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 4, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Corey Crumrine, QB, Sedgwick (Boston)
Junior quarterback Corey Crumrine has the Sedgwick Cardinals off to a hot start and ranked No. 2 in Class 1A. Crumrine (5-9, 155) has completed 43 of his 70 pass attempts for 691 yards and nine touchdowns already this season. As a sophomore last fall, Crumrine passed for 2,362 yards and 26 touchdowns, while adding five rushing scores. This year, he features a talented group of receivers including seniors Jackson Scarlett and Jeff Nold, and junior Dallas Lagree. Scarlett has 280 receiving yards and four touchdowns, while Lagree and Nold each have more than 150 receiving yards and two scores a piece. The Cardinals will travel to play a much-improved Sterling program this week.
Blake Ellis, QB, Humboldt (Gilmore)
Through two weeks, Humboldt junior quarterback Blake Ellis (5-9, 180) has already put up numbers that are approaching those he compiled as a sophomore in nine games last season. While the Cubs’ offense ran through standout Trey Sommer last season, Ellis still passed for 625 yards and eight touchdowns and added 435 yards and two scores on the ground. So far this season in a 78-0 blowout of Fredonia and a competitive 28-8 win over Caney Valley, Ellis has completed 63 percent of his passes for 415 yards and six touchdowns. He has also added 232 yards and three scores on the ground on just 26 carries. Humboldt took a huge step towards capturing the Tri-Valley League title with last week’s win at Caney. This week, Ellis and the Cubs will make the trip to Neodesha (1-1) to take on the Blue Streaks.
Gardner-Edgerton Offensive Line (Maycock)
After a somewhat surprising run to the Class 6A state championship game a year ago, Gardner-Edgerton has looked every bit the team capable of not only getting back there, but taking the title this season. The Trailblazers have mauled their first two opponents by a combined 100-7 count. Gardner has rushed for 242.5 yards per game in the two wins with 7 rushing touchdowns behind the offensive line of left tackle Gabe James, left guard Serge Otiankoua, center Ethan Whittley, right guard Mason Matlock and right tackle Kaleb Moore. Olathe West is 0-2 after going 8-3 last year and has allowed 96 points and more than 1,000 yards in its first two games.
Lexton Grafke, WR, Lansing (Clisso)
Grafke (5-10, 170) is off to a strong start to his senior season despite the Lions 0-2 start. Grafke has hauled in 16 receptions for 337 yards and two touchdowns in Lansing’s first two games. He has emerged as quarterback Dalton Jorgensen’s primary target in the Lions’ passing game. Jorgensen has thrown for 627 yards and four touchdowns in the first two weeks, but has been intercepted five times. The Lions lost 42-21 to De Soto in the opener before a heart-breaking 26-25 loss to Shawnee Heights on a last second field goal last week. Grafke and the Lions will look to get in the win column this week with a short trip to rival Leavenworth (2-0).
Logan McCarty, QB, Cheylin (Nicholl)
One of the state’s most well-known names, Cheylin senior quarterback Logan McCarty has led the Cougars to a 2-0 start and back-to-back shutouts. McCarty has helped Cheylin to a No. 4 ranking in six-man football. Cheylin will play at No. 1 Ashland this week. In two games, McCarty has completed 19 of 28 passes for 290 yards with six scores against no interceptions. He leads the Cougars with 20 carries for 233 yards and two scores. McCarty has accounted for 3,881 passing and 2,013 rushing yards and more than 100 touchdowns in his career. Last season, Cheylin lost to Ashland twice, including 50-28 in the regular season. However, McCarty put up 308 yards and three scores in the loss. He is expected for another big effort Friday.
J.D. Tyson, QB, Burlingame (Kuplen)
Through two weeks, Burlingame junior quarterback has accounted for the bulk of the Bearcats offensive yards. Tyson has completed 82 percent of his passes for 235 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 132 yards and two scores on the ground. Having the challenge of replacing some key seniors off of last season’s state semifinal appearance, the Bearcats have continued their consistency under Coach Jeff Slater. Burlingame opened with a 49-0 shutout of Marais des Cygnes Valley before blasting Lebo, 60-12, last week. This week, Burlingame continues Lyon County League play with a trip to Hartford (0-2).
Week 2 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Wesley Edison, QB, Lawrene Free State – Edison completed 12 of 20 pass attempts for 119 yards and a touchdowns and added 135 yards and two scores on the ground as Free State beat Olathe Northwest, 26-0. (Clisso – 42 pts)
Lucas Kirk, QB, Bucklin – Kirk passed for 41 yards and a touchdown and added 174 yards and two scores on the ground as Bucklin beat Kiowa County, 30-12. (Boston – 39 pts)
Ian Kresin, RB, Lakeside-Downs – Kresin is well on his way to a monster season in leading Lakeside to a 2-0 start. After rushing for 210 yards and 6 TDs in the Knights' opener, Kresin followed it up with 221 yards and 5 rushing TDs in last week's 56-52 win over Reno County Homeschool. Kresin also caught a TD pass and ran in a pair of two-point conversions and this season has 13 total TDs on offense and 472 total yards. (Maycock – 58 pts)
Eli Lang, QB, Minneola – Lang passed for 157 yards and a touchdown and added 113 yards and two scores on the ground as the Wildcats topped Spearville, 68-20. (Gilmore – 44 pts)
Dalton Meyers, LB, Hays – Meyers registered 11 tackles, intercepted a pass, and had a key pass break up near the goal line as the Indians held off rival Great Bend, 28-27. (Nicholl – 26 pts)
Wichita Northwest OL – The Grizzly offensive line helped pave the way for 398 rushing yards and five touchdowns in Northwest’s 41-13 win over Wichita Heights. The Grizzlies had 458 yards of total offense. (Kuplen – 24 pts)
Standings for the 2023 season through Week 2:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 99 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 90 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 78 points
- Sean Boston, Eagle Radio 69 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 57 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 56 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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