The Kpreps Picks to Click feature is back for the 2022 season!
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 2022 season include: Sean Boston (Eagle Radio); Dion Clisso (PrepsKC.com); Matt Gilmore (Kpreps.com); Chet Kuplen (Sports in Kansas); Brent Maycock (KSHSAA Covered); and Conor Nicholl (Kpreps.com).
Check back next Friday to see our picks for Week 2, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Isaac Detweiler, QB, Axtell (Gilmore)
After leading Axtell to a 13-0 record and the 8-Man, Division II state title a season ago, Detweiler (5-10 ,185) returns for his senior season along with every starter from last year’s team. Detweiler had another outstanding season in 2021, passing for 1,984 yards and 34 touchdowns, and adding 1,273 rushing yards and 29 more scores. For his career, Isaac has rushed for 2,268 yards and 53 touchdowns and passed for 4,275 yards and 72 scores. Axtell opens up tonight at new KSHSAA member Cair Paravel in Topeka. Cair Paravel is coming off of an 11-0 season in which they captured the Kansas Christian Athletic Association (KCAA) state title and return several experienced players from that team. Axtell and Cair Parvel met in 2020 with the Eagles coming out on top, 70-20. That night, Detweiler passed for more than 350 yards and six touchdown and added three rushing scores.
Erhik Hermosillo, QB, Leoti-Wichita County (Boston)
Leoti-Wichita County senior quarterback Erhik Hermosillo enjoyed a breakout season in his first year as the Indians’ full-time starting quarterback in ’21. He completed 130 of 202 passes for 1,771 yards with 24 scores against nine interceptions. Hermosillo rushed 245 times for 1,450 yards and 25 TDs. Wichita County plays Wheatland-Grinnell, a team that took massive graduation/transfers after last year’s Eight-Man, Division II state runner-up team. The Indians went 6-3 and led Division I with 55.8 points per game. Since Brant Douglas became head coach in 2018, the Indians lead all of eight-man in scoring offense per game. Wichita County opens ranked No. 2 in Division I.
Sage Huffman, RB, Blue Valley West (Clisso)
Huffman (5-8, 170) had a breakout sophomore season and was a big reason why the Jaguars reached the 6A semifinals. Blue Valley West finished 7-5 in 2021 after just one win in 2020. Huffman rushed for 1,410 yards and 13 touchdowns last season and looks to continue that momentum in tonight’s opener against St. Thomas Aquinas. The Jaguars return a lot of experience up front on the offensive line and some standout skill players around Huffman, but will have to find a replacement for graduated quarterback Gage Roach.
Colby Middleton, QB, Burlingame (Kuplen)
Middleton (5-10, 195) returns after a standout junior season in which he rushed for 1,171 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also added 670 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air and returns an outstanding athlete in receiver Matthew Heckman. Burlingame challenged eventual runner-up Little River before falling 42-26 in the second round of the 8M-I playoffs a season ago. The Bearcats will have to navigate a difficult regular-season schedule that includes Lebo, Chase County, Cair Paravel, Madison, and Lyndon.
Garrett Maltbie Oviatt, QB, Canton-Galva (Maycock)
Maltbie is coming off an All-State year in which he led the Eagles to a 10-2 record and the Eight-Player Division I state semifinals -- the Eagles' only losses last year coming to Little River. Maltbie was hampered by an ankle injury a year ago that forced him to miss three games, but still threw for 2,090 yards and 33 touchdowns and ran for 763 yards and 21 scores. His biggest games came in the losses to Little River -- Canton-Galva's Week 1 opponent this year. In a 60-52 shootout loss in the regular season, Maltbie threw for a career-high 436 yards and 5 touchdowns and also ran in a touchdown. In the 76-68 playoff shootout, he again topped 400 yards through the air with 419 yards and 10 touchdowns and ran for 128 yards and two TDs. Maltbie lost one of his top weapons in All-Stater Tyson Struber, but gained a big one with the addition of Wheatland-Grinnell transfer Jett Vincent -- the top receiver in Eight-Man II last year. With a more experienced line this season, Maltbie could post even bigger numbers.
Carson Werth, RB, Victoria (Nicholl)
Earlier in his career, Victoria head coach Doug Oberle labeled all-purpose threat Carson Werth “134 pounds of fury.” Now a senior, Werth has gained a little weight, though the moniker still fits. Werth, known for big roles in all three phases and playing incredibly hard, has delivered a standout career. That included first team all-state last fall and some level of conference recognition on offense, defense and special teams for the 10-2 Knights. Victoria has made back-to-back state semifinals and opens No. 5 in Eight-Man, Division II. On Friday, Victoria plays host to depleted Kinsley, a top-15 team in Division II. Kinsley entered with high expectations after back-to-back 5-4 seasons and just one senior in ’22, though top player Dylan Haselhorst elected not to play, and then transferred. Kinsley has two other key starters out. Regardless of the opponent, though, Werth should see plenty of touches in any game.
The final standings for the 2021 were:
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 379 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps 376 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 317 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 312 points
- Sean Boston, KSKZ Radio 292 points
- Mark Schremmer, Kpreps & Kansas Sports Chronicles 269 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 188 points
2022 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
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
