In our Picks to Click, we feature six players or units from across the state that we feel will have breakout performances on Friday night. This season we’ve assembled a team of six media members across the state to each select one player (or unit) each week. We will track the cumulative statistics of our selections throughout the season similar to fantasy scoring. Check back next Thursday to see our picks for Week Four, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Britton Abbott, QB, Liberal (Nicholl)
Liberal is 2-0 and has outscored opponents 112-41 and ranks No. 1 in Class 5A in scoring offense. Abbott led Kansas in total offense last season and ranked No. 1 in the state among quarterbacks in rushing yards. This year, Abbott completed 52 of 80 passes for 790 yards and a 7/1 TD/INT ratio. He has also rushed 45 carries for 226 yards and six scores. He again leads the state in total offense, according to maxpreps.com. Trenton Hammond, one of Kansas’ all-time fastest players, who has caught 23 passes for 442 yards and seven TDs.
Liberal hasn’t won a Western Athletic Conference game under third-year coach Cliff Abbott, but will have its first chance when it plays host to Hays High (2-0) on Friday night. The Redskins have lost four straight to Hays High, but Abbott/Hammond will have to have big games for Liberal to stop the losing streak.
Bowe Behymer, RB/Ret, Beloit (Baetz)
Beloit's Bowe Behymer is lightning in a bottle. While only 5-8, 175, he is nothing but muscle and showed his power and athleticism last week in the Trojans 36-14 win over Smith Center. He tallied a kickoff return and punt return for touchdown, rushed for a touchdown, and threw for a touchdown in the absence of veteran quarterback Payton Vetter late in the game. The Trojans have Russell this week and with low numbers and a first year coach for the Broncos, Behymer will have the opportunity to put up big numbers again.
J.T. Richardson, QB/DB, Northeast-Arma (Kuplen)
The 6-0 170 pound senior is one of the better all-around athletes in Class 2-1A, finishing second in the 2A triple jump last spring as a junior. Richardson led the Vikings to a 4-5 season a year ago - a team that had no wins in 2010 or 2011 seasons. This may be the best team Northeast has fielded since the 2000 season, when the Vikings posted a 5-4 record. Last week in the 44-14 win over Fredonia, Richardson led the Vikes' with 6 total touchdowns (4 passing, 2 rushing). The senior captain netted 134 yards on the ground and 155 yard through the air. On defense, he intercepted a pass and has 12 total tackles on the season. Eureka (2-0) is a much improved team from last year, but Richardson shredded the Tornado defense last year for 329 rushing yards and 5 TDs.
Trent Rietzke, RB, Thunder Ridge (Gilmore)
Rietzke has rushed 38 times for 356 yards and six touchdowns in the Longhorn’s first two victories this season. H opened with a 210-yard, 4-touchdown performance against Mankato-Rock Hills. Rietzke (5-8, 165) is seeking to be the next in line of all-state running backs at Thunder Ridge after Joel Struckhoff (2011) and Trevor Lowe (2012). He will look for another big performance on Friday when the Longhorns travel to Logan-Palco (1-1).
Landon Root, QB, Wichita Collegiate (Schremmer)
Root (6-3, 200) has passed for 540 yards and three touchdowns in close losses to Andale and Buhler. The Northern Illinois commit has also added 130 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Expect Wichita Collegiate to get back on track and Root to have a big game Friday against Towanda-Circle.
Venus Triplett, RB, Olathe North (Clisso)
The junior running back should be primed for a big game after being shut down last week by Shawnee Mission South. Triplett (5-9, 185) has also returned two punts for an average of 56 yards per return with one touchdown. This week he will face a Shawnee Mission North defense that has been gashed the first two weeks on the ground.
Week Two’s Picks to Click results (scoring):
Hutchison Offensive Line – The Salthawks’ offense produced 527 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns in the 48-0 shutout of Haysville Campus. Hutchinson rushed for 441 yards on the night. (Gilmore – 31 pts)
Dailin Kruger, QB, Silver Lake – Kruger completed 5 of 6 passes for 127 yards and four touchdowns as Silver Lake cruised past Neodesha. He also added 30 yards on the ground for the Eagles. (Schremmer – 39 pts)
James Newton, WR/Ret, Coffeyville – Newton returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and also added a 16-yard touchdown reception. Coffeyville scored touchdowns on seven of their first eight offensive plays in throttling Parsons 68-6. (Kuplen – 13 pts)
Ryan Perkins, DB, Southern Cloud – Perkins registered 22 tackles and intercepted a pass, but Southern Cloud fell 60-14 to Beloit St. John’s-Tipton. (Baetz – 48 pts)
Jason Randall, RB, Leavenworth – Randall rushed for 147 yards on 16 carries as the Pioneers eased past Shawnee Mission North 33-0. Randall also caught three passes for 59 yards and a touchdown for Leavenworth. (Clisso – 25 pts)
Kenton Ubelaker, RB/Ret, Osborne – Ubelaker rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns as Osborne beat Hill City 64-18. He also added 43 yards receiving and another score. (Nicholl – 42 pts)
2013 Picks to Click contributors:
John Baetz, Kansas Pregame (75 points)
Conor Nicholl, Hays Daily News (63 points)
Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com (60 points)
Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com (57 points)
Mark Schremmer, Joplin Globe (57 points)
Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas (50 points)
2013 Picks to Click
- The objective will be to have the most cumulative points over the course of the season.
- Participants may select a quarterback, running back, WR/TE, offensive line or a defensive player each week.
- Everyone must pick a WR/TE, offensive line and defensive player at least once.
- Points will be rewarded only for the player's offensive or defensive stats, depending on how you designate the player that week. For instance, if you pick a running back then you will not receive any of his points for defense.
Scoring system
QBs/RBs/WRs/TEs
- 1 point for every 10 yards passing, rushing or receiving from a quarterback, running back or wide receiver
- 6 points for every passing, rushing or receiving touchdown
Offensive line
- 1 point for every 50 yards gained as an offense
- 3 points for every offensive touchdown
Defensive player
- 2 points for every tackle
- 4 points for every INT, sack or fumble recovery
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