Chicks Picks – Week Seven – 2014
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Thursday, October 9, 2014 | 12:43 PM
Welcome to Week 7 of the high school football season. Part of being a successful high school football prognosticator is always knowing what your competition is up to. While studying season statistics of those very rivals, Chick’s Picks noticed a few thing that were rather bothersome. She decided to schedule a meeting with The Boss to air her frustrations.
“Boss, I want to start off by saying that I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me over the last 15 years. But, this week, I noticed that my biggest rivals are spreading their wings, so to speak,” Chick’s Picks said.
The Boss replied, without looking up from his classic hunt and peck typing technique, “Chick’s, what is it that you want now?”
“Well Boss, I noticed that The Fumbler has his very own section over there on www.post-gazette.com. And even HS Picks has become so big that he has branched off into subsidiaries such as DC Picks and The Birdie. How is one veteran prognosticator to feel about that?” Chick’s Picks questioned.
The Boss finally looked up from his keyboard and said, “Chick’s Picks – you really don’t get it, do you? You are a bright shining star for high school football fans throughout the WPIAL. Your prognosticating talent alone—and some wit—draw people to your picks. All of this other business is nonsense, and you don’t need it.”
As hard as it was to admit, The Boss was right. Chick’s Picks took a deep breath and smiled, refreshed. Knowing she had just gotten her groove back, Chick’s Picks packed up her crystal ball and headed home to make another set of stellar predictions.
Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 59-6 (91%) record, upping her season total to 297-34 (76%). Here are this week’s big games:
CLASS AAAA
#5 McKeesport (5-1) at #9 Plum (4-2)
Plum plays host to Foothills Conference foe McKeesport Friday night. The Mustangs are turning heads this season, already winning more games than their last three seasons combined. Plum is coming off of a 34-7 victory over Connellsville, while McKeesport blanked Hopewell, 54-0. The Tigers’ lone loss this season came to Penn-Trafford, 28-0, in Week 3. Quarterback Will Fuhrer leads Plum with 728 yards and five touchdowns on the year. McKeesport is led by one of the top RBs in the WPIAL in Khaleke Hudson, who has rushed for 949 yards and 16 touchdowns. Both boast similar numbers offensively and defensively, scoring 32 points per game and allowing less than 12. Chick’s Picks likes the Mustangs to put up a strong fight, but thinks the big-game experience of the Tigers will outlast.
McKeesport over Plum.
CLASS AAA:
Elizabeth Forward (3-3) at #6 West Mifflin (5-1)
Elizabeth Forward takes its fight for the postseason to West Mifflin Friday night in Big Nine Conference action. The Warriors are looking to rebound after a 36-6 loss to Indiana last week, while the Titans rolled over Laurel Highlands, 48-27. Two of the top running backs in the WPIAL will be featured in this contest. Elizabeth Forward’s Jake Meyers ranks #7 in the WPIAL with 900 yards and 12 touchdowns. West Mifflin’s DiAngelo Mitchell comes in at #2 with his 1,306 yards and 21 touchdowns. When these two met last season, the Titans topped the Warriors, 40-16. Chick’s Picks predict much of the same this time around.
West Mifflin over Elizabeth Forward.
CLASS AA:
#7 New Brighton (5-1) at #4 Washington (6-0)
The Little Prexies welcome the Lions in a non-conference showdown of postseason-caliber proportions. Last week, Washington knocked off Charleroi, 58-21, as New Brighton defeated Freedom, 49-14. The Lions’ only loss this season came to Aliquippa, 55-14, in Week 5. New Brighton boasts a 700-yard passer and rusher in QB Payton Fath and RB Scott Florence. Washington will rely on QB Jonathan Spina, who has thrown for 748 yards and 11 touchdowns. These two reign from two fairly similar conferences, likely the top two in Class AA. The Little Prexies have been solid on both sides of the ball this season, including a defense that allows in only 14 points per game—ten fewer than the Lions. Chick’s knows that defense wins championships…and big non-conference games.
Washington over New Brighton.
CLASS A:
#4 Avonworth (6-0) at #1 Cardinal Weurl North Catholic (6-0)
The top-ranked Trojans host the Antelopes in a Black Hills Conference battle for sole possession of first place. Both remained perfect last week with wins over Fort Cherry and Bishop Canevin, respectively. Avonworth gets it done through the air and on the ground. QB Zach Chandler has thrown for 742 yards and six touchdowns. His favorite target is Jamal Hughley, who has 379 receiving yards, in addition to another 449 yards on the ground. Cardinal Weurl North Catholic boasts a dynamite backfield duo in Jerome Turner and PJ Fulmore, who have combined for over 1,400 yards and 28 touchdowns so far this season. These two met twice last season, with CWNC going 2-0. Chick’s Picks likes the Trojans to add another to the win column.
Cardinal Weurl North Catholic over Avonworth.
CLASS AAAA:
Foothills Conference
Altoona over Kiski Area
Norwin over Connellsville
Hempfield over Latrobe
Northern Eight Conference
Pine-Richland over Butler
Central Catholic over Seneca Valley
North Allegheny over Fox Chapel
Southeastern Conference
Peters Township over Baldwin
Penn Hills over Bethel Park
Upper St. Clair over Canon-McMillan
Class AAAA Non-Conference
Mount Lebanon over North Hills
Penn-Trafford over Shaler
Woodland Hills over West Allegheny
CLASS AAA:
Big Nine Conference
Belle Vernon over Albert Gallatin
Ringgold over Laurel Highlands
Thomas Jefferson over Uniontown
Greater Allegheny Conference
Franklin Regional over Greensburg Salem
Hampton over Hollidaysburg
Indiana over Gateway
Mars over Knoch
Parkway Conference
Central Valley over Chartiers Valley
Moon over Hopewell
Montour over Blackhawk
Ambridge over New Castle
Class AAA Non-Conference
Trinity over Yough
CLASS AA:
Allegheny Conference
Highlands over Burrell
Ford City over Deer Lakes
Apollo-Ridge over Freeport
Kittanning over Valley
Shady Side Academy over West Shamokin
Century Conference
South Park over Carlynton
Steel Valley over Keystone Oaks
Seton-LaSalle over Quaker Valley
East Allegheny over South Allegheny
South Fayette over Sto-Rox
Interstate Conference
Mount Pleasant over Charleroi
Derry Area over Brownsville
Waynesburg over Southmoreland
McGuffey over Burgettstown
Midwestern Conference
Aliquippa over Freedom
Ellwood City over Mohawk
Beaver Falls over Summit Academy
Beaver over Laurel
CLASS A:
Big Seven Conference
Neshannock over Rochester
South Side over Riverside
Shenango over Vincentian Academy
Black Hills Conference
Bishop Canevin over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Chartiers-Houston over Brentwood
Eastern Conference
Clairton over Serra Catholic
Jeannette over Monessen
Greensburg Central Catholic over Wilkinsburg
Riverview over Leechburg
Tri-County South Conference
Beth-Center over Avella
Mapletown over Bentworth
West Greene over California
Frazier over Carmichaels
Class A Non-Conference
Fort Cherry over Union
Springdale over Jefferson-Morgan
Northgate over Western Beaver
CITY LEAGUE
Allderdice over University Prep
Westinghouse over Perry
Brashear over Carrick
Tags: Avonworth, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Elizabeth Forward, McKeesport, North Catholic, Washington, West Mifflin
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