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 6, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Reagan Jones, QB, Wichita Northwest (Boston)
Jones is having another stellar season leading one of the most high-powered offenses in the state. Jones has passed for 694 yards through four weeks and has completed 61% of his passes (40/66) to go along with 10 touchdowns and just one interception. He has been one of the most accurate quarterbacks and has thrown at least two touchdowns in all four weeks of play. Look for this week to be no different when the No. 2 Grizzlies take on Kapaun Mt. Carmel in Wichita City League action. Kapaun, a team that has produced some big-time players and teams over the years, is struggling this season with just one win.
Collin Koester, QB, Conway Springs (Kuplen)
Koester has primarily got it done with his legs this season, but also with his arm. The Conway Springs (3-1) quarterback/spinner back has rushed for 657 yards and nine touchdowns, while throwing for 419 more yards and two scores for the Cardinals. Koester is also the team’s punter, returns kicks, and has registered 17 tackles on defense.
Lawrence Free State Offensive Line (Clisso)
The Free State O-Line has helped the Firebirds put up 103 points over the past two games in wins over Shawnee Mission North and Shawnee Mission West. Malik Berry has made the transition back to quarterback and the offense has gotten on a roll – including scoring on nine straight possessions in the win over SM North. Last week, the Firebird OL paved the way for Tyler Bowden to rush for 218 yards ad four touchdowns in the win over SM West. On the season, Bowden now has 730 rushing yards and ten scores. This week, Free State will travel to Sedalia (Mo.) to take on Smith-Cotton. The Tigers are winless on the season and Free State blanked them 51-0 last season.
Teven McKelvey, QB, Gardner-Edgerton (Baetz)
Senior quarterback Teven McKelvey has been a catalyst for Ryan Cornelsen's quick turnaround project at Gardner-Edgerton. Last year McKelvey rushed for more than 1,250 yards as primarily a running quarterback while passing for just over 400 yards on only 16 completions. McKelvey was responsible for 29 total touchdowns and led the Blazers to a 10-1 record in Cornelsen's first season after the Blazers went winless the prior two seasons.
The Blazers are off to a similar start this season and stand 3-1 with a one-point loss to a much-improved Lawrence team the only blemish thus far. McKelvey again continues to be the driving force for Cornelsen's run-heavy offense with seven rushing touchdowns in the last two games. In last week's 34-6 bounce back win over a solid Olathe East team, McKelvey rushed for 164 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries. McKelvey also threw a 33-yard pass and caught a 60-yard pass as the Blazers completed just two passes on the evening. McKelvey should again have the opportunity to carry the load for the Blazers this week as they face a winless Olathe Northwest team.
Kayde Rietzke, QB, Leoti-Wichita County (Gilmore)
Rietzke is off to another strong start again this fall. Last season, Rietzke passed for 965 yards and 21 touchdowns and added 735 yards and 13 scores on the ground. Through four games this fall, Rietzke has already passed for 655 yards and 13 scores and added 421 rushing yards and 7 more touchdowns. In last week’s district opener against Hoxie, Kayde passed for 219 yards and four touchdowns and carried the ball 32 times for 161 yards and two scores. He’ll likely be heavily involved in the offense again this week as the Indians continue district play against WaKeeney-Trego (3-1). The Golden Eagles, St. Francis, and Wichita County are the three remaining teams in District 8 without a loss. Leoti-Wichita County will need a win on Friday to put them in the driver’s seat for at least a top two finish in the district with a trip to second-ranked St. Francis looming next week.
Topeka High Offensive Line (Maycock)
Coming off its first loss of the season, Topeka High will be hungry going into Friday's Centennial League game with Seaman, which has allowed more than 50 points already twice this season. The Trojans racked up 530 yards of total offense in the 48-41 loss to Junction City with Ky Thomas rushing for 256 yards and two touchdowns, while Da'Vonshai Harden ran for 164 yard and two scores and threw for 100 yards and two touchdowns. The Trojans are averaging 44 points per game this season.
Harley Weese, RB, Golden Plains (Nicholl)
Golden Plains lost a wild six-man football game to Cheylin, 71-61, last week. However, senior quarterback Harley Weese enjoyed a monster game with 25 carries for 378 yards and six touchdowns. He also completed a 24-yard pass.
This season, he is 13 of 34 passing for 204 yards with six touchdowns against one interception. He has 71 carries for 382 yards and 14 scores. Weese has accounted for at least three touchdowns in every game.
Golden Plains is 2-2 and has averaged 57 points a contest. This week, Golden Plains travels to Natoma, a surprise 3-1 team. The Tigers won at Weskan, 65-61, last week, and have permitted 38.8 points a contest. Expect another high-scoring close game with Weese receiving plenty of touches.
Week 4 Picks to Click results (scoring):
David Brown, WR, Blue Valley West – Brown was limited to three catches for 23 yards in the Jaguars’ 25-18 OT win over Blue Valley North. (Clisso – 2 pts)
Henry Frahm, DE, Jefferson West – Frahm registered four tackles and a sack in the Tigers’ 36-0 win over Bishop Ward. The game was called mid second quarter due to weather. (Boston – 12 pts)
Zach Hare, WR, Eureka – Hare nabbed six receptions for 113 yards and a score in the Tornadoes 42-7 win over Fredonia. (Baetz – 17 pts)
Reece Struckhoff, RB, Thunder Ridge – Struckhoff passed for 143 yards and four touchdowns, and added 121 yards and three scores on the ground as the Longhorns beat Northern Valley, 62-12. (Maycock – 68 pts)
Tonganoxie Offensive Line – The Tonganoxie offensive line led the way for 295 yards rushing, 186 yards passing, and five touchdowns in the 40-21 win over Bonner Springs. (Kuplen – 24 pts)
Valley Heights Offensive Line – The Mustang offensive line paved the way for 417 total yards, including 330 on the ground in a 34-14 win over Republic County. (Gilmore – 23 pts)
Jace Wilson, RB, Oswego – Oswego fell 56-22 to Sedan, but Wilson has a huge night. Wilson rushed for 241 yards and three touchdowns, passed for 11 yards, and caught a six-yard pass. (Nicholl – 43 pts)
Standings for the 2019 season through Week 4:
- Brent Maycock, Topeka Capital Journal 188 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 167 points
- John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine 154 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 137 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 124 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 123 points
- Sean Boston, KSKZ Radio 92 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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