The Kpreps Picks to Click feature is back for the 2023 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 2023 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 Thursday 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.
Donald Collier, WR, Wichita Trinity (Kuplen)
Collier (6-0, 180) returns after a breakout junior season in which he hauled in 103 receptions for 1,710 yards and 25 touchdowns. While Wichita Trinity finished just 2-7 last fall, they gained some momentum in winning their final two games of the season over Baxter Springs and Hiawatha. The returning combination of Collier and quarterback Harvey Zimmerman will certainly give opposing defenses cause for concern. Zimmerman passed for 2,595 yards and 28 touchdowns last fall. The Knights open with a game against the Sacred Heart Knights in Salina.
Khris Hermosillo, RB, Leoti-Wichita County (Boston)
Junior running back Khris Hermosillo is one of several key returnees that will try and help Leoti-Wichita County win another Eight-Man, Division I state title. Last season, the Indians rolled to an unbeaten season behind an explosive offense that featured Khris and his brother quarterback Erhik Hermosillo. While the elder Hermosillo brother graduated, Khris will try to improve on a sophomore season that saw him rush for 1,251 yards and 23 touchdowns. He will look to be equally impactful from his defensive end position where he registered 9.5 sacks last year. The top-ranked Indians will open their state title defense by hosting Wheatland-Grinnell.
Tony Moore, QB, Hoisington (Nicholl)
Hoisington went 8-3 last fall and returns a bevy of starters for the No. 4 Cardinals. Senior quarterback Tony Moore is likely the most dynamic quarterback coach Zach Baird has ever had. Moore was used as an all-purpose threat as a sophomore and moved under center last fall. He passed for 656 yards with 11 scores against two interceptions and rushed for 992 yards with 12 scores. Moore averaged 11 yards a play when he ran or passed the ball. Hoisington has traditionally had running backs with massive individual numbers. This year, it could be Moore. Hoisington led 2A in yards per play in 2022. The Cardinals, which have lost their last two season openers, start at home on new turf versus Hesston.
T. J. Porter, RB, Olathe North (Clisso)
Porter (5-7, 165) burst on to the scene in the Sunflower league last season in rushing for 1,236 yards and 14 touchdowns. Porter was a key reason why the Eagles finished 9-2. Porter returns with eyes on even bigger numbers this season thanks to an experienced offensive line that features Braden Hales (6-4, 290). Hales already has multiple offers at the Division I level, and is joined up front with three other returning starters including Alex Spencer, Noah Emmerick, and Tamer Almomari. Olathe North will open the season as they did last year - against rival Olathe East. The Eagles beat Olathe East 26-6 last season with Porter rushing for 230 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Brandon Schmelzle, QB, Axtell (Maycock)
Schmelzle has been one of eight-man's most productive players since his freshman season in 2021, helping Axtell to two straight undefeated Division II championships. Serving as a complement to All-State quarterback Isaac Detweiler, Schmelzle racked up nearly 3,000 yards of total offense (rushing, receiving, passing) the past two seasons with a total of 63 touchdowns. This season, Schmelzle will fill Detweiler's void at quarterback, moving from a flex tailback position. The position has produced big numbers for Eagle quarterbacks in recent years with Detweiler accumulating more than 10,000 total yards in his career and accounting for 65 offensive touchdowns last year. Last year against Cair Paravel, Detweiler threw for 169 yards and 4 TDs and ran for 205 yards and 4 scores and Schmelzle is capable of duplicating those numbers.
Jace Wunderlich, QB, Central Burden (Gilmore)
Wunderlich (5-7 ,160) returns to lead what is expected to be an explosive offense for Central Burden this season. Wunderlich helped the Raiders to a 5-4 record a season ago by passing for 1,700 yards and 28 touchdowns and adding 635 yards and 11 scores on the ground. Expect Wunderlich to put up big numbers again this fall as his entire offensive line returns. The question for the Raiders will be who can step up and fill the hole left by Bradan Balman. Balman rushed for nearly 500 yards and had more than 700 receiving yards last fall while combining for 26 touchdowns. Central Burden opens with a home game against Sedan. The Raiders defeated the Blue Devins 50-12 in last year’s season-opener.
The final standings for the 2022 were:
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 368 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps 351 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 326 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 231 points
- Sean Boston, Eagle Radio 225 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 112 points
2023 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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