Chicks Picks – Week Two – 2013

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, September 5, 2013 | 12:56 PM

Welcome to Week 2. Chick’s Picks typically likes to avoid angry fans, especially in Week 1.  Things did not exactly go as planned last week, however, when the house prognosticator inadvertently riled up the Tri-County South faithful.

Upon further review, it appears that Chick’s Picks, amidst the excitement of opening week, unwittingly omitted her Tri-County South predictions.  Fans from the conference were outraged—rightfully so—and were not afraid to let their voices be heard.

Chick’s Picks listened, and so did The Boss.  Outraged by her blunder, The Boss gave a stern talking to his house prognosticator before enforcing disciplinary action—which included collecting trash from the side of the Parkway West, just outside of MSA Sports World Headquarters.

So, Tri-County South fans, Chick’s Picks asks that you accept her sincerest apologies…and maybe offer a honk and a wave if you spot her in a bright orange vest this Friday night.

Chick’s Picks got off to a slow start last week, finishing with a 46-18 (72%) record.  Here are this week’s big games.

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 (1-0) at #8 North Hills (1-0)
The Indians host the top-ranked Vikings Friday night in Northern Eight Conference action.  Central Catholic opened the season with a 65-3 thrashing of Shaler.  Luigi Lista-Brinza led the way with four touchdowns for the Vikings.  North Hills edged Penn-Trafford, 21-14, thanks to a Jake Bruden’s late-game touchdown.  Bruden finished the game with 118 passing yards and 75 rushing yards.  When these two met last season, Central Catholic walked away with a 14-0 victory.  The Vikings took over the #1 spot this week.  Chick’s Picks thinks they will earn their keep in this one.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic over North Hills

CLASS AAA
#6 Elizabeth Forward (1-0) at #2 Thomas Jefferson (1-0)
Big Nine Conference play heats up when the Jaguars host the Warriors Friday night.  Elizabeth Forward blanked Trinity last week, 46-0, while Thomas Jefferson came from behind to defeat Ringgold, 31-10.  Three Warriors players rushed for more than 100 yards each.  Matt Bernadowski and JaQuan Davidson combined for six Elizabeth Forward touchdowns.  The Jaguars rallied from a 10-7 deficit behind Austin Kemp’s 156 yard, two touchdown performance.  When these two met last season, Thomas Jefferson snuck by with a 21-19 victory.  Chick’s Picks knows this is an even better Warriors squad, but big game experience will pay off for the Jags.
Thomas Jefferson over Elizabeth Forward

CLASS AA
Greensburg Central Catholic (0-1) at #4 Mount Pleasant (1-0)
Things do not get any easier for the Centurions as they travel to take on the Vikings in an Interstate Conference showdown Friday night.  Despite QB Chase Keller’s 234 yards and two touchdowns last week, Greensburg Central Catholic fell to Washington, 26-14.  Mount Pleasant easily upended Waynesburg, 33-13, behind Tyler Mellors’ 157 rushing yards and three touchdowns.  The Centurions struggled to slow down Washington’s Shai McKenzie, who finished with 234 yards and three touchdowns.  The GCC defense must step up the running game of Mellors this week.  Chick’s Picks knows the Centurions do not want to repeat the beginning of last season.
Greensburg Central Catholic over Mount Pleasant

CLASS A
#6 Laurel (1-0) at #4 Neshannock (1-0)
Laurel hits the road to take on Neshannock in Big Seven Conference play Friday night.  As both the Spartans and the Lancers come off of big opening week wins—Laurel, 40-6, over South Side Beaver and Neshannock, 56-7, over Western Beaver—the competition will get a bit stronger this week.  The Spartans boast Josh Dando, who rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns last week.  The Lancers are led by one of the most versatile quarterbacks in the WPIAL in Ernie Burkes.  Last week, Burkes threw for 73 yards and two touchdowns, then added 70 yards and another touchdown on the ground.  When these two met last season, the Lancers knocked off the Spartans, 35-14.  Chick’s Picks predicts much of the same behind Burkes this time around.
Neshannock over Laurel

CLASS AAAA:

Foothills Conference
Kiski Area over Altoona
Gateway over Connellsville
Latrobe over Hempfield
Penn-Trafford over Norwin

Northern Eight Conference
Seneca Valley over Pine-Richland
Butler over Shaler
North Allegheny over Fox Chapel

Southeastern Conference
Baldwin over Plum
Bethel Park over Mount Lebanon
Upper St. Clair over Canon-McMillan
Penn Hills over Peters Township

CLASS AAAA Non-Conference
Woodland Hills over McKeesport

CLASS AAA:

Big Nine Conference
Uniontown over Albert Gallatin
West Mifflin over Belle Vernon
Ringgold over Laurel Highlands

Greater Allegheny Conference
Franklin Regional over Indiana
Highlands over Hampton
Greensburg Salem over Hollidaysburg
Mars over Derry

Parkway Conference
Blackhawk over Moon
Montour over Central Valley
Hopewell over Chartiers Valley
West Allegheny over Ambridge

CLASS AAA Non-Conference
Knoch over Trinity
New Castle over Riverside

CLASS AA:

Allegheny Conference
Burrell over Valley
Shady Side Academy over Deer Lakes
Kittanning over East Allegheny
Freeport over Ford City

Century Conference
Steel Valley over Burgettstown
South Fayette over Keystone Oaks
Seton-LaSalle over McGuffey
South Allegheny over Quaker Valley

Interstate Conference
Jeannette over Charleroi
Washington over Southmoreland
Yough over Brownsville

Midwestern Conference
Beaver over New Brighton
Ellwood City over Freedom
Beaver Falls over Mohawk

CLASS AA Non-Conference
Aliquippa over South Park
Summit Academy over Waynesburg

CLASS A:

Big Seven Conference
Rochester over Shenango
Sto-Rox over South Side Beaver
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart over Western Beaver

Black Hills Conference
Bishop Canevin over Chartiers-Houston
Monessen over Brentwood
Fort Cherry over California
Clairton over Carlynton

Eastern Conference
West Shamokin over Northgate
Avonworth over Riverview
North Catholic over Springdale
Apollo-Ridge over Wilkinsburg

Tri-County South Conference
Jefferson-Morgan over Bentworth
Carmichaels over Frazier
Avella over West Greene

CLASS A Non-Conference
Union over Leechburg
Mapletown over Vincentian Academy
Serra Catholic over Hancock (MD)

PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE:
Perry over Brashear

CITY LEAGUE Non-Conference:
Brooke (WV) over Allderdice
Chestnut Ridge over Carrick
University Prep over Shenandoah Valley
Wheeling Central Catholic (WV) over Westinghouse