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 4, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Dylan Gantz, QB, Stafford (Gilmore)
Gantz (6-2, 210) has produced big numbers through the first two weeks of the season to help the Trojans to a 2-0 start. He’s passed for 505 yards and seven touchdowns in consecutive wins over Fairfield (50-0) and Pratt-Skyline (46-24). Gantz has added 131 rush yards and four more scores. Colson Minks leads the Trojans with 11 catches for 301 yards and five touchdowns, while Jimi Oleson also has two receiving scores. Gantz has been a four-year starter for the Trojans having passed for more than 1,650 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushed for nearly 1,300 yards and 31 scores in his career. The Trojans have scored 96 points in the first two games under new head coach Mitch Engelken. Stafford travels to Hutchinson Central Christian this week. The Cougars have allowed 98 points in losses to Pretty Prairie (44-34) and Sunrise Christian Academy (54-36).
Israel Garcia-Rotolo, WR, Liberal (Boston)
Through two games this season, Liberal senior wideout Israel Garcia-Rotolo has nearly eclipsed his total receiving output from all of last season. Garcia-Rotolo has 12 catches for 289 yards and a touchdown in the Redskins’ pass-happy attack that produced a 53-0 blowout of Emporia last week. Garcia-Rotolo along with junior Zayden Martinez (278 yards, 5 TD) have benefitted from the arm of junior quarterback Brooks Kappelmann. Kappelmann has thrown for 698 yards and six touchdowns in two games. Liberal hosts a Topeka High team that has given up 137 points in the first two games this season.
Creyo Koop, RB, West Elk (Maycock)
Koop burst onto the scene a year ago as a freshman standout for the Patriots, rushing for 1,272 yards and 24 touchdowns in 10 games. He then followed with an outstanding wrestling season where he took an undefeated record into the state tournament before finishing at state runner-up at 145 pounds. Koop has only logged 23 carries in West Elk's first two games, both 50-point wins, but has rushed for 297 yards and 7 touchdowns. He's coming off a 7-TD game against Oxford, rushing for 4 and catching 3 TD passes. The Patriots get a big South Central Border League battle with fellow unbeaten Central-Burden this week, so Koop's workload should ramp up in the showdown. In last year's contest, he ran for 103 yards and three touchdowns.
Maize Offensive Line (Nicholl)
Maize, ranked No. 2 in 5A, has delivered two big wins: 78-7 at Topeka High and 42-14 at Andover Central. Maize has many well-known skill players, such as quarterback Avery Johnson, running back Daeshaun Carter and a deep receiving corps, including Bryce Cohoon. Johnson, the state’s top recruit, is headed to Kansas State, Cohoon to Syracuse.
The offensive line, though, has opened holes for 10.9 yards per play and 15.8 yards per pass attempt. Maize has averaged 60 points a game. In the last four seasons, Maize has delivered 40.3 points a contest, 39.3, 41.9 and 35.2. This year, Maize had 497 yards versus Topeka and 551 against Andover Central. The Eagles returned four starters: seniors Jack Kerr, Zachary Wertz, Mason Thrash and junior Cole Chalashtari. Sophomore Jonathan Gould has stepped in. This fall, Maize is expected to have another big game against 0-2 Newton in the home opener. Maize defeated Newton, 54-10, and 33-9 last fall. Maize is 12-0 against the Railers since 2010.
Eddie McLaughlin, QB, Leavenworth (Clisso)
McLaughlin has helped the Pioneers to a 2-0 start to the season for the first time in five years. The Leavenworth offense has put up 61 points in each of its first two games in blowout wins over KC Turner and Topeka West. In last week’s win over Topeka West, McLaughlin broke free for 254 rushing yards and five touchdowns. McLaughlin has rushed for 401 yards through two weeks and will need another big performance this week as the Pioneers make the short trip to take on rival Lansing.
Tre Richardson, RB/WR, Topeka Highland Park (Kuplen)
Richardson is one of the state’s most explosive players and has helped Highland Park off to an impressive 2-0 start. The Scots snapped a 65-game losing streak with a season-opening win over KC Wyandotte and followed that up with a 48-29 win over Schlagle last week. Richardson has impacted both games having rushed for 451 yards and seven touchdowns and had six receptions for 315 yards and five scores. He’s also nearly amassed 200 return yards and took a kickoff back for a score last week. Richardson recently reopened his recruitment after having previously committed to New Mexico State.
Week 2 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Mitch Budke, QB, Chase County – In Chase County’s 70-54 win over Colony-Crest, Budke passed for 201 yards and three touchdowns and added 238 rushing yards and three more scores. (Maycock – 79 pts)
Dylan Edwards, RB, Derby – Edwards carried six times for 106 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers rebounded with a 69-20 win over Salina South. (Boston – 16 pts)
Avery Johnson, QB, Maize – Johnson passed for 358 yards and two touchdowns and added 79 rushing yards and a score in the Eagles’ 42-14 win over Andover Central. (Kuplen – 60 pts)
John Price, RB, Blue Valley – Price rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers 42-28 win over defending 4A champion St. James Academy. (Clisso – 34 pts)
Philip Tomac, QB, KC East Christian – It does not appear that Tomac played in KC East Christian’s 52-6 victory over Maranatha Academy. No further information is available at this time. (Gilmore – 0 pts)
Jett Vincent, QB, Canton-Galva – Vincent rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 33 yards and another score as the Eagles beat Goessel, 48-0. (Nicholl – 31 pts)
Standings for the 2022 season through Week 2:
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 117 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 84 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 79 points
- Sean Boston, Eagle Radio 54 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 40 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 35 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
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