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 3, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Wesley Edison, QB, Lawrence Free State (Clisso)
In a week filled with eye-popping stat lines, Lawrence Free State senior quarterback Wesley Edison may have had biggest impact last Thursday night. Edison (6-3, 215) helped his Firebirds to a 47-29 win over Olathe West by accounting for six total touchdowns and 538 yards of total offense. Edison completed 20 of 29 pass attempts for 367 yards and four touchdowns and added 171 yards on the ground with two more scores. This coming off a breakout junior season where he passed for 928 yards and 9 scores and added 884 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. The Firebirds are trying to improve off a 5-4 season a year ago and have already reversed one of those decisions – a 33-6 loss to Olathe West in the 2022 season opener. This week, Edison and Free State will travel to last year’s 6A semifinalist Olathe Northwest. The Ravens will be looking to rebound from a 42-13 loss to defending 5A champion Mill Valley last week.
Lucas Kirk, QB, Bucklin (Boston)
Bucklin junior quarterback Lucas Kirk put up an impressive state line in the Red Aces’ season-opening 52-24 win over Spearville. Kirk (5-11, 150) completed 14 of 31 pass attempts for 171 yards and a touchdown, but did most of his damage on the ground. Kirk rushed 31 times for 281 yards and scored five touchdowns in the victory. The Red Aces will look to get another strong performance from Kirk this week as they travel to Kiowa County. The Mavericks have lost 13 consecutive games.
Ian Kresin, RB, Lakeside-Downs (Maycock)
Coming off a season where he rushed for 1,246 yards and 16 touchdowns, Kresin is already on his way to posting even bigger numbers this season. Locked in an offensive shootout with Linn in last week's season opener, Kresin helped the Knights roll up 70 points in a 70-56 victory. Kresin averaged nearly 10 yards per carry in going for 210 yards on 23 carries, finishing with 6 TD runs. He also threw for 37 yards and a TD. The potential for another shootout exists this week against Reno County Homeschool, which edged Pike Valley 70-68 last week. If one materializes, Kresin is the biggest weapon on the field.
Eli Lang, QB, Minneola (Gilmore)
Minneola quarterback Eli Lang (6-0, 175) has already had an incredibly consistent career. In his fourth season as a key piece of the Wildcat offense, Lang has rushed for 3,532 career yards with 61 touchdowns, and added 3,431 yards passing with 38 scores. Most importantly, he has helped the Wildcats come away victorious in 8 of the last 10 games on the field. In last week’s 68-14 win over Kiowa County, Lang rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on five carries and completed five passes for 117 yards and three scores. The Wildcats feature several weapons in the backfield with senior James Littlewood and sophomore Levi Lang. The elder Lang will look for another big night as the Wildcats travel to Spearville.
Dalton Meyers, LB, Hays High (Nicholl)
Hays High moved into the Class 5A rankings with a 20-14 overtime win against Junction City. Dalton Meyers has been around the HHS program for years and served as a ball boy earlier in the Tony Crough era. His older brothers, notably Gavin, have been standout football players and wrestlers. Meyers stepped up in his first varsity action with nine tackles, six for loss and an interception. He by far leads the Western Athletic Conference in tackles for loss, per WAC statistician Dustin Armbruster. The Indians play host to rival Great Bend on Friday.
Wichita Northwest Offensive Line (Kuplen)
The Grizzly O-Line paved the way to a 58-7 thrashing of rival Bishop Carroll in week one. Northwest has a loaded offense with two capable quarterbacks in Jayce Glasper and sophomore Jaylen Mason. Those two are threats out of the backfield and when you consider senior back Cencere Thompson is one of the best in the state along with the explosiveness of Aaron “Deuce” Bohannon, the Grizzlies look unstoppable. Michaael Lopez gives Northwest that standout receiving target as well. The Grizzlies will rely on the guys up front to continue to open holes, including Nathan Davis, Philip Givens, Devin Gracey, Braxton Hopper, Dalton Schraeder, and Deongelo Williams. Expect another big week of production this week against Wichita Heights.
Week 1 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Donald Collier, WR, Wichita Trinity – Collier grabbed eight receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns as the Trinity beat Sacred Heart, 36-26. (Kuplen – 33 pts)
Khris Hermosillo, RB, Leoti-Wichita County – All three of Hermosillo’s carries went for touchdowns covering 84 yards as the Indians cruised to a 54-0 win over Wheatland-Grinnell. (Boston – 26 pts)
Tony Moore, QB, Hoisington – Moore passed for 188 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 9 yards in the Cardinals’ 39-7 win over Hesston. (Nicholl – 30 pts)
T.J. Porter, RB, Olathe North – Porter had a strong all-around game in the Eagles’ 42-14 win over rival Olathe East. The senior back had 62 yards rushing on 27 carries, including three touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 60 yards and a score. (Clisso – 36 pts)
Brandon Schmelzle, QB, Axtell – In his first game taking over Axtell's quarterback position from departed Top 11 pick Isaac Detweiler, Schmelzle turned in a solid performance in leading the Eagles, No. 1 in Eight-Man Division II, to a 60-44 win over Cair Paravel. Schmelzle ran for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns and threw for 55 yards and another score. (Maycock – 32 pts)
Jace Wunderlich, QB, Central Burden – Wunderlich had an incredible stat line in Central Burden’s 62-16 win over Sedan. The senior quarterback passed for 201 yards and two touchdowns, added 59 yards rushing with three scores, had two interceptions on defense, and added two punt return touchdowns. (Gilmore – 55 pts)
Standings for the 2023 season through Week 1:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 55 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 36 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 33 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 32 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 30 points
- Sean Boston, Eagle Radio 26 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
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
