Chick’s Picks takes flight before predicting Week 4 high school football outcomes

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, September 20, 2018 | 4:51 PM

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Welcome to Week 4 of the high school football season.

While preparing for last week’s games, Chick’s Picks noticed that there were so many key matchups on the schedule. She contemplated for quite some time about how to make her way around the WPIAL on Friday night in order to catch a glimpse of the action at each site. Reluctantly, Chick’s Picks came up with a plan — a helicopter.

Chick’s Picks dipped into her prognosticating piggy bank and chartered her own chopper. As the sun began to set Friday night, Chick’s Picks boarded with her trusty crystal ball in tow. The pilot, who claimed to be a pro, seemed a bit aggressive with the cyclic stick.

Only moments into the flight, Chick’s Picks was reminded that she had forgotten to take her preventative motion sickness medication. This blunder resulted in bad news for all aboard. Not only was her crystal ball in need of restorative services, but also, the pilot suddenly decided on an early retirement.

Chick’s Picks has since promised herself that she would keep both feet on the ground for the remainder of the season.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 50-14 (78 percent) record, upping her season total to 181-67 (73 percent). Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS 6A

No. 2 North Allegheny (4-0) at No. 5 Mt. Lebanon (2-2)

Class 6A action heats up in this battle between top-five teams Friday night. North Allegheny remained perfect last week, rolling over Canon-McMillan, 45-21. Mt. Lebanon dropped to .500 on the year with a 17-14 loss to Seneca Valley. Ben Maenza leads the Tigers with 486 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Blue Devils’ quarterback Seth Morgan has thrown for more than 700 yards and also leads the team in rushing with more than 200 yards. North Allegheny was responsible for ending Mt. Lebanon’s season last year, knocking off the Blue Devils, 38-14, in the quarterfinal round. Chick’s Picks predicts a similar outcome this time around. … North Allegheny over Mt. Lebanon.

CLASS 5A

No. 4 Peters Township (3-1) at No. 5 North Hills (4-0)

Undefeated North Hills hosts Peters Township in a nonconference showdown Friday night. Last week, North Hills edged Hampton, 3-0, while Peters Township rolled over West Allegheny, 42-28. Peters Township’s only loss this season came in Week 1 to Upper St. Clair. Quarterback Logan Pfeuffer has thrown for 447 yards and four touchdowns for Peters. North Hills senior playmaker Tyler Brennan has more than 500 rushing yards for the Indians. Both teams are averaging around 30 points and allowing fewer than 15. Chick’s Picks is going with home-field advantage in this one. … North Hills over Peters Township.

CLASS 4A

No. 3 Belle Vernon (2-1) at Indiana (1-3)

The Leopards hit the road to take on the Big Eight Conference rival Little Indians Friday night. Belle Vernon is coming off of a 49-7 rout of Laurel Highlands last week, while Indiana fell to Thomas Jefferson, 49-14. The Leopards are led by Mason Pascoe’s 537 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Little Indians quarterback Luke Thomas has thrown for 273 yards and three touchdowns. Belle Vernon has outscored its three opponents 106-43. Indiana has been outscored by its four opponents, 82-110. Chick’s Picks predicts a second straight loss for the Little Indians. … Belle Vernon over Indiana.

CLASS 3A

No. 1 Aliquippa (4-0) at No. 5 Beaver Falls (4-0)

Familiar foes face off in a Tri-County West Conference showdown Friday night. Last week, Aliquippa blanked Montour, 62-0, while Beaver Falls knocked off defending champ Quaker Valley, 25-14. Quips quarterback Eli Kosanovich has thrown for 794 yards and 15 touchdowns. Amen Cottrill leads the Tigers with seven touchdowns. Aliquippa has allowed only six points in four games. When these two met last season, the Quips shut out Beaver Falls, 36-0. Chick’s Picks predicts a repeat. … Aliquippa over Beaver Falls.

CLASS 2A

Burgettstown (3-0) at No. 5 South Side (4-0)

Burgettstown battles South Side for the top spot in the Three Rivers Conference Friday night. The Blue Devils maintained their perfect record last week with a 41-0 rout of Summit Academy — their second straight shutout. The Rams knocked off Carlynton, 54-33. South Side’s Jake Botkin has rushed for 834 yards and 10 touchdowns. Burgettstown’s impressive defense has allowed only six points in three games. Chick’s Picks predicts a new face in the Top 5 next week after this upset. … Burgettstown over South Side.

CLASS A

No. 5 Monessen (3-0) at West Greene (3-1)

The Pioneers host the Greyhounds in Tri-County South Conference action Friday night. Last week, West Greene blanked Mapletown, 47-0, marking its second shutout of the season. Monessen rolled over Jefferson-Morgan, 55-0. The Pioneers are led by running back Ben Jackson, who ranks among the best in the WPIAL with 874 yards and 14 touchdowns. Devin Whitlock and Vaughn Taylor have four touchdowns apiece for the Greyhounds. Both defenses have allowed fewer than 9 points per game. When these two met last year, West Greene came away with a 48-16 victory. Chick’s Picks predicts a repeat performance for the Pioneers. … West Greene over Monessen.

Here’s the rest of the picks:

CLASS 6A

Hempfield over Canon-McMillan

Pine-Richland over Norwin

Seneca Valley over Butler

CLASS 5A

Allegheny Eight Conference

Baldwin over Woodland Hills

Chartiers Valley over Moon

West Allegheny over Upper St. Clair

Big East Conference

Penn-Trafford over Albert Gallatin

Connellsville over Latrobe

McKeesport over Plum

Northern Conference

Armstrong over Mars

Hampton over Fox Chapel

Penn Hills over Kiski Area

Nonconference

Central Catholic over Bethel Park

Franklin Regional over Shaler

CLASS 4A

Big Eight Conference

Laurel Highlands over Greensburg Salem

Thomas Jefferson over Trinity

Northwest Eight Conference

Knoch over Ambridge

Beaver over Highlands

Blackhawk over Montour

Nonconference

Gateway over Ringgold

West Mifflin over New Castle

CLASS 3A

Big East Conference

Yough over Burrell

Deer Lakes over Mt. Pleasant

Freeport over Uniontown

Derry over North Catholic

Tri-County West Conference

Keystone Oaks over Central Valley

Waynesburg over South Park

Nonconference

Elizabeth Forward over Quaker Valley

South Fayette over Hopewell

CLASS 2A

Allegheny Conference

Avonworth over Apollo-Ridge

Steel Valley over Valley

East Allegheny over Summit Academy

Century Conference

Southmoreland over Brownsville

Charleroi over Carmichaels

McGuffey over Beth-Center

Midwestern Conference

Freedom over Ellwood City

Riverside over Shenango

Mohawk over Western Beaver

Three Rivers Conference

Carlynton over Serra Catholic

South Allegheny over Fort Cherry

Nonconference

Brentwood over Frazier

Shady Side Academy over Neshannock

Seton LaSalle over New Brighton

CLASS A

Big Seven Conference

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart over Bishop Canevin

Rochester over Union

Cornell over Northgate

Eastern Conference

Imani Christian over Greensburg Central Catholic

Leechburg over Riverview

Jeannette over Springdale

Tri-County South Conference

Jefferson-Morgan over Avella

Bentworth over Mapletown

Nonconference

Clairton over Laurel

Sto-Rox over Chartiers-Houston

Washington over California

CITY LEAGUE

Westinghouse over Carrick

Perry over Allderdice

Nonconference

Steubenville (Ohio) over University Prep

Tags: Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, Belle Vernon, Burgettstown, Indiana, Monessen, Mt. lebanon, North Allegheny, North Hills, Peters Township, South Side