The Kpreps Picks to Click feature is back for the 2019 season!
In our Picks to Click, we feature several 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 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.
Picks to Click contributors for the 2019 season include: John Baetz (Kansas Pregame Magazine); Sean Boston (Southwind Broadcasting); Dion Clisso (PrepsKC.com); Matt Gilmore (Kpreps.com); Chet Kuplen (Sports in Kansas); Brent Maycock (Topeka Capital Journal); and Conor Nicholl (Kpreps.com).
Check back next Thursday to see our picks for Week 2, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Adam Albertini, QB/RB, St. Paul (Kuplen)
Albertini had 51 rushing touchdowns and nine passing touchdowns last season for the Indians (8M-II) on his way to several all-state honors. With a big season like last year, statistically he could go down as one of the best 8-man backs of all-time. Albertini may not be the biggest guy on the field but he’s likely always the quickest with 4.54 speed measured at the Kansas Shrine Bowl - Sports in Kansas Combine this summer. The Indians take on Sedan this Friday as they return six seniors who start on each side of the ball.
Beau Batchman, RB, Sylvan-Lucas Unified (Baetz)
Batchman, a senior running back and linebacker, piled up 1,400 yards and 20 TDs last season, good for Kpreps All-State honors. The Mustangs will open their season at Chase where they face a Kats' team coming off consecutive 2-7 seasons and breaking in its fourth head coach in as many seasons.
Ty Black, QB, Shawnee Mission Northwest (Clisso)
As a sophomore last season, Ty Black stepped in to the starting role for his father’s Shawnee Mission Northwest Cougars and never looked back. Black (6-1, 190) passed for 2,695 yards and 24 touchdowns inleading the Cougars to a 5-5 record. Those five wins were the most by a Shawnee Mission Northwest team since 2010. Black and the Cougars open against a Shawnee Mission West team that has lost 19 consecutive games, but is experienced with 18 total starters returning.
Quinn Buessing, QB, Axtell (Gilmore)
Buessing has a chance to go down as one of the most prolific eight-man quarterbacks in state history. A talented four-sport athlete, Buessing earned all-state honors last season after completing 71.5 percent of his passes for 2,595 yards and 51 touchdowns. Quinn also rushed for 689 yards and 13 more scores. For his career, Buessing has passed for 5,550 yards and 93 touchdowns, while adding nearly 1,200 rushing yards and 28 more scores. Axtell begins the season ranked No. 2 in 8M-II, and with several returning starters back on each side of the ball the Eagles are a legit state title contender. All-State receiver Hunter Koch has graduated (73 receptions, 1,265 yards, 33 TD in 2018), but the Eagles return J.J Hart, George Volle, and Derek Buessing – a trio that combined for 114 receptions, 1,436 yards, and 20 touchdowns. Axtell opens against a Beloit St. John’s-Tipton team that returns several starters from a 5-4 campaign last year. In last year’s meeting, a 58-12 Axtell win, Buessing passed for 299 yards and seven touchdowns and added 75 yards on the ground. Look for Buessing to get off to another strong start on Friday night.
Conor Haviland, RB, Humboldt (Maycock)
Haviland was part of Humboldt's dangerous 1-2 backfield punch a year ago, teaming with Dagen Goodner as the two combined for nearly 3,000 rushing yards and 4,000 yards of total offense and 65 TDs. With Goodner gone, the workload falls squarely on Haviland's back this year -- after he was an All-2A selection last year rushing for 1,687 yards and 32 TDs. He needed only 8 carries against Neodesha last year to rack up 176 yards and 3 TDs. Moving to QB this year, Haviland will get more touches this time around against the Bluestreaks and should have an even bigger game.
Tyson Struber, WR, Canton-Galva (Nicholl)
Struber, an extremely rare first team all-state selection as a freshman, helped Canton-Galva enjoy a breakthrough season to a 10-2 record and Eight-Man, Division I sub-state championship game appearance. Struber stands 6-foot-3, 180 pounds and can run the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds. Struber has a 32-inch vertical jump and can squat 320 lbs with a 205-pound bench press. He and first team all-state quarterback Landon Everett led a team that had no seniors last season. Struber finished with 42 catches for 572 yards and 14 scores. He delivered 898 all-purpose yards.
Canton-Galva is preseason No. 1 in Eight-Man, Division I. Last year, Canton-Galva finished No. 10 in eight-man football with 48.7 points per game. The Eagles lost at Little River, 52-20, to open the season and then won 10 straight contests. On Friday, the Eagles get Little River at home to start the year. Struber is expected to again pose matchup problems for teams and should see plenty of touches Friday.
Tre Washington, RB, Derby (Boston)
Derby has become one of the most dominant programs in the state over the past decade and RB Tre Washington is trying to keep that tradition alive going into his senior year. Washington had a breakout junior year in which he rushed for 1,836 yards and 24 TD's and was a big part of the explosive Panther offense that won its fourth state title in the past six years. Washington and Derby open the season at Garden City on Friday night, so look for Washington to get plenty of touches, both in the rushing attack and out of the back field as a receiver against a young and inexperienced Garden City defense. Last August, Washington had 10 carries and 112 yards to go along with three rushing TD's against the Buffaloes.
The final standings for the 2018 season are as follows:
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 330 points
- John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine 325 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 324 points
- Brent Maycock, Topeka Capital Journal 308 points
- Sean Boston, Southwind Broadcasting 268 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps 246 points
- Hayden Barber, Varsity Kansas 239 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 175 points
2019 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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