Chicks Picks – Week Seven – 2012

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, October 11, 2012 | 3:32 PM

Welcome to Week 7 of the high school football season. Chick’s Picks, in her travels this week, noticed several signs for an annual UFO Conference scheduled to take place in the area. After further research, Chick’s Picks learned that the conference is a showcase where investigators gather to share research into the unknown.

Once her registration was complete, Chick’s Picks was contacted by the event coordinator, who offered her a time slot as a guest speaker. Chick’s Picks was somewhat hesitant due to her lack of knowledge on UFOs. The coordinator assured Chick’s Picks that her gift of clairvoyance alone would be a hot topic for the crowd. Chick’s Picks decided it was a must for her to attend this unique event, since she does consider herself out-of-this-world when it comes to high school football prognosticating.

Chick’s Picks was out-of-this-world with last week’s picks, finishing with a 53-13 (80%) record. That brings her season total to 312-87 (78%). 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 or use #MSAScores!

CLASS AAAA
#2 Upper St. Clair (6-0) at #10 Bethel Park (4-2)

Upper St. Clair visits Bethel Park in a Southeastern Conference matchup Friday night. The Black Hawks are coming off a 31-7 win over Penn Hills last week, while the Panthers rolled over Butler, 34-3. Bethel Park’s two losses this season have come to Mount Lebanon and Woodland Hills in Weeks 2 and 3. Upper St. Clair has remained perfect with the second-ranked defense in Class AAAA, having allowed only 30 points all season. The Black Hawks rely on freshman QB Levi Metheny, who has passed for 606 yards and five touchdowns. The Panthers are led by QB Pete Coughlin, who has thrown for 666 yards and 10 touchdowns, and is also the team’s leading rusher with 342 yards and seven touchdowns. Chick’s Picks knows the Panthers will be tested by the Black Hawks, but a solid defense will help them prevail.
Upper St. Clair over Bethel Park

CLASS AAA
#10 Knoch (4-2) at #5 Mars (6-0)

The perfect Planets play host to the Knights in Greater Allegheny Conference play. Mars recorded its second shutout of the season last week, 44-0 over Uniontown. Knoch lost its second consecutive game to Franklin Regional, 23-13, after falling to Hampton, 20-17 in Week 5. The task gets no easier for the Knights, who will face Class AAA’s top-ranked offense and defense in the Planets. Mars has outscored opponents 265-36 in six games. RB Josh Schultheis has been a main contributor to that statistic, rushing for 750 yards and a Class AAA best 19 touchdowns. The Knights have outscored opponents 173-71. Knoch RB Ben Tackett has rushed for 673 yards and 14 touchdowns. Chick’s Picks knows the Knights are desperate to end their mid-season losing streak, but it will not happen this week.
Mars over Knoch

CLASS AA
#4 Washington (6-0) at #7 Mount Pleasant (5-1)

Washington breezed through Brownsville last week, 53-0. Mount Pleasant took Jeannette to double overtime before falling 28-27. Things get no easier for the Vikings this week as they face the Little Prexies in another Interstate Conference showdown. Washington has already recorded huge wins over Greensburg Central Catholic and Jeannette this season. This week’s meeting will feature two of the top running backs in Class AA. Washington’s Shai McKenzie, the third leading scorer in Class AA, has 1,026 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Mt. Pleasant’s Tyler Mellors has rushed for 966 yards and 16 touchdowns—good enough for fourth in Class AA. Both offenses are averaging around 40 points per game. Chick’s Picks thinks that McKenzie will pull a little more magic from his hat and make sure his Little Prexies remain perfect.
Washington over Mt. Pleasant

CLASS A
#1 Clairton (6-0) at #7 Bishop Canevin (5-1)

The Bears look to make it 54 straight wins as they take on the Crusaders in Black Hills Conference play. Clairton is coming off a 42-7 win over Brentwood. Bishop Canevin also won big, 41-9 over Fort Cherry. Crusaders QB Nico DiPaolo is one of the best in Class A with 830 passing yards and seven touchdowns. Tyler Boyd continues to shine for the Bears, with 663 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Bishop Canevin’s only loss this season came to Monessen, 28-21, in Week 5. Clairton defeated Monessen, 52-7. The Bears are averaging 47.5 points per game to the Crusaders’ 28.3, and allowing 7.8—slightly less than Bishop Canevin’s 10.2. Chick’s Picks thinks the Crusaders may slow down the Bears, but not enough to derail the nation’s longest win streak.
Clairton over Bishop Canevin.

CLASS AAAA:

Foothills Conference

Altoona over Latrobe

McKeesport over Connellsville

Penn-Trafford over Kiski Area

Gateway over Norwin

Northern Eight Conference

North Allegheny over Pittsburgh Central Catholic

Seneca Valley over North Hills

Pine-Richland over Shaler

Southeastern Conference

Woodland Hills over Canon-McMillan