Chicks Picks – Week Five – 2012
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Thursday, September 27, 2012 | 12:56 PM
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Welcome to Week 5 of the high school football season. Despite an improvement in performance last week, the boss had quite a few unpleasant words for Chick’s Picks. He, without hesitation, let Chick’s Picks know that he felt she was not living up to her prognosticating potential, as she had in years past. Admittedly a bit hurt by the boss’s harsh criticism, Chick’s Picks sought out a way to overcome this bump in the road. She took time this week to reflect on some of the most important advice she has ever received.
Chick’s Picks remembered a basketball practice once when she finally got up the nerve to ask her coach why she was the recipient of his incessant berating. Coach looked at her and simply said, “Chick’s Picks, it’s when I stop yelling at you that you should worry.” Chick’s Picks decided that her coach’s advice applies perfectly to this situation—that this must be the boss’s way of showing his belief in her prognosticating abilities.
Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 52-14 (79%) record, bringing her season total to 152-47 (76%). Hoping to improve the boss’s opinion of her, here are this week’s predictions:
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 or use #MSAScores!
CLASS AAAA:
#2 Gateway (4-0) at #10 Hempfield (3-1)
Gateway brings its perfect record to Hempfield Friday night in Foothills Conference play. The Gators are coming off a 42-7 win over Altoona, while the Spartans stopped Kiski, 42-21. Despite a loss to Connellsville, Hempfield is off to its best start since 1997—including a 33-18 upset of McKeesport in Week 1. That success will be tested this week, when Gateway brings its high-powered offense—the top in Class AAAA—to town. The Gators are averaging 51 points per game behind QB Thomas Woodson’s 839 yards and eight touchdowns. The Spartans suffered injuries to four key players against Kiski, including leading rusher Joey DeFloria. Since Gateway and Hempfield became conference rivals in 2008, the Gators are (4-0) and have outscored the Spartans 166-0. Chick’s Picks does not predict another shutout, but the Gators will make it five in a row.
Gateway over Hempfield.
CLASS AAA:
#7 Knoch (4-0) at #10 Hampton (3-1)
The Talbots host the Knights in a Greater Allegheny Conference matchup Friday night. Last week, Hampton upended Laurel Highlands, 34-11, while Knoch blanked Hollidaysburg, 35-0. The Talbots are led by QB Jon Nigro, who has passed for 406 yards and three touchdowns on the season. Hampton’s only loss this season came to Greensburg-Salem, 20-10—a team that Knoch defeated, 28-14. Knoch’s defense has been impressive, allowing only 28 points in its first four games. Hampton is allowing more than double that, at 14.8 points per game. RB Ben Tackett has 458 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns for the Knights. When these two met last season, Knoch prevailed, 42-6. Chick’s Picks likes the Knights to stay perfect in this one.
Knoch over Hampton.
CLASS AA:
#2 Jeannette (4-0) at #5 Washington (4-0)
Washington welcomes Jeannette Friday night in a battle of undefeateds that will likely decide the Interstate Conference title. The Little Prexies are coming off a 42-12 win over Yough. The Jayhawks routed Brownsville, 60-7. This meeting will undoubtedly be the first big test that either of these teams has faced this season. Jeannette boasts one of the top offenses in Class AA, outscoring opponents 203-26. Washington has outscored its opponents 176-40. Highly touted RB Shai McKenzie, the leading rusher in the WPIAL, has 760 yards and 13 touchdowns already this season for the Little Prexies. Eleven different players have found paydirt for the Jayhawks, including Shavonta Craft and Jordan Edmunds with six touchdowns a piece. Chick’s Picks knows the home crowd will only fuel McKenzie’s ground game, but thinks big-game experience will pay off for the Jayhawks.
Jeannette over Washington.
CLASS A:
#8 Northgate (4-0) at #6 Sto-Rox (3-1)
Northgate will try to remain perfect against Sto-Rox in non-conference play Friday night. Last week, the Flames pummeled Wilkinsburg, 53-16, while the Vikings topped Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 35-14. The only loss for Sto-Rox this season came to Neshannock, 35-34, in what is being dubbed as the game of the year. Vikings QB Lenny Williams ranks third in Class A with his 669 passing yards and six touchdowns. Northgate is led by QB Cody Walter, who is tied for the 2nd leading scorer in the WPIAL with 13 touchdowns. The Flames have also been impressive defensively, allowing only 35 points on the year. Sto-Rox is averaging 39 points per game. Chick’s Picks does not foresee the Vikings dropping a second regular season game in this one.
Sto-Rox over Northgate.
CLASS AAAA:
Foothills Conference
Connellsville over Norwin
McKeesport over Altoona
Penn-Trafford over Latrobe
Northern Eight Conference
North Allegheny over Butler
Fox Chapel over Shaler
Central Catholic over Seneca Valley
Southeastern Conference
Upper St. Clair over Baldwin
Bethel Park over Peters Township
Mount Lebanon over Woodland Hills
Canon-McMillan over Plum
Non-Conference
Kiski Area over Pine-Richland
North Hills over Penn Hills
CLASS AAA:
Big Nine Conference
Thomas Jefferson over Albert Gallatin
Trinity over Laurel Highlands
Elizabeth Forward over Uniontown
West Mifflin over Ringgold
Greater Allegheny Conference
Hollidaysburg over Derry
Indiana over Highlands
Mars over Greensburg-Salem
Parkway Conference
Montour over Ambridge
Hopewell over Moon
Chartiers Valley over New Castle
Central Valley over West Allegheny
Non-Conference
Franklin Regional over Belle Vernon
Beaver over Blackhawk
CLASS AA:
Allegheny Conference
Burrell over Kittanning
Freeport over Shady Side Academy
Ford City over Summit Academy
East Allegheny over Valley
Century Conference
South Allegheny over Burgettstown
South Fayette over Seton-LaSalle
South Park over McGuffey
Steel Valley over Quaker Valley
Interstate Conference
Greensburg Central Catholic over Brownsville
Waynesburg over Southmoreland
Mount Pleasant over Yough
Midwestern Conference
Aliquippa over Mohawk
Ellwood City over Riverside
Freedom over New Brighton
Non-Conference
Deer Lakes over Charleroi
Beaver Falls over Keystone Oaks
CLASS A:
Big Seven Conference
Rochester over Western Beaver
Shenango over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Neshannock over South Side
Union over Laurel
Black Hills Conference
Bishop Canevin over Monessen
Brentwood over Chartiers-Houston
Clairton over Fort Cherry
Imani Christian over Carlynton
California over Serra Catholic
Eastern Conference
Avonworth over Apollo-Ridge
Springdale over Leechburg
North Catholic over West Shamokin
Riverview over Wilkinsburg
Tri-County South Conference
Jefferson-Morgan over Frazier
Carmichaels over Mapletown
Beth-Center over West Greene
Avella over Geibel
Non-Conference
Vincentian Academy over Bentworth
CITY LEAGUE NON-CONFERENCE:
Fort Hill (MD) over Carrick
Perry over Liberty Christian (VA)
Steubenville (OH) over Westinghouse
Wheeling Central Catholic (WV) over Allderdice
University Prep over Gilmour Academy (OH)
Erie Strong Vincent over Brashear
Tags: Gateway, Hampton, Hempfield, Jeannette, Knoch, Washington
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