Chicks Picks – Week Five – 2014
By:
Thursday, September 25, 2014 | 11:35 AM
Welcome to Week 5 of the high school football season. Becoming a local celebrity has its perks, and Chick’s Picks was set to enjoy yet another last weekend. The resident WPIAL football prognosticator was asked by the Pittsburgh Pirates to throw out the first pitch Saturday night when they took on the Brewers. Chick’s Picks did not hesitate to accept the offer, especially considering the tremendous success the Pirates have had this season.
Game night arrived. Chick’s Picks was escorted onto the field by the Pirates PR staff. As she stepped onto the mound, she took it all in—the bright lights, the sellout crowd of over 37,000 fans, and even the famous Pirates Pierogies. Then, the nerves set in.
Panicked, Chick’s Picks could not bring herself to throw the pitch. The usher kindly leaned over and said, “Hey lady, you’ve gotta get this show on the road already.” So, without further hesitation, Chick’s Picks let it go.
It was bad. Worse than rapper 50 Cent’s notorious worst first pitch of all time. Chick’s Picks tossed an unintentional curve ball that took out Pirates Pierogy Cheese Chester—who had just returned from the disabled list after a broken foot. As the ushers escorted Chick’s Picks off the field in the midst of flying debris from angry fans, they gave her a piece of friendly advice: “Stick with prognosticating.”
The Pirates went on to lose to the Brewers that night. It is safe to assume that Chick’s Picks threw out her first and last first pitch.
Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 47-18 (78%) record, bringing her season total to 184-77 (70%). Here are this week’s big games:
CLASS AAAA
#5 North Hills (4-0) at #4 Pine-Richland (4-0)
The Rams host the Indians in a Northern Eight Conference battle between undefeateds. Both are part of a three-way tie with Central Catholic for the top spot in the conference. Last week, North Hills edged Seneca Valley, 16-15, while Pine-Richland recorded its second shutout of the season, 62-0 over Kiski Area. The Rams boast the top-ranked passer in the WPIAL in Ben DiNucci, who has thrown for 1,040 yards and 16 touchdowns already this season. Pine-Richland’s offense is averaging 45 points per game—nearly twice that of North Hills. When these two met last season, the Indians managed a 7-0 victory. Chick’s Picks predicts the tables to turn this time around.
Pine-Richland over North Hills.
CLASS AAA
#1 West Allegheny (4-0) at #8 Montour (3-1)
Defending champion West Allegheny travels to Montour for a Parkway Conference showdown Friday night. The Indians are coming off of a 41-0 rout of Ambridge last week, while the Spartans topped Hopewell, 47-12. West Allegheny, typically known for tough defenses, currently has the top offense in Class AAA, averaging 54 points per game. The Indians backfield trio of Chayse Dillon, Whitney White, and Terence Stephens has combined for 853 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Spartans get it done through the air and on the ground behind 500-yard passer Randall Labrie and 500-yard rusher David Haseleu. These two met in Week 8 last season, with the Indians coming out on top, 37-17. Chick’s Picks foresees a similar result.
West Allegheny over Montour.
CLASS AA
#7 New Brighton (4-0) at #2 Aliquippa (4-0)
New Brighton heads to The Pit to take on Aliquippa in a fight for first place in the Midwestern Conference. The Lions remained perfect last week, with a 59-34 win over Beaver, as the Quips topped Summit Academy, 49-14. DiMantae Bronaugh leads Aliquippa with 368 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the year. New Brighton RB Scott Florence ranks among the Top 10 in the WPIAL with 556 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Quips blanked the Lions last season, 43-0. Despite more of a fight this time around, Chick’s Picks still predicts the same outcome.
Aliquippa over New Brighton.
CLASS A
Fort Cherry (2-2) at #4 Avonworth (4-0)
The Rangers will have their hands full when they take on the Antelopes in yet another key Black Hills Conference matchup Friday night. Last week, Fort Cherry rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 35-31 win over Bishop Canevin. Avonworth remained perfect with a 42-14 victory over Shenango. Despite being outscored by opponents, 88-105, this season, the Rangers will rely heavily on RB Nick Cook, who has gained over 300 yards and six touchdowns. The Antelopes are led by Zach Chandler, who ranks #5 among WPIAL quarterbacks, with 742 yards and six touchdowns. Avonworth has allowed only 55 points all season. Chick’s Picks likes the Antelopes to remain perfect in this one.
Avonworth over Fort Cherry.
CLASS AAAA:
Foothills Conference
McKeesport over Hempfield
Plum over Kiski Area
Penn-Trafford over Latrobe
Norwin over Altoona
Northern Eight Conference
Seneca Valley over Butler
North Allegheny over Shaler
Southeastern Conference
Penn Hills over Baldwin
Mount Lebanon over Peters Township
Woodland Hills over Upper St. Clair
Class AAAA Non-Conference
Fox Chapel over Canon-McMillan
Central Catholic over Connellsville
Bethel Park over Chartiers Valley
CLASS AAA:
Big Nine Conference
Ringgold over Albert Gallatin
Thomas Jefferson over Trinity
Elizabeth Forward over Uniontown
West Mifflin over Belle Vernon
Greater Allegheny Conference
Hollidaysburg over Gateway
Indiana over Greensburg Salem
Hampton over Knoch
Franklin Regional over Yough
Parkway Conference
Central Valley over Ambridge
Blackhawk over Hopewell
Moon over New Castle
Class AAA Non-Conference
Mars over Laurel Highlands
CLASS AA:
Allegheny Conference
Highlands over Apollo-Ridge
Valley over Deer Lakes
Kittanning over Freeport
Shady Side Academy over Ford City
Burrell over West Shamokin
Century Conference
South Allegheny over Keystone Oaks
South Fayette over Carlynton
South Park over East Allegheny
Steel Valley over Quaker Valley
Seton-LaSalle over Sto-Rox
Interstate Conference
McGuffey over Brownsville
Washington over Mount Pleasant
Derry over Southmoreland
Waynesburg over Charleroi
Midwestern Conference
Beaver Falls over Laurel
Beaver over Mohawk
Freedom over Summit Academy
Class AA Non-Conference
Ellwood City over Burgettstown
CLASS A:
Big Seven Conference
Shenango over Union
South Side over Vincentian Academy
Neshannock over Western Beaver
Black Hills Conference
Northgate over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Bishop Canevin over Chartiers-Houston
Eastern Conference
Greensburg Central Catholic over Serra Catholic
Clairton over Riverview
Jeannette over Springdale
Monessen over Wilkinsburg
Tri-County South Conference
Carmichaels over California
Jefferson-Morgan over Bentworth
Avella over Mapletown
Beth-Center over West Greene
Class A Non-Conference
Cardinal Weurl North Catholic over Riverside
Frazier over Leechburg
Brentwood over Rochester
CITY LEAGUE
Perry over Brashear
Allderdice over Carrick
CITY LEAGUE Non-Conference
Westinghouse over Saltsburg
Tags: Aliquippa, Avonworth, Fort Cherry, West Allegheny
More Football
• Trib HSSN Pennsylvania high school football rankings for Oct. 15, 2024• Trib HSSN High School Football Team of the Week for Oct. 14, 2024
• WPIAL launches investigations into Baldwin, Imani Christian over ‘possible recruiting violations’
• Trib HSSN football player of the week for Oct. 13, 2024
• This week on Trib HSSN for week of Oct. 14, 2024