Chicks Picks – Week Twelve – 2017

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 16, 2017 | 8:22 PM

Welcome to Week 12 of the high school football season. Chick’s Picks caught wind that there would be a special guest in the TV broadcast booth this Saturday at Heinz Field.  Neil Walker, a 2004 Pine-Richland grad and current MLB star, is said to be one of the commentators in the Class 6A championship when his alma mater takes on Central Catholic.

Chick’s Picks pondered, “When will I get my big TV break?”  She decided to take it to The Boss.

“Boss, I’ve been here for nearly two decades,” Chick’s Picks said.  “When will I get my shot on the big screen like Neil Walker?”

The Boss grumbled something under his breath, then sighed, “Chick’s Picks, how do I say this politely…?  You have more of a…face for radio.”

Chick’s Picks was stunned by The Boss’s criticism.  He then back-stepped, “What I meant to say was, you and your crystal ball are much more valuable behind the scenes.  Your prognosticating prowess excels on the air, not on TV.”

Chick’s Picks breathed a sigh of relief.  The Boss’s clarified words were, after all, what she knew all along.  Her prognosticating talents are unmatched, regardless of the venue.  So, Chick’s Picks went on her way to make this week’s championship and semifinal predictions.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 15-1 (94%) record, upping her season total to 500-121 (81%).  Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS 6-A CHAMPIONSHIP:
#1 Pine-Richland (12-0) vs. #2 Central Catholic (10-2)

Central Catholic will battle it out with Pine-Richland for the Class 6A WPIAL Championship Saturday afternoon at Heinz Field.  The Vikings punched their ticket to the title game with a 17-8 victory over Penn Hills in last week’s semifinals, while the Rams rolled over North Allegheny 49-25.  These two familiar foes both hail from the Northern Seven Conference.  When they met in late September, Pine-Richland rolled to a 47-17 win.  Quarterback Troy Fisher leads the Vikings with 1,346 passing yards and 19 touchdowns.  The Rams boast one of the most prolific quarterbacks the WPIAL has seen in recent years in Phil Jurkovec, who has racked up more than 3,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns this season.  Pine-Richland’s high-powered offense is averaging 49.6 points per game – 20 points per game more than Central Catholic.  The Rams have two WPIAL championships under their belts, with the most recent coming in 2014.  The Vikings are six-time champs and look to defend last year’s title.  Chick’s Picks predicts that the Rams will get their turn this time around…Pine-Richland over Central Catholic.

CLASS 5-A CHAMPIONSHIP:
#1 Penn-Trafford (11-1) vs. #2 Gateway (11-1)

The top-seeded Warriors will take on the Gators Saturday afternoon at Heinz Field for the WPIAL Class 5A title.  In last week’s semifinals, Penn-Trafford knocked off Upper St. Clair, 35-14, while Gateway edged McKeesport, 28-21.  The Warriors’ only loss this season came to McKeesport, 27-24.  These two met earlier this season in Big East Conference play.  As a result, the Warriors handed the Gators their only loss of the season, 28-0.  Penn-Trafford splits its time in the air and on the ground.  Quarterback Cam Laffoon has thrown for 1,433 yards and 15 touchdowns.  John Gay leads the running attack and has racked up 1,231 yards and 17 touchdowns.  The Warriors’ solid defense is allowing less than 11 points per game.  That defense will be tested Saturday when it faces the WPIAL’s top quarterback.  Gateway’s Brady Walker has passed for 3,394 yards and 37 touchdowns.  Chick’s Picks knows the difficulty in beating the same team twice in one season, but she predicts that the Warriors will find a way, and bring home their first WPIAL gold.
Penn-Trafford over Gateway.

CLASS 4-A CHAMPIONSHIP:
#4 Montour (9-2) vs. #3 Thomas Jefferson (10-1)

Montour meets Thomas Jefferson for the Class 4A title in the finale of Saturday’s championship quadrupleheader at Heinz Field.  The Spartans advanced to the final round by upsetting top-ranked South Fayette, 35-27.  The Jaguars pulled off an upset of their own, knocking off Belle Vernon, 27-0.  Versatile Montour quarterback Kavon Morman has thrown for 1,641 yards and rushed for another 663 yards.  Thomas Jefferson features both a 1,000-yard passer and rusher.  Quarterback Shane Stump has 1,397 passing yards on the year.  Running back Justin Vigna has rushed for 1,701 yards and 24 touchdowns.    The Spartans are seeking their sixth WPIAL championship – their first since 1964.  The Jaguars look to defend last year’s title, and earn what would be the eighth in school history.  TJ’s defense has allowed only 48 points all season.  Chick’s Picks can predict one thing for sure – defense wins championships.
Thomas Jefferson over Montour.

CLASS 3-A CHAMPIONSHIP:
#1 Aliquippa (12-0) vs. #2 Quaker Valley (11-1)

Beaver Valley Conference rivals Aliquippa and Quaker Valley take the stage Saturday morning in the WPIAL Class 3A title game at Heinz Field.  The Quips are coming off of a 14-7 semifinal win over Beaver, while the Quakers rolled over Seton-LaSalle, 40-7.  Aliquippa is responsible for Quaker Valley’s only loss of the season, 22-7, in conference play.  Quips running back Avante McKenzie has rushed for 1,567 yards and 18 touchdowns on the year.  Quakers dual-threat quarterback Ricky Guss has thrown for 1,942 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for a team-best 1,032 yards and 26 touchdowns.  Aliquippa’s defense ranks as the best among all remaining playoff teams, allowing less than four points per game.  The Quips own 16 WPIAL championships to date.  The Quakers are seeking their first.  Chick’s Picks predicts that they will have to wait at least one more year.
Aliquippa over Quaker Valley.

CLASS 2-A SEMIFINALS:

#2 Washington (11-0) vs. #3 Cardinal Weurl North Catholic (10-2)

The Little Prexies take on the Trojans in a Class 2A semifinal at Moon Friday night.  Last week, Washington rolled over East Allegheny, 54-7, while Cardinal Weurl North Catholic knocked off Serra Catholic, 35-14.  While the Little Prexies have remained perfect this season, the Trojans two losses have both come to Class 3A opponents Quaker Valley and Central Valley.  Washington and Cardinal Weurl North Catholic both rely on a balanced running and passing attack.  Little Prexies quarterback Zack Swartz has thrown for 1,420 yards and 20 touchdowns, while running back Nick Welsh has racked up 1,710 yards on the ground and 26 touchdowns.  Trojans quarterback Zack Rocco has surpassed the 2,000-yard mark and passed for 27 touchdowns.  Running back Joe Meinert has 1,152 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.  Washington has outscored its opponents 498-88 in 11 games.  Chick’s Picks predicts that the Little Prexies will punch their ticket to the title game.
Washington over Cardinal Weurl North Catholic.

Steel Valley over Riverside

CLASS 1-A SEMIFINALS:

#2 Clairton (9-2) vs. #3 Jeannette (11-1)

…And they meet again.  These Eastern Conference rivals have been all too familiar in recent years.  Clairton and Jeannette take the stage Friday night at Elizabeth Forward with a ticket to the Class A title game on the line.  In last week’s quarterfinals, the Bears rolled over Carmichaels, 37-12, while the Jayhawks needed a come-from-behind late rally to knock off Rochester, 30-26.  Clairton boasts a 1,000-yard passer and rusher in quarterback Brendan Parsons and running back Tre-Sean Howard.  Jeannette quarterback Robert Kennedy has thrown for 1,244 yards and rushed for a team-high 915 yards.  However, Kennedy was replaced late in last week’s quarterfinal with Seth Howard, who led the comeback for the Jayhawks.  The Bears have had the Jayhawks number in recent years.  Clairton has gone (6-0) against Jeannette since 2014, outscoring the Jayhawks, 252-68.  The Bears blasted the Jayhawks to close out this year’s regular season, 40-6.  Chick’s Picks predicts that the installment could yield a similar result.
Clairton over Jeannette.

California over Imani Christian

Tags: Aliquippa, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Clairton, Gateway, Jeannette, North Catholic, Washington