set of perfectly imperfect predictions for the regular season. Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 50-14 (78%) record, bringing her season total to 401-119 (77%). Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS AAAA
#8 Penn Hills (6-2) at #2 Woodland Hills (7-1)

The Wolvarena will be a-rockin’ Friday night when the Wolverines host the Indians in a Southeastern Conference regular season finale. Woodland Hills is coming off of a 47-0 win over Mount Lebanon last week, while Penn Hills topped Seneca Valley, 55-28. The Wolverines’ only loss this season came to Class AAA’s top-ranked West Allegheny, 42-41. The Indians rely heavily on the ground game, led by QB Billy Kisner and RB Te’Shaun Campbell. The two have combined for nearly 1,700 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. The Wolverines get it done through the air and on the ground. QB Jeremiah Jones has passed for 755 yards and seven touchdowns, while RB Miles Sanders has rushed for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns. Woodland Hills has been impressive defensively, as well, allowing only 12 points per game—half that of Penn Hills. Chick’s Picks predicts that stat to be the difference in this one.
Woodland Hills over Penn Hills.

CLASS AAA
#1 West Allegheny (8-0) at #2 Central Valley (8-0)

The most highly anticipated Parkway Conference game of the season is here, as Central Valley hosts West Allegheny in a battle for title. Both of these teams are coming off of big wins last week—Central Valley 57-7 over Hopewell, and West Allegheny 51-7 over Moon. This week’s meeting features the top two offenses in Class AAA, with each averaging around 50 points per game. The Indians boast a backfield trio of Terence Stephens, Chayse Dillon, and Whitney White, who have combined for 1,363 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. Warriors QB Chris Callaghan has passed for over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns, but one dimensional they are not. Jordan Whitehead has 815 yards on the ground, along with 17 touchdowns so far this season. Central Valley will undoubtedly be seeking revenge, after falling to West Allegheny twice last season—including a 16-6 loss in the WPIAL Class AAA championship. Chick’s Picks predicts the Warriors’ revenge to be placed on hold until next time.
West Allegheny over Central Valley.

CLASS AA
#3 Washington (8-0) at #7 McGuffey (7-1)

Upstart McGuffey plays host to undefeated Washington in an Interstate Conference showdown Friday night. The Highlanders knocked off Waynesburg last week, 34-13, while the Little Prexies routed Southmoreland, 41-7. McGuffey’s only loss this season came to Mount Pleasant in Week 1, 45-39. Since then, the Highlanders have gone (7-0) and outscored opponents 297-55. RB James Duchi ranks among the best in the WPIAL this season with 1,170 yards and 22 touchdowns. Duchi also surpassed the 4,000 career yards mark in McGuffey’s win over Burgettstown earlier this season. Highlanders’ QB Nate Whipkey has thrown for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns. Washington brings a similar balanced attack with QB Jonathan Spina’s 932 yards and 15 touchdowns, combined with RB Malik Wells’ 974 yards and 14 touchdowns. These two could be mirror images of one another on paper. Chick’s Picks predicts, however, that the big game experience of the Little Prexies will pay off in this one.
Washington over McGuffey.

CLASS A
#10 Greensburg Central Catholic (5-3) at #6 Jeannette (7-1)

A former Class AA Interstate Conference rivalry gone Class A Eastern Conference lives on Friday night when Greensburg Central Catholic visits Jeannette. The Jayhawks’ only blemish this season came to Clairton, 58-14, in Week 6. The Centurions have struggled a bit, falling to Beth-Center, Clairton, and to Springdale last week, 14-12. Jeannette QB Julian Batts has been versatile, throwing for 413 yards and nine touchdowns, and rushing for a team-best 512 yards and seven touchdowns. Greensburg Central Catholic will look to its running game, behind Brian Pevarnik and Sam Nowicki, who have combined for 951 yards and 18 touchdowns on the year. Both defenses have been solid, allowing less than 20 points per game. Jeannette’s offense, however, is averaging 47 points per outing—more than twice that of GCC. Chick’s Picks predicts the Jayhawks to outlast behind that high-powered attack.
Jeannette over Greensburg Central Catholic.

CLASS AAAA

Foothills Conference

Altoona over Connellsville

Plum over Latrobe

McKeesport over Kiski Area

Penn-Trafford over Norwin

Northern Eight Conference

Central Catholic over Butler

North Allegheny over North Hills

Seneca Valley over Shaler

Southeastern Conference

Bethel Pak over Baldwin