Chicks Picks – Week Six – 2014

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, October 2, 2014 | 12:26 PM

Welcome to Week 6 of the high school football season. We have reached the mid-way point in the season—a critical point where some teams make it or break it, step on the gas, or are comfortable setting the cruise control for the remainder of the season. Chick’s Picks spent some time reflecting on her own first half performance, along with other recent halves of distinction—most notably the Steelers regular season opener against the Browns.

The Steelers built a seemingly solid 27-3 lead over the Browns going into halftime. Battling back, though, the Browns tied the game late in the fourth quarter before the Steelers eventually closed the door with a game-winning field goal.

Chick’s Picks spent the first half of this season improving her performance, building her own 24-point lead, so-to-speak, over her rival prognosticators. Learning a valuable lesson from her favorite hometown team, Chick’s Picks will not let the trusty crystal ball get complacent in the second half of the season, ensuring a solid finish over her competitors.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with an impressive 54-11 (83%) record, upping her season total to 238-88 (73%). Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS AAAA
#7 North Hills (4-1) at #2 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (5-0)

Central Catholic looks to remain perfect Friday night, playing host to North Hills in a Northern Eight Conference showdown. The Indians blemished their record for the first time last week, falling to Pine-Richland, 32-15, while the Vikings rolled over Connellsville, 56-7. North Hills will look to RB Nick Santucci, who has 400 yards and four touchdowns on the year. Central Catholic RB Grant Foster has found paydirt 10 times this season, but the other side of the ball is key once again for the Vikings. The top defense in Class AAAA, Central has allowed only 14 points all season. The Indians are allowing an average of 15 points per game. The Vikings leave very little doubt for Chick’s Picks in this one.
Central Catholic over North Hills.

CLASS AAA
#5 Franklin Regional (4-1) at #4 Hampton (5-0)

Class AAA’s top defense will be on display as Hampton hosts Franklin Regional in a Greater Allegheny Conference battle Friday night. The Talbots, on the year, are allowing less than six points per game. Franklin Regional is coming off of a huge 61-2 thumping of Yough last week, while Hampton topped Knoch, 33-10. The Panthers are led by Brett Zanotto, who has racked up 600 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Matt Rech and Nick Grabowski make up a key backfield presence for the Talbots. The duo has combined for 500 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year. When these two met last season, Franklin Regional topped Hampton, 33-12. Chick’s Picks likes the Talbots to get one back.
Hampton over Franklin Regional.

CLASS AA
#10 Steel Valley (4-1) at #1 South Fayette (5-0)

The Ironmen travel to take on the top-ranked Lions in Century Conference action Friday night. Last week, Steel Valley edged Quaker Valley, 28-26, while South Fayette knocked off Carlynton, 41-7. The Ironmen will face a tall task in the high-powered Lions. South Fayette boasts both the top offense and defense in Class AA, outscoring opponents 248-46 so far this season. Lions’ QB Brett Brumbaugh also ranks among the best in the WPIAL, passing for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Ironmen prefer to keep it on the ground, in the hands of Wayne Murray – one of the WPIAL’s top backs. Murray has rushed for nearly 700 yards and 14 touchdowns in five games. Chick’s Picks predicts that the Ironmen will slow down the Lions, but not enough to stop them.
South Fayette over Steel Valley.

CLASS A:
#5 Jeannette (5-0) at #2 Clairton (5-0)

Clairton hosts Jeannette in a showdown that has been highly anticipated, even prior to the Jayhawks dropping to Class A. Although both teams come into this week’s Eastern Conference matchup with perfect records, the Bears have seemingly rolled uncontested through the first five weeks of the season, outscoring opponents 372-13. Last week, the Jayhawks rolled over Springdale, 41-7, while the Bears recorded their fourth shutout of the season, 72-0 over Riverview. Jeannette is led by QB Julian Batts, who is a threat in the air and on the ground. Batts has totaled nearly 700 yards of offense and 11 touchdowns. Clairton boasts both a quarterback and running back who rank among the Top 10 in the WPIAL in passing and scoring, respectively. Ryan Williams has passed for 832 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Harrison Dreher has rushed for 612 yards and 13 touchdowns. Chick’s Picks knows that the Jayhawks will be the toughest test to date for the Bears, but it still will not be enough to blemish their perfect record.
Clairton over Jeannette.

CLASS AAAA:

Foothills Conference

Norwin over Kiski Area

Altoona over Latrobe

Penn-Trafford over Hempfield

Plum over Connellsville

Northern Eight Conference

Fox Chapel over Shaler

North Allegheny over Butler

Pine-Richland over Seneca Valley

Southeastern Conference

Upper St. Clair over Baldwin