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 2021 season include: Sean Boston (Southwind Broadcasting); Dion Clisso (PrepsKC.com); Matt Gilmore (Kpreps.com); Chet Kuplen (Sports in Kansas); Brent Maycock (KSHSAA Covered); Conor Nicholl (Kpreps.com); and Mark Schremmer (Kansas Chronicles & Kpreps.com).
Check back next Friday 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.
Sean Anderson, LB, Norton (Gilmore)
Sean Anderson has been key on both sides of the ball for Norton. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior leads the Bluejay offense behind center and has passed for 439 yards and six touchdowns this season. But he has especially shined on defense from his linebacker position. Anderson has registered 72 tackles in four games, good for an average of 18 per contest. He’s also added three tackles for loss. Anderson registered 23 stops in Norton’s 15-7 district loss to Minneapolis last week. It was his second 20-tackle effort of the season after recording 26 stops in a season-opening loss to Smith Center. Anderson will need to have a big night on both sides of the ball against Ellsworth on Friday in order for Norton to get back in the hunt in Class 2A, District 8.
Bishop Carroll Offensive Line (Boston)
Bishop Carroll has been consistent in scoring 36.5 points per game this season behind an offensive line that had to replace several starters from a season ago. Carroll graduated all-state selection Ben Purvis up front and returned Jack Spottedhorse Maddox Marcotte along with tight end Easton Kendrick. All the Golden Eagles have done is upset then No. 1 Wichita Northwest in the season-opener, nearly take down 6A No. 1 Derby, and pick up a key road win at Dodge City last week. Carroll should be heavy favorites this week against winless Wichita North.
Dameion Hatten, WR, Sedan (Kuplen)
Hatten is a standout athlete for the Blue Devils. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior is well-known for his ability both on the basketball court and the football field. This season, Hatten has 14 receptions for 403 yards and ten touchdowns in the Blue Devils’ first four games. Hatten and Brec Long give Sedan a 1-2 punch on offense that has resulted in an average of 60 points per game. Sedan will look to stay unbeaten this week when they travel to Oswego (2-2).
Max Neeley, QB, Dighton (Nicholl)
Dighton sophomore quarterback Max Neeley has quietly put up a highly impressive statistical career. Neeley has completed 28 of 48 passes for 346 yards with four touchdowns against two interceptions. He has also rushed 67 times for 491 yards and 12 TDs. Dighton is a surprise 3-1 after a 1-7 year last fall when the Hornets had to forfeit a pair of contests. Neeley posted 927 yards of total offense and 14 scores in 2020. Dighton plays host to winless Ingalls this week, and Neeley is expected to put up another big game.
Olathe West Offensive Line (Clisso)
Entering Thursday night’s game against Shawnee Mission West, the Olathe West Owls have won three straight games since a season-opening loss to Olathe Northwest. A big reason has been the Owl offensive line that has opened holes for play makers Mason McGavran, Anthony Favrow, Jack Scott, and Tanner Zimmerman. Overall, the Owls average 34 points, nearly 255 yards per game on the ground and 140 yards through the air. Olathe West should be in for a big night Thursday night against the Vikings.
**Dion’s Olathe West pick was submitted prior to Olathe West’s 45-0 shutout victory over Shawnee Mission West on Thursday night.
Trent Spiker, QB, Doniphan West (Maycock)
Spiker has followed up a strong junior season in which he ran for 1,062 yards and 19 touchdowns and threw for 415 yards and 10 TDs with another solid campaign thus far as a senior. He's averaging just more than 10 yards per carry, racking up 524 yards and 10 touchdowns on 51 carrries. Though he's only attempted 11 passes, four of them have gone for touchdowns. The Mustangs have faced a tough schedule thus far but get a Maranatha team that's given up at least 50 points in every game and 272 overall (68 per game). With Doniphan West allowing 44 or more its last three games, this could be a shootout, giving Spiker a chance to put up some monster numbers.
Tyson Struber, WR, Canton-Galva (Schremmer)
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior has helped the Eagles to a 4-0 start. Struber has 22 catches for 576 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 174 yards and seven TDs. During last week’s 60-42 win over Bennington, Struber scored eight touchdowns -- four rushing and four receiving -- and combined for 280 yards of offense.
Week 4 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Holden Barker, RB, Colony-Crest – Barker rushed 41 times for 298 yards and four touchdowns, but the Lancers fell 50-44 to St. Paul. (Kuplen – 53 pts)
Conway Springs OL – Facing an Ellinwood defense that had given up at least 60 points in each of its first three games, Conway Springs was well on its way to that total last week, leading 45-0 at halftime. But the Cardinals let off the gas and finished with a 45-13 win. The Cardinal offense produced 356 yards of total offense and scored six touchdowns with Izic Billups throwing for 116 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 85 yards and two scores. (Maycock – 25 pts)
Derek George, DE, Natoma – George registered 23 tackles, including three for loss, 2 sacks, and a fumble recovery in the Tigers’ 67-19 win over Golden Plains. (Clisso – 58 pts)
Malik O’Atis, RB, Shawnee Mission Northwest – O’Atis rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown and added six catches for 109 yards and two scores in the Cougars’ 56-15 win over Shawnee Mission North. (Clisso – 36 pts)
Jett Vincent, WR, Wheatland-Grinnell – A junior, Vincent set career highs in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in Wheatland-Grinnell’s 58-26 win against Quinter in the Gove County rivalry and a key Eight-Man, Division II district game. Vincent hauled in eight passes for 166 yards and four scores. He also had one carry for 23 yards on a reverse to set up another TD. He finished with 189 offensive yards. (Nicholl – 42 pts)
Harrison Voth, QB, Cheney – Voth completed 11 of 18 passes for 194 yards and six touchdowns in the Cardinals’ 49-7 win over Hugoton. He also added 66 yards rushing on the night. (Boston – 61 pts)
Wellsville OL – Wellsville scored all 50 points in the first half of their 50-6 win over Jayhawk-Linn. The Eagle OL helped the offense rush for 222 yards and six touchdowns with an additional 73 passing yards. (Gilmore – 23 pts)
Standings for the 2021 season through Week 4:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps 230 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 229 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 155 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 150 points
- Mark Schremmer, Kpreps & Kansas Chronicles 146 points
- Sean Boston, KSKZ Radio 129 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 84 points
2021 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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