Chicks Picks for Week Four

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, September 22, 2016 | 10:32 AM

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Welcome to Week 4 of the high school football season.  Chick’s Picks spends many days on the road, particularly early in the season.  Her surging popularity demands her presence at various high schools throughout the WPIAL.  This past Friday, though, Chick’s Picks thought that she should probably make some time to visit with The Boss at MSA Sports World Headquarters.

At the end of a long day at her 9-5, Chick’s Picks and her trusty crystal ball hit the road.  Chick’s Picks suffered through more than enough Liberty Bridge closure-related Parkway traffic, but kept telling herself, “It will all be worth it in the end…getting to see The Boss.”  When she finally arrived at World Headquarters, Chick’s Picks was shocked to find and empty office, with no sign of The Boss or the rest of the MSA Sports crew.  How could this be on a Friday night?

Chick’s Picks quickly phoned The Boss, who explained that World Headquarters had actually relocated to another part of the city.  In her best attempt at remaining calm, Chick’s Picks asked The Boss why he forgot to mention the move.  He responded, “Out of sight, out of mind, Chick’s.  You aren’t the big dog around here anymore.”

A dismayed Chick’s Picks sadly hung up the phone, realizing that a few lackluster weeks at the beginning of the season had caused The Boss to write her off as just another average prognosticator.  Chick’s Picks can only hope that the crystal ball helps her to redeem herself in the eyes of The Boss this week.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 96-31 (73%) record, bringing her season total to 143-48 (75%).  Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS 6-A
#1 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (3-1) at #4 Seneca Valley (2-1)

The Raiders play host to the top-ranked Vikings in Northern Seven Conference action Friday night.  Last week, Seneca Valley rolled over Butler, 42-6, while Central Catholic routed Hempfield, 55-6.  Quarterback Jack Cook offers dimension both through the air and on the ground for the Raiders, passing for 525 yards and rushing for 214 on the year.  Veteran quarterback Troy Fisher leads the Vikings once again, throwing for 175 yards in last week’s victory over the #6-ranked Spartans.  When these two met last season, the Vikings came away with a 38-14 victory.  Chick’s Picks predicts much of the same this time around.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Seneca Valley.

CLASS 5-A
#9 Franklin Regional (1-2) at #4 Armstrong (4-0)

Franklin Regional travels to Armstrong for a Big East Conference showdown Friday night.  The Panthers picked up their first win of the season last week, 28-12, over Plum, while the Riverhawks knocked off Gateway, 35-15.  Franklin Regional has been outscored 49-50 so far this season.  The Panthers’ defense will be tested, facing one of the top running backs in the WPIAL in Armstong’s Zane Dudek.  Dudek has already rushed for over 1,000 yards this season, and leads the WPIAL with 17 touchdowns.  Franklin Regional edged Armstrong when these two met last season, 35-26.  Chick’s Picks predicts a changing of the guard this season.
Armstrong over Franklin Regional.

CLASS 4-A
#9 Knoch (1-2) at #1 South Fayette (4-0)

Knoch takes on South Fayette in a Northwest Nine Conference battle between Top 10 teams Friday night.  Last week, the Knights defeated Highlands, 21-14, while the Lions routed Uniontown, 63-7.  Knoch’s defense is allowing 28 points per game so far this season, and will face the highest scoring team in Class 4-A in South Fayette.  The Lions have scored 164 points in their first four games.  Quarterback Drew Saxton has thrown for 713 yards and eight touchdowns on the year.  Chick’s Picks predicts that the Lions will continue to roll this week.
South Fayette over Knoch.

CLASS 3-A
#4 Central Valley (3-1) at #8 Quaker Valley (2-1)

The Warriors hit the road to take on the Quakers in a Beaver Valley Conference showdown Friday night.  Central Valley is coming off of a 42-13 victory over Cardinal Weurl North Catholic, while Quaker Valley picked up its first loss of the season, 38-14, to Beaver.  Quarterback Ricky Guss pilots the Quakers offense, leading the team in both passing and rushing.  The Warriors boast the highest scoring offense in Class 3-A, averaging over 37 points per game.  Chick’s Picks predicts that this high-powered offense will be too much for the Quakers.
Central Valley over Quaker Valley.

CLASS 2-A
#3 East Allegheny (3-1) at #5 Neshannock (3-1)

East Allegheny takes on Neshannock in a non-conference showdown between Class 2-A Top 10 teams Friday night.  Last week, the Wildcats blanked Vincentian Academy, 48-0, while the Lancers shut out New Brighton, 49-0.  East Allegheny sits atop the Three Rivers Conference, outscoring opponents 132-54 so far this season.  Veteran quarterback Frank Antuono leads Neshannock, throwing for 707 yards and rushing for another 296 yards on the year.  Chick’s Picks predicts that the Lancers will use their big-game experience of recent years to carry them in this one.
Neshannock over East Allegheny.

CLASS 1-A
#5 Northgate (3-0) at #7 Sto-Rox (3-1)

Sto-Rox plays host to Northgate in a Big Seven Conference battle between Top 10 teams Friday night.  The Vikings are looking to rebound after a 27-0 loss to Rochester last week, while the Flames routed Shenango, 58-12.  Sto-Rox is led by one of the top passers in the WPIAL in Brady Doubt, who has thrown for 871 yards and seven touchdowns on the season.  Northgate’s offense, led by quarterback Stefon Adams, is posting more than 46 points per game.  The Flames are also solid on defense, allowing only eight points per game.  Chick’s Picks predicts that very defense to outlast in this one.
Northgate over Sto-Rox.

CLASS 6-A

Northern Seven Conference

North Allegheny over Butler

Penn Hills over Shaler

Southeastern Conference

Mt. Lebanon over Altoona

Norwin over Canon-McMillan

Hempfield over Peters Township

6-A Non-Conference

Pine-Richland over Bethel Park

CLASS 5-A

Allegheny Nine Conference

Woodland Hills over Chartiers Valley

Upper St. Clair over Fox Chapel

North Hills over Moon

West Allegheny over Baldwin

Big East Conference

Kiski Area over Connellsville

Penn-Trafford over Latrobe

McKeesport over Plum

5-A Non-Conference

Gateway over Hampton

CLASS 4-A

Big Nine Conference

Thomas Jefferson over Albert Gallatin

Belle Vernon over Greensburg Salem

Ringgold over Laurel Highlands

West Mifflin over Uniontown

Northwest Nine Conference

Montour over Ambridge

Mars over Highlands

New Castle over Indiana

4-A Non-Conference

Blackhawk over Trinity

CLASS 3-A

Allegheny Conference

Burrell over Apollo-Ridge

Deer Lakes over Valley

Freeport over Shady Side Academy

Beaver Valley Conference

Aliquippa over Ellwood City

Interstate Conference

McGuffey over Elizabeth Forward

Derry over South Park

Yough over Waynesburg

3-A Non-Conference

Beaver over Keystone Oaks

Beaver Falls over Southmoreland

CLASS 2-A

Century Conference

Bentworth over Beth-Center

Chartiers-Houston over Burgettstown

Washington over Frazier

Midwestern Athletic Conference

Laurel over Freedom

Cardinal Weurl North Catholic over New Brighton

Riverside over South Side

Three Rivers Conference

Brentwood over Avonworth

Carlynton over Vincentian Academy

Steel Valley over South Allegheny

2-A vs 3-A Non-Conference

Mount Pleasant over Brownsville

Seton-LaSalle over Serra Catholic

Hopewell over Mohawk

2-A vs 1-A Non-Conference

Greensburg Central Catholic over Charleroi

CLASS 1-A

Big 7 Conference

Rochester over Cornell

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart over Summit Academy

Western Beaver over Union

Eastern Conference

Jeannette over Imani Christian

Springdale over Leechburg

Bishop Canevin over Riverview

Tri-County South Conference

California over Mapletown

Carmichaels over Avella

West Greene over Jefferson-Morgan

1-A Non-Conference

Clairton over Monessen

Fort Cherry over Shenango

PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE

Allderdice over Carrick

City League Non-Conference

Hollidaysburg over Brashear

Elder (OH) over University Prep

Westinghouse over Hickory