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 2020 season include: Sean Boston (Southwind Broadcasting); Dion Clisso (PrepsKC.com); Matt Gilmore (Kpreps.com); Alex Hammeke (Kpreps.com), Chet Kuplen (Sports in Kansas); Brent Maycock (Topeka Capital Journal); Conor Nicholl (Kpreps.com); and Mark Schremmer (Kansas Chronicles & 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.
Jordan Brown, WR, Basehor-Linwood (Clisso)
Brown (6-4, 180) has been the primary receiving target for Basehor-Linwood quarterback Isaac Stanton. Brown has 24 catches for 420 yards and five touchdowns – all team highs – through the first three weeks of the season. That works out to be a 140-yard per game average and 17.5 yards per catch. Brown will need another big performance this week when the Bobcats host St. James Academy.
Tanner Cash, QB, Clearwater (Maycock)
One of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the state, Cash is already off to a big start to his senior season after earning All-Class 3A honors a year ago when he amassed more than 2,000 yards of total offense despite missing a handful of games with an injury. In three games this year, Cash has already accounted for 15 touchdowns (5 fewer than he had all of last season), throwing for 790 yards and seven scores and rushing for 311 and eight touchdowns. Wichita Trinity is allowing 34.7 points per game to offenses not nearly as potent as what Cash and his Indian teammates bring to the table.
Reid Cowan, QB, Topeka Seaman (Hammeke)
Through three games, Reid Cowan has come onto the scene, leading Seaman with 497 yards through the air. The two-year starter already has half of his yardage total from last year while already matching last year’s win total. Cowan and the Vikings take on Topeka West, who are opening up their season after having their first three weeks cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.
Paola Offensive Line (Gilmore)
The Paola offensive line has been key to the Panthers 3-0 start and No. 2 ranking in Class 4A. The Panthers up front have helped Paola’s talented backfield trio of Garrett Williams, Fletcher Aude, and Jovanni Blackie produce nearly 310 yards per game on the ground and 46 points per game. Senior Carter Stanchfield leads a talented group up front that also features Damarius Bassett, Kody Hendrickson, Isaac Brakner, and Allen Peuser. Paola will be heavily favored at Ottawa this week.
Mason Schurr, DB, Osborne (Boston)
Schurr (5-8, 150) is a standout two-way player for the defending-champion Bulldogs. On defense, Schurr has led Osborne with 45 tackles through three games. He also has an interception, broken up six passes, and recovered a fumble. On offense, Schurr has rushed for a team-high 487 yards and six scores. Osborne (1-2) sits in the middle of the standings in a competitive District 4. The Bulldogs need to pick up their second district win this week at Mankato-Rock Hills.
Jake Shope, WR, Goddard (Schremmer)
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior has been quarterback Kyler Semrad’s favorite target through the first three games of the season. Shope already has 29 catches for 496 yards and eight touchdowns. During last week’s 46-13 win over Arkansas City, Shope caught 12 balls for 192 yards and three TDs. Expect a high-scoring affair when 3-0 Goddard faces 2-0 Andover Central this week.
Trace Tasset, RB, Spearville (Nicholl)
Spearville has opened 3-0 with a 34-22 win versus Bucklin, a 38-22 victory against Minneola, and a 68-22 win versus Ingalls. Spearville was originally going to play Meade in its district opener this week, but Meade has cancelled because of COVID-19 concerns. Spearville is now playing Stockton, which is 0-3 with three competitive losses.
The Lancers are known for its single wing offense, and Tasset has emerged as the next great running back. This year, Spearville has averaged 418 rushing yards and 21 passing yards a contest.
Senior Trace Tasset has delivered 46 carries for 605 yards and 11 scores. The 5-foot-9, 140-pounder delivered 75 rushes for 858 yards and 16 TDs as a junior. For his career, Tasset has averaged 10.8 yards per carry and 32 offensive touchdowns on 160 touches. Expect Tasset to receive another high volume of carries Friday.
Lem Wash, QB, Derby (Kuplen)
Wash, one of the top returnees in Kansas, has led the Panthers to a 2-1 record this season. The dual-threat has passed for 486 yards (4 TD) while rushing for 370 more (5 TD) this season. They get Salina South this week and Wash should put up some big numbers for the Panthers.
Week 3 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Jared Baxa, RB, Republic County – Baxa rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in the Buffaloes’ 20-14 loss to Minneapolis. Baxa also had one reception for 11 yards. (Nicholl – 18 pts)
Marcello Bussey, WR, Junction City – Bussey caught six passes for 113 yards including a touchdown late in the game that gave Junction City a 34-27 victory over Topeka Seaman. (Maycock – 17 pts)
Wyatt Eberle, LB, Lakeside-Downs – Eberle registered 16 tackles including two for loss in the Knights’ 44-34 win over Osborne. (Kuplen – 32 pts)
Ryan Eilert, QB, Hesston – Eilert completed 14 of 26 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown. Eilert also rushed for 29 yards and a score. (Hammeke – 37 pts)
Cody Hawks, LB, Goddard-Eisenhower – Hawks recorded 11 tackles (six solo and five assists) in a 45-31 loss to Andover Central. The junior already has 41 tackles three games into the season. While it doesn’t factor into his fantasy points as a linebacker, Hawks also scored three rushing touchdowns against the Jaguars. (Schremmer – 22 pts)
Branden Martin, LB, Tonganoxie – Martin registered 22 tackles in the Chieftains 35-28 loss at No. 4 Paola. (Clisso – 44 pts)
Isaac Salmans, QB, Hodgeman County – Salmans rushed for 134 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 187 yards and two more scores as the Longhorns beat Bucklin, 60-14. (Gilmore – 67 pts)
Wichita Collegiate OL – The Spartan OL helped produce 401 yards of total offense, including 352 rushing yards, and four offensive touchdowns in the 34-31 overtime win over Rose Hill. (Boston – 20 pts)
Standings for the 2020 season through Week 3:
- Brent Maycock, Topeka Capital Journal 162 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 156 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 124 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 112 points
- Mark Schremmer, Kpreps & Kansas Chronicles 108 points
- Alex Hammeke, Kpreps contributor 90 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 68 points
- Sean Boston, KSKZ Radio 67 points
2020 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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