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 (KSKZ Radio); 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 5, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
David Brown, WR, Blue Valley West (Clisso)
Brown (6-1, 170) earned Kpreps Class 6A all-state honors last season in catching 66 balls for 1,054 yards and 13 touchdowns. So far this season, Brown has 18 receptions for 246 yards and one score. The Jaguars are off to a 2-1 start with close wins over Mill Valley and St. James Academy sandwiched around a loss to Bishop Miege. This week, Blue Valley West will host EKL rival Blue Valley North on a game moved to Thursday night given the threat of severe weather.
Henry Frahm, DE, Jefferson West (Boston)
The Tigers are off to a 3-0 start and have yet to allow any points through the three games. Frahm, a senior defensive end, has the ability to use his quickness to get off the ball and wreak havoc in the opponent’s backfield. So far, Jeff West has outscored opponents 102-0 and will face a struggling Bishop Ward team on Friday night. The Cyclones have only scored 22 points this season and have lost 50 consecutive games.
Zach Hare, WR, Eureka (Baetz)
Eureka's offense uses a good mix of the run and pass and as a result senior wide receiver Zach Hare has emerged as one of the state's top wide receivers. In last week's heartbreaking loss to Humboldt, Hare caught seven passes for 102 yards and a score, but could have had plenty of additional yardage and another touchdown if not for a block in the back call on another long touchdown reception.
Friday night the Tornadoes will host their first home game since 2017 after an actual tornado destroyed their field in the summer of 2018. Eureka continues to improve under coach Jason Nichols and nearly knocked off a quality opponent last week. Hare should get opportunities against Fredonia and the team should be fired-up by what will no doubt be an electric atmosphere in Eureka on Friday night.
Reece Struckhoff, RB, Thunder Ridge (Maycock)
Struckhoff is having a breakout year for undefeated Thunder Ridge and is coming off a monster performance in the Longhorns' 48-22 win over Hill City. Struckhoff had 22 carries for 234 yards and five touchdowns, while also completing 5 of 6 passes for 47 yards. He also returned a kickoff 70 yards for a score, returned an interception 40 yards for a TD and had 26 tackles, while forcing and recovering a fumble. Struckhoff faces a Northern Valley team that's 0-3 this week.
Tonganoxie Offensvie Line (Kuplen)
The Chieftains (3-0) have rolled up 1,448 yards of total offense over the first three weeks of the season. Tonganoxie rushes for 303 yards per game while passing for 179 more. A solid unit that is led by the state’s best shotput thrower, Cole Sample, takes on Bonner Springs this week.
Valley Heights Offensive Line (Gilmore)
Valley Heights has climbed to No. 4 in the Class 1A rankings behind three blowout victories to open the season. The Mustangs are averaging more than 57 points per game with their triple option offense. While the backfield trio of Cole Coggins, Trey Martin, and Cameron Beardsley get a lot of the headlines, an experienced offensive line is leading the way. Up front, the Mustangs feature Colton Crook, Cesar Aguirre, Bryson Kenworthy, Tyler Wagner, Cade Zidek, and Jake Yungeberg. That group has helped pave the way for more than 350 yards per game on the ground with 15 rushing touchdowns thus far. Friday, the Mustangs will host a Republic County team that is much improved but still in the midst of a 22-game losing streak.
Jace Wilson, RB, Oswego (Nicholl)
Oswego, under coach Matt Fowler’s single-wing offense, has built a 3-0 record with a cumulative score of 162-16. Oswego is at Sedan (2-1) this week. The Blue Devils lost 52-14 to St. Paul in Week 1 as St. Paul running back Adam Albertini had plenty of touches and a big game with 229 rushing yards and six touchdowns, and passed for 47 yards and a TD.
Wilson has contributed in all facets with six of eight passing for 100 yards and four scores, along with 17 carries for 290 yards and eight touchdowns. He has also caught a 53-yard scoring pass for his only reception.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pound Wilson contributed 2,096 all-purpose yards (1,440 rushing) and 25 total touchdowns last year. That included 26 carries for 136 yards and two scores, 63 passing yards and 61 receiving yards versus Sedan in a 38-34 loss.
Week 3 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Nate Burdette, QB, Maranatha Academy – Burdette passed for 162 yards and two touchdowns and added 110 yards rushing with three scores as the Eagles routed Colony-Crest, 60-0. (Gilmore – 57 pts)
Isiah Childs, RB, Wamego – Childs rushed for 101 yards in the Red Raiders’ 32-20 win over Clay Center. (Maycock – 10 pts)
Cooper Cunningham, RB, Tonganoxie – Cunningham rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns on 21 attempts in the Chieftains’ 43-8 win over Eudora. (Clisso – 33 pts)
Trey DeGarmo, LB, Andover Central – DeGarmo had 15 total tackles in the Jaguars’ 38-21 win over Goddard. (Baetz – 30 pts)
Atreyau Hornbeak, RB, Marysville – Hornbeak rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries in the Bulldogs’ 28-12 win over Concordia. Hornbeak also caught a 12-yard pass in the game. (Kuplen – 23 pts)
Caleb Lambert, QB, Hutchinson Central Christian – Lambert passed for 118 yards and two touchdowns and added 73 yards rushing in the Cougars 34-20 loss to South Barber. (Nicholl – 30 pts)
McPherson Offensive Line – The Bullpup OL helped produce 220 rushing yards, 116 passing yards, and 8 offensive touchdowns in the 55-16 win over El Dorado. (Boston –pts)
Standings for the 2019 season through Week 2:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 144 points
- John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine 137 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 121 points
- Brent Maycock, Topeka Capital Journal 120 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 113 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 81 points
- Sean Boston, KSKZ Radio 80 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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