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 have 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 5, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Atchison Offensive Line (Clisso)
The Atchison Phoenix are 3-0 for the second consecutive season. The Phoenix are among the state’s top scoring teams averaging nearly 63 points per contest. A big reason for Atchison’s success has been the offensive line. The Phoenix O-Line has paved the way for nearly 368 yards per game. Atchison has shown good balance by averaging 217 yards per game through the air and 151 yards on the ground. Standout senior quarterback Trey Carter has been the benefit of that O-Line having passed for 635 yards and 11 touchdowns already this season. Jaden Carter is the team’s leading rusher with 234 yards and six scores. Atchison, which has posted a 20-3 record since the beginning of the 2021 season, will look to improve to 4-0 with a win over KC Schlagle this week.
Blake Carter, RB, Chetopa (Maycock)
Chetopa is off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2014 and Carter's emergence as a big-time workhorse in the backfield has been a big reason for the success. Carter has logged only 59 carries this season, but has made the most of them, rushing for 847 yards (14.3 per carry) and 13 touchdowns in three games, averaging 282.3 yards and 4.3 touchdowns per game. Chetopa is playing Altoona-Midway for the second time already this season and in the first meeting, Carter carried 16 times for 284 yards and 6 touchdowns to lead the Green Hornets to a 78-33 win.
Tanner Heckel, QB, Lyndon (Gilmore)
As expected, Heckel has made an immediate impact at Lyndon after transferring from Inman over the summer. One of the state’s top all-around athletes, Heckel helped Inman to the Class 1A state runner-up finish in each of the past two seasons. His addition to an already strong Lyndon roster has made the Tigers one of the top contenders in Eight-Man, Division I. Through three games this season, Heckel has completed 68 percent of his passes for 350 yards and six touchdowns. He has added 311 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns already. Jalen Massey leads the Tigers with 350 yards rushing and has scored six times. They have the benefit of Kansas State commit Kaiden Massey (6-8, 280) leading the way. James Marcotte, Daxten Miller, Ethen Ramey, Landon Walker, and Casten Wirth all are capable options for Heckel to distribute the ball. Lyndon has a major test this week as they take on Cair Paravel to open district play. The Lions pushed two-time 8M-II defending champion Axtell in the season opener before falling 60-44. Lyndon edged Cair Paravel 28-24 last season.
Moundridge Offensive Line (Boston)
Moundridge is off to an impressive start under new coach Tyler O’Conner. The Wildcats are 3-0 and jumped into the Eight-Man, Division I rankings at No. 5 after last week’s 60-0 win over Wichita Independent. A big reason for the Wildcats’ success has been controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Wildcat O-Line has helped average 48 points per game, but the Wildcat defense has been opportunistic in forcing 11 turnovers and have surrendered just 12 total points in three games. This week, Moundridge will open district play by taking on Pretty Prairie (0-3) before next week’s showdown at Little River.
Wichita County Offensive Line (Nicholl)
Wichita County head coach Brant Douglas called the offensive and defensive lines the team’s strength. Senior Chris Michel (6-2, 220) and junior Max Whitham are at guards, and senior Brandon Price (5-11, 230) starts at center. Michel and Price are returning starters. Michel returned in Week 3 after he missed two games with injury. Wichita County played nearly all game without standout junior running back Khris Hermosillo because of injury, though still beat Hoxie, 48-14, last Friday. The Indians rolled up 516 yards of total offense, including 471 rushing, against a team that did not allow a point through the first two weeks. Wichita County is the defending state champion, has won 16 straight and leads Eight-Man, Division I with 190 points. The Indians travel to St. John (2-1) on Friday, and the line play will be key again.
Braden Young, LB, Northeast-Arma (Kuplen)
Young (6-1, 180) led Class 1A with 132 tackles last season as a junior earning all-state honors. The senior has registered 49 tackles through three weeks of the season. He also has three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. The Vikings open district play by hosting Erie this week.
Week 3 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Corey Crumrine, QB, Sedgwick – Crumrine passed for 111 yards and added 9 yards rushing and a touchdown, but the Cardinals dropped a 41-7 decision to Sterling. (Boston – 17 pts)
Blake Ellis, QB, Humboldt – Ellis passed for 163 yards and three touchdowns and added 112 yards on the ground as the Cubs defeated Neodesha, 42-0. (Gilmore – 45 pts)
Gardner-Edgerton OL – Smash-mouth football has been Gardner-Edgerton's calling card on offense and it was on full display in last Friday's 42-0 win over Olathe West. The Trailblazers lined up behind its big offensive line and ran it all over the Owls to the tune of 417 yards on the ground and 538 yards of total offense. All six of Gardner's touchdowns came on the ground with Brevin Powell rushing for 106 yards and 3 scores. Dylan Butash ran for 111 yards and Grant Ellis had 69 yards and 2 TDs.. (Maycock – 28 pts)
Lexton Grafke, WR, Lansing – Grafke had six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdowns as Lansing edged rival Leavenworth, 28-26. (Clisso – 14 pts)
Logan McCarty, QB, Cheylin – McCarty passed for 322 yards and five touchdowns and added 56 yards and another score on the ground as Cheylin upset No. 1 Ashland, 62-32. (Nicholl – 73 pts)
J.D. Tyson, QB, Burlingame – Tyson completed 8 of 9 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns and added 25 yards rushing and two scores as the Bearcats beat Hartford, 51-0. (Kuplen – 47 pts)
Standings for the 2023 season through Week 3:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 144 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 129 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 118 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 104 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 92 points
- Sean Boston, Eagle Radio 82 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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