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 week as we calculate the final standings for the 2022 season and see how the players performed that we picked this week. See the bottom of this article for details.
Malik Bah, RB, Hays (Boston)
Hays High has won four consecutive games since its long loss, 31-21, to 6A No. 1 Manhattan. The Indians are ranked third in Class 5A and junior running back Malik Bah is a big reason why. Bah has rushed 118 times for 1,182 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. He’s averaging more than 10 yards per carry and 168 yards per game. Bah has also thrown a 70-yard touchdown pass and caught eight passes for 166 yards and two scores. Hays High closes out the regular season with a trip to Topeka High. The Trojans have struggled to a 1-6 record this season having been outscored 386-79.
Blake Boydston, QB, St. James Academy (Clisso)
Boydston has led St. James Academy to four consecutive victories after an 0-3 start to the season. A converted linebacker who had 53 tackles and two interceptions last season, Boydston took over at quarterback early on this season due to an injury. He’s completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,453 yards and 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Boydston’s also added 336 yards rushing with three scores. He was great in last week’s 31-29 win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel, throwing for 260 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 114 yards on 19 attempts. The Thunder have a chance to extend their win streak this week against winless Blue Valley North.
Donald Collier, WR, Wichita Trinity (Gilmore)
Collier (6-0, 175) has emerged as one of the state’s most prolific receivers. Collier and junior classmate quarterback Harvey Zimmerman, give reason for optimism despite Wichita Trinity’s winless season. Zimmerman has passed for 1,885 yards and 20 touchdowns and Collier has been his primary target. The junior receiver has 74 receptions for 1,108 yards and 15 touchdowns through the Knights’ first seven games. That works out to be an average of 10 catches per game for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Wichita Trinity will look to get its first win of the season in a non-district game against Baxter Springs.
Aiden Hoopes, QB, Burrton (Maycock)
Burrton made the move to six-man football this season and it has paid major dividends for the program. At 4-3, the Chargers have their most wins since 2002, which is also the program's last winning season. Hoopes' play at quarterback has been a big reason for the success, directing an offense that's scored at least 74 points in all four wins. Small in size at just 5-6, 108 pounds, Hoopes has played big. He threw for a season-high 346 yards and 8 TDs in the opener against Centre and ran for a season-high 347 yards and 9 TDs against Chase. In three games this season, Hoopes has accounted for double-digit touchdowns and on the season he's thrown for 1,010 yards and 20 TDs and run for 1,170 yards and 19 TDs. Friday's opponent, Altoona-Midway, is 3-4 and has given up at least 45 points in all four losses.
Malik O’Atis, RB, Shawnee Mission Northwest (Kuplen)
O’Atis (5-11, 160) is one of the state’s most electric players. The senior running back has rushed for 1,625 yards and 17 touchdowns on 175 attempts. O’Atis enters this week’s game against Olathe East averaging 232 rushing yards per game and 9.3 yards per carry. He’s also caught 15 passes for 208 yards on the season. As a junior last year, O’Atis rushed for 859 yards and 17 touchdowns and had nearly 700 receiving yards and six scores. The Cougars are 3-4 on the season, but all four losses have come to quality opponents in Olathe North (7-0), Mill Valley (7-1), Olathe West (5-2), and Olathe South (6-2).
Logan Russell, QB, Ellis (Nicholl)
Ellis is 2-5, though has quietly significantly improved its offense once junior Logan Russell took over at quarterback. Ellis scored seven total points in the first two weeks and trailed Phillipsburg, 34-0, after three quarters in Week 3. Russell took over as the full-time starter and threw a pair of TD passes in the fourth quarter against Phillipsburg. Since then, Ellis beat Stanton County (60-0), and took close losses to Plainville (30-25) and Oakley (38-26). Last week, Russell had an efficient performance in a 16-0 win against Belleville-Republic County. In its non-Ellis games, Oakley has allowed 29.2 points a game and Plainville 21.8. Ellis is at struggling Syracuse to close the regular season.
Russell has completed 36 of 59 passes for 626 yards with eight scores against one interception. Plus, former quarterback, 6-foot-3, 175-pound sophomore Caleb Noble, has transitioned to tight end and delivered a solid year with eight catches for 155 yards and a score. Junior Mason Younger, a reigning 3-2-1A state wrestling runner-up, is playing high school football for the first time. He has 17 catches for 382 yards and four scores.
Week 7 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Andale Offensive Line – Andale’s offensive line produced 382 yards and five offensive touchdowns as part of a 32-0 win over Cheney. (Kuplen – 22 pts)
Ethan Burgess, WR, Rock Creek – Burgess continued his monster senior season with yet another big game, catching 11 passes for 205 yards and 3 TDs in Rock Creek's 42-21 win over Clay Center. (Maycock – 38 pts)
Ryan Kuckelman, QB, Macksville – Kuckelman passed for 197 yards and five touchdowns and added 95 yards rushing and two scores as the Mustangs blasted Pratt-Skyline, 50-0. (Boston – 70 pts)
Wade Spencer, DL, St. James Academy – Spencer recorded 8 tackles in the Thunder’s 31-29 win at Kapaun Mt. Carmel. (Clisso – 16 pts)
Wyatt Waddell, LB, Hays – Waddell delivered five tackles in Hays High’s 56-12 home win against Liberal that clinched the undefeated Western Athletic Conference championship. For the year, Waddell has 57 tackles, four for loss, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. (Nicholl – 10 pts)
Braydan Young, LB, Northeast-Arma – Young registered 8 tackles in the Vikings 30-28, overtime win over Northern Heights. Young now has 101 stops on the season. (Gilmore – 16 pts)
Standings for the 2022 season through Week 7:
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 304 points
-
Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 286 points
Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 286 points - Sean Boston, Eagle Radio 199 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 190 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps.com 95 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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