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 7, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Mac Armstrong, QB, Bishop Miege (Gilmore)
Armstrong (6-0, 175) is in the midst of an incredible statistical season. Through five games, Armstrong has completed 80.6 percent of his passes for 1,803 yards and 16 touchdowns without having thrown an interception. The Stags are 5-0 and averaging 40 points per contest while allowing just 9.8. Armstrong has a talented receiving corps including Isaiah Coppage (45-675-8), Teryn Jackson (25-404-4), Tommy Wright (23-259-2), and Daegan Jensen (16-235-2). Armstrong will need another big night against 4A No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas. The Saints are trying to avoid a three-game losing streak having dropped contests to St. James Academy (24-20) and Rockhurst (32-11) in consecutive weeks. Miege defeated St. James (52-14) and Rockhurst (28-21) earlier this season.
Conner Dinkel, LB, Hill City (Boston)
Dinkel (5-9, 185) is one of eight-man football’s top linebackers. Dinkel has registered 69 total tackles this season for an average of nearly 14 stops per game. Dinkel has 13 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and six hurries. He’s also forced four fumbles and recovering one. For his career, Dinkel has registered 365 tackles including 32 for loss. The second-ranked Ringnecks will take on Hoxie in a key eight-man showdown in Western Kansas.
Jesse Greenly, RB, Atchison (Maycock)
After blowing up during his junior season when he rushed for 1,712 yards and 27 touchdowns, Greenly hasn't slowed down a bit this season as a senior. He's already posted four games of at least 140 yards or more and his lone non-100-yard game came when he logged just 5 carries in a 72-0 rout of Harmon in which all 5 of those carries went for TDs. Greenly already is nearly halfway to last year's season total with 781 yards and 16 touchdowns. He enjoyed one of his biggest games of his junior season against Highland Park a year ago when he ran for 254 yards and 6 TDs. The Scots have been one of the state's best stories this season, going 4-1 after entering the season with a 65-game losing streak, but the Scots have given up 34.2 points per game. A shootout appears to be in order with Greenly and Hi Park's Tre Richardson capable of trading score for score.
Brice Johnson, Jr., RB, Bishop Ward (Clisso)
Brice Johnson, Jr. (5-9, 170) has been a key part of Bishop Ward’s offense this season. The Cyclones are averaging 23.6 points per game and off to a 3-2 start. Ward opened district play with a 38-21 loss to Wellsville last week. Entering last week, Johnson had carried 60 times for 298 yards and a touchdown. He’s also a threat out of the backfield with 18 receptions for 86 yards. In last week’s loss to Wellsville, Johnson added a touchdown rushing and receiving. Johnson will need another big performance this week as the Cyclones travel to Santa Fe Trail (1-4).
Eli Lang, QB, Minneola (Nicholl)
Minneola junior quarterback Eli Lang is a three-year starter and has delivered huge numbers for the 5-0 Wildcats. Last week, Lang accounted for 10 touchdowns in a win versus Satanta. He completed 18 of 35 passes for 417 yards and seven TDs versus two interceptions. Running-wise, Lang finished with 20 carries for 139 yards and three scores. This season, Lang has accounted for 1,241 passing yards and 18 passing scores, along with 710 rushing and 14 rushing TDs.
Dalton Whitworth, QB, Rock Creek (Kuplen)
Whitworth (5-11, 170) continues to put up big numbers for Class 3A’s fifth-ranked Mustangs. The senior quarterback has completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,531 yards and 17 touchdowns against no interceptions. Whitworth has also added 155 yards on the ground and two scores. As a junior last fall, Whitworth passed for 2,894 yards and 38 touchdowns in leading the Mustangs to a 7-4 finish. Rock Creek is 4-1 and will be heavily-favored in tonight’s road trip to Hiawatha.
Week 5 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Daegan Jensen, TE/WR, Bishop Miege – Jensen caught two passes for 10 yards and rushed for 5 yards in Miege’s 40-0 win over Blue Valley. (Clisso – 1 pt)
McPherson Offensive Line – The Bullpup line helped produce 347 total yards and three offensive touchdowns in a 24-0 win over Winfield. (Boston – 15 pts)
Michael Murray, WR, Southeast of Saline – Murray had nine catches for 70 yards and rushed seven times for 36 yards in the Trojans’ 26-14 win over Clay Center. (Nicholl – 10 pts)
Nemaha Central Offensive Line – The Thunder offensive line produced 286 total yards and seven offensive touchdowns in a 67-6 rout of Jefferson West. (Maycock – 26 pts)
Braden Sinclair, LB, Lincoln – Sinclair registered 15 total tackles in the Leopards 56-6 loss to Clifton-Clyde. (Kuplen – 30 pts)
Wichita Northwest Offensive Line – The Grizzly line produced an incredible 676 yards of total offense and 11 offensive scores in an 81-13 win over Topeka High. (Gilmore – 46 pts)
Standings for the 2022 season through Week 5:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 227 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 222 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 179 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 125 points
- Sean Boston, Eagle Radio 113 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps.com 85 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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