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 8, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Andale Offensive Line (Kuplen)
Andale has been dominant again this season en route to a 6-0 start behind a consistent ground attack and a dominating offensive line. Through six games this season, the Indian offensive line has produced 2,299 total yards on offense for an average of more than 383 yards per game. Andale averages 65.8 points per game while allowing 8 per contest. ON Friday, the Indians will host Cheney in a key game in Class 3A, District 7. The Cardinals are 5-1 on the season. Cheney and Andale last met in the 2019 season when they actually met twice. Andale won the regular-season meeting 29-22 and the playoff matchup 55-20. Andale’s last loss came to Pratt, 21-19, in the 2018 Class 3A state semifinals. Since then, the Indians have captured three consecutive 3A state titles and have won 44 consecutive games.
Ethan Burgess, WR, Rock Creek (Maycock)
One of the state's leading receivers a year ago when he caught 61 passes for 1,030 yards and 11 touchdowns to set school records in all three categories, Burgess has been even better this season. As Dalton Whitworth's primary target in Rock Creek's lethal passing game, Burgess already has 51 catches for 836 yards and 11 TDs this season. With a Class 3A District 5 title on the line Friday against Clay Center, Whitworth and Burgess won't hold anything back. Clay Center has been susceptible to the pass this season and few do it as well as the Mustangs.
Ryan Kuckelman, QB, Macksville (Boston)
Kuckelman (6-5, 190) is one of eight-man football’s top players, but perhaps, along with his team, has been flying a bit under the radar. Macksville is one of only five remaining unbeaten teams in Eight-Man, Division I, and their senior quarterback has a big reason why. Kuckelman has completed 67 percent of his passes for 632 yards and 14 touchdowns without an interception. He’s also added 574 yards rushing with nine scores. For his career, Kuckelman has passed for 2,700 yards and 38 touchdowns and added 2,960 yards rushing with 54 scores. As a junior last fall, Kuckelman produced nearly 2,100 yards of total offense, including 1,464 yards rushing, and combined for 30 touchdowns. Macksville will look to remain unbeaten with a road trip to Pratt-Skyline (1-5) this week.
Wade Spencer, DL, St. James Academy (Clisso)
Spencer (6-2, 220) has been a relentless force off of the St. James Academy defensive line. Spencer had is coming off of an all-state junior season in which he logged 79 tackles, including 23 for loss and 13.5 sacks. This fall, facing much more attention from opposing offensive lines, Spencer has registered 27 tackles, including six for loss, and 1.5 sacks. The Thunder will be on the road this week against Kapaun Mt. Carmel (3-3). The Crusaders feature a steady ground attack behind standout running back Omari Elias who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season.
Wyatt Waddell, LB, Hays High (Nicholl)
Hays High senior linebacker Wyatt Waddell has enjoyed a remarkable season. Waddell was the Indians’ starting quarterback on the starting freshman team. He converted to linebacker as a sophomore and played in a JV/varsity reserve role the last two falls. This year, Waddell was one of three players that battled for two linebacker spots in the summer.
The 6-foot-4 Waddell has helped Hays High open 5-1 and move to the No. 3 ranking in Class 5A. Waddell leads the Indians in multiple defensive categories and is among the state rankings in several statistics. Waddell has 52 tackles, four for loss, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. On Friday, HHS has Senior Night at Lewis Field Stadium against Liberal. A win gives the Indians an undefeated Western Athletic Conference title.
Braydan Young, LB, Northeast-Arma (Gilmore)
Young (5-11, 160) is having a really nice year for a Northeast-Arma program that is trying to build momentum with low numbers. The junior linebacker has registered a team-high 93 tackles through six games this season. He’s also forced and recovered a fumble. Last Friday the Vikings defeated Uniontown, 8-6, to snap an 18-game on-field losing streak. Northeast’s last prior win on the field came on September 13, 2019 when they shut out Yates Center, 36-0. Northeast was unable to field a varsity team in 2021 and suited up only 11 players two week’s ago in a district loss to St. Mary’s Colgan. Young and the Vikings have a non-district game this week at winless Northern Heights. The Wildcats have scored 26 total points this season, while Northeast has scored 32 total points.
Week 6 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Mac Armstrong, QB, Bishop Miege – Armstrong passed for 257 yards and two touchdowns and added 68 yards rushing, but Miege came up short in a 29-26 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas. (Gilmore – 43 pts)
Conner Dinkel, LB, Hill City – Dinkel registered eight tackles in a 20-14 loss to Hoxie last Friday. (Boston –16 pts)
Jesse Greenly, RB, Atchison –Safe to say, Greenly loves playing Highland Park. In 2021, Greenly had a season-best game against the Scots, rushing for 254 yards and 6 TDs. Last Friday in a rematch, Greenly was even better. Despite not busting a touchdown run of more than 16 yards, Greenly torched the Scots for a career-high 335 yards and 9 TDs. (Maycock – 87 pts)
Brice Johnson, Jr., RB, Bishop Ward – Johnson rushed for 135 yards and four touchdowns and caught three passes for 66 yards and another score as Bishop Ward pulled away from Santa Fe Trail, 55-28. (Clisso – 49 pts)
Eli Lang, QB, Minneola – Unfortunately, Lang didn’t get to take the field last Friday night. Minneola’s scheduled opponent, Pike Valley, forfeited the game late in the week due a shortage of available players. (Nicholl – 0 pts)
Dalton Whitworth, QB, Rock Creek – Whitworth completed 9 of 17 passing for 226 yards and two touchdowns and added 25 yards rushing and another score. Rock Creek rolled past Hiawatha, 70-20. (Kuplen – 42 pts)
Standings for the 2022 season through Week 6:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 270 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 266 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 264 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 174 points
- Sean Boston, Eagle Radio 129 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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