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 Five, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Kahlil Bailey, WR, Lansing (Clisso)
The Lions have forsaken a ground game for most of the season and Khalil Bailey (6-2, 180) is a big reason why. The senior has 24 catches in three games and has put up more than 200 yards in each of the last two contests. This week Lansing travels to Basehor-Linwood and the Lions will need a strong performance from Bailey in their passing game to grab their second win of the season.
Alex Gomez, QB, Elkhart (Baetz)
Elkhart's Alex Gomez may be one of the state's best quarterbacks with the least statewide exposure. Gomez has passed for 892 yards with 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions through the first three games of the season. He has also added 213 yards rushing with three more scores. Gomez has tallied more than 2,000 yards passing in each of the last two seasons, cutting his interceptions from 18 to 9 and increasing his touchdown passes from 18 to 24. Last week Gomez dissected the Lakin defense to the tune of 447 yards passing with seven touchdowns. He added 65 yards rushing on 15 carries. Expect big numbers from him again this week.
Trenton Hammond, WR, Liberal (Gilmore)
Hammond (6-2, 210) is an exceptional athlete and ranks among the state’s all-time best hurdlers. On the football field the senior has 31 catches for 550 yards and nine touchdowns in Liberal’s first three games. Hammond is on pace to soon surpass his statistical totals for his junior season when he hauled in 64 catches for 1,102 yards and seven scores. This week the Redskins take on WAC rival Dodge City. Hammond had nine receptions for 185 yards and a touchdown in a 62-48 loss to the Red Demons last season.
Andrew Jay, WR, La Crosse (Nicholl)
Andrew Jay is one of the players that have stepped up for La Crosse, 3-0 and ranked No. 2 in Class 2-1A. Jay started at defensive back as a sophomore. He finished with 78 rushing yards and one catch for three yards. Jay had 130 total yards overall.
This season, he leads the team with 12 catches for 242 yards and three scores. He and senior Taylor Yohe are the top targets for Leopard junior quarterback Jack Garcia and have taken over for graduated running backs Kip Keeley and Levi Morss. Including defensive/special teams returns, Jay has 566 yards of offense, easily the Leopard high. On Friday, La Crosse plays host to rival Plainville and its young secondary, including talented freshman defensive back Hayden Friend.
Elijah Jones, LB, Coffeyville (Kuplen)
Coffeyville may be known for their speed and offensive numbers, but Jones (5-11, 170) leads the 'Nado defense. Last season, as a junior, he registered 156 tackles in 11 games. He has produced once again in 2013, with 37 stops & three sacks through the first three ballgames. Jones has 279 career stops (86 as sophomore, 156 as a junior, and 37 as senior). Fort Scott (1-2) will be the toughest opponent Coffeyville has faced up to this point and Jones should get more reps on Friday than the previous three weeks. Golden Tornado will be hungry after they lost to Fort Scott 12-0 last season on the road. Look for a big week for him at home against the Tigers on Friday.
Landon North, WR, Riverton (Schremmer)
Landon North has been a big play receiver for the Riverton Rams. He's caught 19 passes for 521 yards and five touchdowns. That's good for 173.7 receiving yards per game and 27.4 yards per catch. Riverton will likely look to throw the ball as it faces 3-0 Columbus on the road, and North will be the main target.
Week Three’s Picks to Click results (scoring):
Britton Abbott, QB, Liberal – Despite Liberal’s 52-38 loss to Hays, Abbott had a huge night. The senior passed for 325 yards and three touchdowns and added 172 yards rushing and a pair of scores. (Nicholl – 79 pts)
Bowe Behymer, RB, Beloit – Behymer carried three times for 128 yards and two scores and had two receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown in Beloit’s 68-8 win over Russell. (Baetz – 33 pts)
J.T. Richardson, QB, Northeast-Arma – Richardson rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown and passed for 176 yards with two interceptions in the Vikings 38-12 loss to Eureka. (Kuplen – 38 pts)
Trent Rietzke, RB, Thunder Ridge – Rietzke rushed for 187 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Longhorns past Logan-Palco, 58-12. He also caught three passes for 14 yards out of the backfield. Rietzke has now rushed for 544 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. (Gilmore – 49 pts)
Landon Root, QB, Wichita Collegiate – Root passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns and added seven rushing yards and a score as Collegiate beat Towanda-Circle, 42-0. (Schremmer – 40 pts)
Venus Triplett, RB, Olathe North – Triplett rushed 23 times for 236 yards and three touchdowns in a 62-14 thrashing of SM North. (Clisso – 41 pts)
2013 Picks to Click contributor standings:
Conor Nicholl, Hays Daily News (142 points)
John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine (108 points)
Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com (106 points)
Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com (101 points)
Mark Schremmer, Joplin Globe (97 points)
Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas (88 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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