Welcome to WPIAL Championship Week of the 2009 high school football season. Who could ask for anything more this week than Thanksgiving, Chick’s Picks, and Championship Friday? Chick’s Picks has a lot more to celebrate this week than just Thanksgiving, though. This Championship Friday, Chick’s Picks will be wrapping up her 10th season with the MSA Sports Network.

In honor of this milestone week, and in celebration of Thanksgiving, Chick’s Picks spent some time reflecting on the things she has been thankful for in her time at the Network. First and foremost, Chick’s Picks is thankful for her crystal ball, along with her natural talent for pigskin prognosticating. Secondly, she is thankful for the The Fumbler, H.S. Picks, and the rest of her competition for making her look like even more of a high school football genius.

Chick’s Picks is also grateful for the remarkable MSA Sports team that she has had the honor of working with over the last decade. Last but not least, Chick’s Picks if thankful for The Boss; mostly for losing a bet and giving Chick’s Picks a chance with the Network, but also for his dedication to building the biggest and best source for scholastic sports coverage.

Chick’s Picks finished last week with a 5-3 (63%) record, bringing her season total to 491-169 (74%). Here are this week’s WPIAL Championship picks:

WPIAL CLASS A:

Clairton (11-1) vs. Rochester (12-0)

The Bears meet the Rams bright and early Friday morning to kick off the 2009 WPIAL Championships. Clairton found its way to Heinz Field with postseason wins over South Side Beaver, 61-0, Avonworth, 24-0, and Laurel, 33-0. Rochester arrived at the title game with playoff wins over Carmichaels, 40-6, Brentwood, 38-12, and North Catholic, 14-7. The Bears will try to repeat as WPIAL Champs, and earn another shot at the PIAA title, after falling to Steel-High, 35-16, last season. The Rams, on the other hand, are looking to avenge last year’s semifinal loss, where they fell to Clairton, 16-0. This game boasts the best defensive matchup of the day, with Clairton allowing only 38 points on the year, and Rochester giving up just 58. In fact, the Bears have not allowed a single point since Week 9, and have recorded seven shutouts on the year. Chick’s Picks knows of the strong tradition behind the Rams, but thinks the Bears will go home with their seventh WPIAL title on Friday.
Clairton over Rochester.

WPIAL CLASS AA:

Aliquippa (11-1) vs. Greensburg Central Catholic (10-2)

Aliquippa and Greensburg Central Catholic square off for Class AA bragging rights in the second game of Friday’s quadruple-header. The Quips, after knocking off McGuffey, 27-7, South Fayette, 47-34, and Beaver Falls, 17-10 in the postseason, look to defend their WPIAL gold of last season. The Centurions have been surprising, to say the least. After falling twice in the regular season--to McGuffey and Mount Pleasant--Greensburg Central Catholic rallied in the playoffs, defeating Freeport, 35-6, Center, 30-3, and Keystone Oaks, 24-19. Aliquippa will certainly have its hands full with GCC RB David Miller, who has rushed for 1,935 yards this season, and leads the WPIAL with 34 touchdowns. These two met in last year’s WPIAL quarterfinals, with Aliquippa knocking off GCC, 32-14. The Centurions have yet to win a WPIAL championship, despite making back-to-back title game appearances in 2005 and 2006. The Quips own 13 WPIAL titles--more than any other team. Chick’s Picks thinks the Quips’ tradition will carry them through, and the Centurions will have to settle for silver once again.
Aliquippa over Greensburg Central Catholic.

WPIAL CLASS AAA:

Hopewell (12-0) vs. West Allegheny (10-2)

Hopewell takes on West Allegheny in the Class AAA Championship showdown. The Indians managed the unthinkable last week, knocking off a Thomas Jefferson team, 28-21, that had not lost a WPIAL game since 2004. The Vikings have delivered nothing short of what was expected so far this season, entering the title game with a perfect record. Hopewell knocked off Hampton last week, 31-9. These two met earlier this season, when the Vikings shut down the Indians in Week 7, 34-26. This week’s matchup will feature two of the premier running backs in the WPIAL in Hopwell’s Rushel Shell and West Allegheny’s Mike Caputo. Shell, the prolific sophomore, has already tallied nearly 4,000 career rushing yards. Caputo has come on strong this season, recording his sixth 200-plus-yard rushing game of the year in last week’s win. Chick’s Picks thinks that the Vikings should thank the Indians for ousting Thomas Jefferson last week, and paving their way to WPIAL gold.
Hopewell over West Allegheny.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA:

Woodland Hills (11-1) vs. Gateway (12-0)

The Wolverines and the Gators face off in this highly anticipated WPIAL Class AAAA Championship finale Friday night. Woodland Hills needed overtime to stop Bethel Park, the defending WPIAL champs, 38-35, last week in the semifinals, while Gateway rolled to a 42-20 win over North Hills. This year marks the third consecutive WPIAL title game appearance for the Gators, who fell to Bethel Park last year, 10-6. While Gateway has maintained a perfect record this season, Woodland Hills’ only loss came to Steubenville (OH) in Week 1, 13-0. Since then, the Wolverines have outscored opponents 394-98. The 35 points allowed by Woodland Hills last week was more than was allowed in its previous four games combined. Gateway’s prolific QB Rob Kalkstein, who has passed for over 6,000 yards in his career, has guided the Gators to posting 544 points on the year, while allowing just 89. Chick’s Picks knows the Gators have been to the dance, but not won one since 1986--until Friday night, that is.
Gateway over Woodland Hills