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No mystery here -- predictions first-rate
Friday, September 26, 2008

Two British archeologists declared Monday they uncovered the mystery behind Stonehenge -- something to do with drawing ancient pilgrims to the site.

The Fumbler called those two guys because he has been trying to get to the bottom of a few mysteries for years.

First, why do football teams wear dark jerseys at home, but basketball teams wear white jerseys at home?

Also, why does Aliquippa go by the Quips when their official nickname is the Indians?

Lastly, shouldn't the Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions -- by virtue of their nickname -- be forced to play in the Century Conference?

Who the best high school football prognosticator is -- that is not a mystery. It clearly is The Fumbler. Last week, he went 50-9 (.847 percentage), his best mark of the year. For the season, he is 189-61 (.756 pct.). Here are his thoughts on this weekend's top matchups:

Sto-Rox (4-0 overall, 4-0 in conference) vs. Seton-LaSalle (4-0, 4-0) at Chartiers Valley, 7:30 p.m. today -- Seton-LaSalle hasn't given up a point since the season opener. Sto-Rox has scored 30 or more in three of its four games. So, The Fumbler believes the key to this game is ... Sto-Rox's defense. If the Vikings hold Seton-LaSalle to 17 points or fewer, Sto-Rox will win. Winner: Seton-LaSalle.

North Allegheny (2-2, 0-0) at Seneca Valley (3-1, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. today -- Did you know North Allegheny has water polo teams? Just one of those facts The Fumbler likes to throw out. Anyway, if they picked a WPIAL Player of the Year after four games, The Fumbler says it would be Seneca Valley quarterback C.J. Brown. But Seneca Valley's defense has been suspect at times. Winner: North Allegheny.

Blackhawk (4-0, 2-0) at Hopewell (3-1, 1-1), 7:30 p.m. today -- Hopewell showed some flaws last week in losing for the first time to New Castle. Blackhawk is pretty good at exploiting flaws. Winner: Blackhawk.

Fort Cherry (4-0, 2-0) at Clairton (4-0, 2-0), 7:30 p.m. today -- Fort Cherry is 4-0 for the first time since 1998. But the good times will end in this Class A Black Hills Conference showdown. Winner: Clairton.

Butler (3-1, 0-0) at Shaler (4-0, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. today -- Kudos to the Shaler Titans for what they've done under first-year coach Neil Gordon. But three of Shaler's wins came against teams that haven't won a game. Finally, a test for the Titans. Winner: Shaler.

And the rest (home teams in capital letters):

This afternoon

CITY LEAGUE -- Allderdice over Peabody (Cupples Stadium).

Tonight

CITY LEAGUE -- Perry over Oliver (Cupples Stadium).

WPIAL CLASS AAAA -- (Big East Conference) Central Catholic over WOODLAND HILLS; FOX CHAPEL over Kiski Area; PENN HILLS over Plum. (Foothills) PENN-TRAFFORD over Connellsville; Erie McDowell over HEMPFIELD; Gateway over NORWIN; McKeesport over LATROBE. (Great Southern) Baldwin over PETERS TOWNSHIP; BETHEL PARK over Mt. Lebanon; Upper St. Clair over CANON-MCMILLAN. (Northern Six) North Hills over PINE-RICHLAND.

WPIAL CLASS AAA -- (Big Seven) Belle Vernon over WEST MIFFLIN; Chartiers Valley over TRINITY; RINGGOLD over Elizabeth Forward. (Greater Allegheny) Franklin Regional over KNOCH; INDIANA over Hampton. (Keystone) YOUGH over Albert Gallatin; Derry over SOUTHMORELAND; UNIONTOWN over Greensburg Salem. (Parkway) MONTOUR over Ambridge; WEST ALLEGHENY over New Castle.

WPIAL CLASS AA -- (Allegheny) Ford City over FREEPORT; Kittanning over APOLLO-RIDGE; Shady Side Academy over BURRELL; VALLEY over Summit Academy; DEER LAKES over West Shamokin. (Century) SOUTH PARK over Bishop Canevin; Keystone Oaks over CORNELL; South Fayette over NORTHGATE; Steel Valley over QUAKER VALLEY. (Interstate) WASHINGTON over Brownsville; Jeannette over CHARLEROI; McGuffey over SOUTH ALLEGHENY; EAST ALLEGHENY over Mount Pleasant; GREENSBURG CENTRAL CATHOLIC over Waynesburg. (Midwestern) CENTER over Freedom; ALIQUIPPA over Mohawk; RIVERSIDE over New Brighton.

WPIAL CLASS A -- (Big Seven) Monaca over UNION; Rochester over LAUREL; South Side Beaver over NESHANNOCK. (Black Hills) SERRA over Avella; Burgettstown over BENTWORTH; Chartiers-Houston over FRAZIER. (Eastern) SPRINGDALE over Avonworth; North Catholic over LEECHBURG. (Tri-County South) California over MAPLETOWN; JEFFERSON-MORGAN over Carmichaels; Monessen over BETH-CENTER.

NON-CONFERENCE -- Beaver Falls over MOON; SHARON over Carrick; THOMAS JEFFERSON over Laurel Highlands.

Tomorrow afternoon

CITY LEAGUE -- Schenley over Langley (Cupples Stadium).

WPIAL CLASS A -- (Eastern) Brentwood over WILKINSBURG; RIVERVIEW over Carlynton. (Tri-County South) West Greene over GEIBEL.

Tomorrow night

WPIAL CLASS AA -- (Midwestern) BEAVER over Ellwood City.

WPIAL CLASS A -- (Big Seven) Western Beaver over SHENANGO.

First published on September 26, 2008 at 12:00 am