Chicks Picks – Week One – 2014

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 28, 2014 | 9:34 PM

Welcome to Week 1 of the high school football season. The ice bucket challenge has taken over social media outlets everywhere over the last several weeks. Chick’s Picks recently accepted the challenge – which raises money for ALS – and then, once completed, appropriately passed the challenge onto three others.

Spending countless hours selecting her chosen three, Chick’s Picks finally narrowed down her list to two old pals from college, and, last but not least, The Fumbler. Chick’s Picks selected her biggest prognosticating rival for the challenge after realizing that she had been tolerating The Fumbler’s competitive taunting for 15 years—and there was no one she would rather see dump a chilly, ice-filled bucket upon their head than him.

The Fumbler may be a self-proclaimed genius in the realm of WPIAL football, but not so much when it comes to the ice bucket challenge. His interpretation of the challenge was that he had 24 hours to sneak up on Chick’s Picks as many times as possible and dump an ice bucket on HER head.

So, not once, but three times that day – grocery store parking lot, dentist’s office, and even in her cubicle at MSA Sports World Headquarters – Chick’s Picks fell victim to The Fumbler’s convenient misinterpretation of the rules.

You win this round, Mr. Fumbler. But beware – the season is just beginning.

Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS AAAA
#9 Upper St. Clair at #6 Penn Hills

Things heat up quickly in the Southeastern Conference as Penn Hills hosts Upper St. Clair in a battle of Top 10 teams. Rebuilding is putting it mildly for the Panthers, who are replacing 21 of last season’s 22 starters. Fortunately, when you have the WPIAL’s winningest coach in Jim Render at the helm, that task seems a bit easier to accomplish. Penn Hills finished (5-4) last season, advancing to the playoffs before falling in the first round to Penn-Trafford. The Indians return do-it-all QB Billy Kisner, who led the team in both passing and rushing last season. Chick’s Picks likes the Indians with the home opener win.
Penn Hills over Upper St. Clair

CLASS AAA
#4 Ringgold at #3 Thomas Jefferson

There are high expectations for Ringgold this season. The Rams will face a tough test out of the gate when they hit the road to face Big Nine Conference rival Thomas Jefferson. Prolific QB Nico Law is back for the Rams, after throwing and rushing for over 1,000 yards each last season. Ringgold finished (7-3) after being bounced by Indiana in the first round of the playoffs. Thomas Jefferson ended their perfect run at (11-1), falling to Central Valley in the WPIAL semifinals. The Jaguars graduated seven all-conference starters from last year’s squad, including QB Chase Winovich. Returning for TJ, on the bright side, is 1,100-yard rusher Austin Kemp. Chick’s Picks likes the Jags to get one up early on the Rams.
Thomas Jefferson over Ringgold

CLASS AA
McGuffey at #8 Mount Pleasant

McGuffey makes its Interstate Conference debut Friday night at Mount Pleasant. The Highlanders finished (5-5) last season and fell just short of the playoffs. Returning for McGuffey, though, is senior RB James Duchi, who tallied over 1,000 yards in both his sophomore and junior seasons. The Vikings finished (10-1), and were bumped from the postseason by Beaver in the WPIAL quarterfinals. Graduation has plagued Mount Pleasant hard, however, with losses including RB Tyler Mellors and QB Ryan Gumbita—the leading rusher and passer in school history. Although both of these teams should challenge Washington for the top spot in the conference, Chick’s Picks likes the Vikings to get one step ahead.
Mount Pleasant over McGuffey

CLASS A
#9 Monessen at #3 Greensburg Central Catholic

The Centurions make their first appearance in Class A Friday night when they host Monessen in Eastern Conference action. Greensburg Central Catholic finished last season at (5-5), falling to South Fayette in the first round of the playoffs. Monessen advanced to the Class A quarterfinals before being knocked off by Neshannock. The Greyhounds graduated 13 players from last season’s (10-2) squad, but return standout QB Noah Rullo, who passed for 1,308 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Centurions return their signal caller, as well. Tommy Pellis stepped up last season to replace an injured Chas Keller, throwing for 866 yards and six touchdowns. Both Monessen and GCC are expected to contend for Eastern Conference playoff spots this season. Chick’s Picks likes the Centurions at home in this one.
Greensburg Central Catholic over Monessen

CLASS AAAA

Foothills Conference

McKeesport over Connellsville

Norwin over Latrobe

Penn-Trafford over Kiski Area

Hempfield over Plum

Northern Eight Conference

North Hills over Fox Chapel

Seneca Valley over North Allegheny

Pine-Richland over Shaler

Southeastern Conference

Mount Lebanon over Canon-McMillan