Chicks Picks – Week Six – 2013

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, October 3, 2013 | 3:41 PM

---

Welcome to Week 6. Pittsburghers had plenty to celebrate this week, Chick’s Picks included.  The Pirates recorded their first playoff victory in 21 years, and Chick’s Picks played a key part in it.

Earlier this week, a member of the Pirates staff contacted Chick’s Picks about making a special guest appearance during the game.  Chick’s Picks was thrilled to learn that she was being invited to join Sauerkraut Saul, Cheese Chester, Jalepeno Hannah, and Oliver Onion in the world-famous Pierogy Race.

As she began her training for the race, Chick’s Picks consulted with the Pirate Parrot, who had seen his fair share of these events.  The Parrot was kind enough to provide Chick’s Picks with a scouting report detailing the specific skill set of each Pierogy. 

When the end of the fifth inning came around, Chick’s Picks proudly took her position at the starting line among the legendary Pierogies.  Although the veterans torched the inexperienced prognosticator, Chick’s Pick finished with her head held high, proud of her efforts as a guest Pierogy during such a monumental game.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 53-14 (79%) record, bringing her season total to 261-60 (79%).

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

CLASS AAAA
#1 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (5-0) at #10 Pine-Richland (3-2)

Pine-Richland broke into the MSA Sports Top 10 this week.  The first order of business?  A meeting with top-ranked Central Catholic.  The Rams are coming off of a 56-28 win over Kiski last week.  The Vikings, on the other hand, recorded their third shutout of the year, 42-0 over Seneca Valley.  Some of the best offensive talent will be on display.  Pine-Richland QB Ben Ninucci ranks atop Class AAAA with 1,054 yards and ten touchdowns.  Central Catholic’s Luigi Lista-Brinza is the top RB in Class AAAA with 920 yards and ten touchdowns.  The Rams’ only loss this season came to defending champ North Allegheny, 29-28, in Week 4.  The Vikings’ defense is allowing less than three points per game.  Chick’s Picks thinks that stingy D will be too much for the Rams to handle.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Pine-Richland

CLASS AAA
#4 West Mifflin (5-0) at #7 Elizabeth Forward (4-1)

The Warriors host the undefeated Titans in a Big Nine Conference showdown Friday night.  Last week, Elizabeth Forward shut down Uniontown, 56-20, while West Mifflin topped Ringgold, 42-28.  QB JaQuan Davidson gets it done through the air and on the ground for the Warriors, combining for nearly 1,000 yard of offense and 12 touchdowns.  The Titans, though, boast the top offense in Class AAA, averaging 46.6 points per game—thanks to the WPIAL’s top RB Jim Wheeler, who has over 1,300 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns already this season.  When these two met last season, the Titans blanked the Warriors, 27-0.  Chick’s Picks predicts much of the same this time around.
West Mifflin over Elizabeth Forward

CLASS AA
#3 South Fayette (5-0) at #10 Quaker Valley (5-0)

It is a battle of Century Conference undefeateds Friday night at Quaker Valley.  The Quakers found their way into the MSA Sports Top 10 for the first time this week, but will have their hands full with a high-powered Lions squad.  South Fayette is averaging a WPIAL-best 52.2 points per game, while allowing only 6.2—tops in Class AA.  Quaker Valley relies on a host of contributors including Trewon Marshall and Gennaro Trovato, who each have six touchdowns on the year.  South Fayette is led by QB Brett Brumbaugh’s 986 yards and 12 touchdowns.  When these two met last season, the Lions routed the Quakers, 52-0.  Chick’s Picks expects this year’s edition to be a little less lopsided, but with the same result.
South Fayette over Quaker Valley

CLASS A
#2 Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (5-0) at #4 Avonworth (5-0)

North Catholic hits the road to take on Avonworth in an Eastern Conference showdown Friday night.  Last week, the Trojans topped West Shamokin, 60-27, while the Antelopes snuck by Apollo-Ridge, 35-27.  Both boast high-powered offenses averaging over 40 points per game.  North Catholic is led by QB Adam Sharlow, who has thrown for over 700 yards and five touchdowns.  RB Jerome Turner had over 500 yards on the ground and 14 touchdowns.  Avonworth’s defense is allowing less than ten points per game, but struggled to put Apollo-Ridge away last week.  North Catholic struggled with that same Apollo-Ridge team in Week 1, managing a narrow 22-21 victory.  Chick’s Picks likes the ‘Lopes in this week’s upset special.
Avonworth over Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic

WPIAL CLASS AAAA:

Foothills Conference

Hempfield over Altoona

Penn-Trafford over Connellsville

Kiski Area over Norwin

McKeesport over Latrobe

Northern Eight Conference

North Hills over Fox Chapel

Seneca Valley over Shaler

Southeastern Conference

Woodland Hills over Baldwin

Bethel Park over Penn Hills

Mount Lebanon over Canon-McMillan

Peters Township over Plum

Class AAAA Non-Conference

Upper St. Clair over Butler

North Allegheny over Gateway

WPIAL CLASS AAA:

Big Nine Conference

Ringgold over Albert Gallatin

Thomas Jefferson over Laurel Highlands

Belle Vernon over Trinity

Greater Allegheny Conference

Highlands over Derry

Hampton over Hollidaysburg

Indiana over Greensburg-Salem

Franklin Regional over Knoch

Parkway Conference

Central Valley over Moon

Montour over Chartiers Valley

New Castle over Blackhawk

Hopewell over Ambridge

Class AAA Non-Conference

Mars over Uniontown

West Allegheny over Steel Valley

WPIAL CLASS AA:

Allegheny Conference

Burrell over Freeport

Kittanning over Ford City

Shady Side Academy over East Allegheny

Summit Academy over Deer Lakes

Century Conference

Seton-LaSalle over Burgettstown

South Park over Keystone Oaks

South Allegheny over McGuffey

Interstate Conference

Greensburg Central Catholic over Southmoreland

Mount Pleasant over Jeannette

Washington over Brownsville

Waynesburg over Charleroi

Midwestern Conference

Aliquippa over Freedom

Ellwood City over Mohawk

Beaver over Riverside

Beaver Falls over New Brighton

Class AA Non-Conference

Valley over Yough

WPIAL CLASS A:

Big Seven Conference

Neshannock over Rochester

OLSH over South Side

Sto-Rox over Union

Laurel over Western Beaver

Black Hills Conference

Clairton over Brentwood

Chartiers-Houston over Carlynton

Fort Cherry over Bishop Canevin

Monessen over Serra Catholic

Eastern Conference

Apollo-Ridge over Springdale

West Shamokin over Wilkinsburg

Northgate over Leechburg

Tri-County South Conference

Avella at Frazier

Carmichaels over Geibel

Beth-Center over Jefferson-Morgan

Mapletown over Bentworth

Class A Non-Conference

Shenango over Riverview

Vincentian Academy over West Greene

PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE

Westinghouse over Perry

University Prep over Allderdice

Brashear over Carrick

Tags: Avonworth, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Elizabeth Forward, North Catholic, West Mifflin