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 final standings and top performers for the 2023 season. See the bottom of this article for details.
Colton Brusven, RB, Tonganoxie (Clisso)
Brusven (5-10, 185) has been a workhorse running back for Tonganoxie over the past two seasons. The senior back has rushed for 1,315 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. He is averaging nearly six yards per carry and 188 yards per game. In last week’s 21-7 win over Eudora, Brusven carried 48 times for 238 yards and three touchdowns. Brusven carried on 48 of Tonganoxie’s 60 offensive plays in the game. Last season, Brusven rushed for 1,260 yards and 11 touchdowns and has 3,368 yards and 36 scores for his career. Tonganoxie closes out the regular season with road game at Ottawa (3-4).
William Dorsey, QB, Wellsville (Gilmore)
Dorsey (6-2, 175) has played at an all-state level for the unbeaten Eagles. He has completed 77 percent of his passes for 1,963 yards and 28 touchdowns against only one interception. Dorsey also has added 144 yards rushing and four scores. Wellsville has posted consecutive big victories over Prairie View (36-29) and Santa Fe Trail (58-16). The Eagles will look to finish the regular season as one of three undefeated teams in Class 3A with a win over Baldwin. Baldwin (2-5) has surrendered 35 points per game this season, but is still in contention for a playoff spot out of District 3.
Aiden Hurst, QB, Peabody-Burns (Maycock)
Hurst stepped into Peabody's starting quarterback job as a freshman this season and has been a major spark for the Warrior offense. He threw for at least 140 yards in each of Peabody's first six games before getting shut down by undefeated Waverly last week. Hurst has thrown for 1,430 yards and 23 touchdowns while also rushing for nearly 650 yards and six more scores. Hurst should bounce back this week in a rivalry game against Centre, with last year's game a 76-31 Peabody win.
Brayden Kunz, RB, Conway Springs (Kuplen)
The Conway Springs senior has rushed for 1,395 yards in seven weeks for the Class 1A No. 4 ranked Cardinals (5-2). Kunz, who was last season’s Sports in Kansas 1A Defensive Player of the Year, is one of the top two-way players in the state. Conway Springs takes on Hutch Trinity in this week.
Caleb Noble, WR, Ellis (Boston)
Ellis has won three of its last four games and can clinch the Class 1A District 8 runner-up and a home playoff game with a win over Syracuse this week. A big reason for the Railroaders’ success this season has been their passing game with quarterback Logan Russell and receivers Mason Younger and Caleb Noble. Russell has passed for 1,778 yards and 21 touchdowns this season, while Younger and Noble have combined to be statistically two of the top receivers in the state. Noble (6-3, 185) has 39 receptions for 687 yards and a team-high ten touchdowns. The junior is averaging nearly 17 yards per catch and 94 yards per game. Ellis hosts winless Syracuse this week. The Bulldogs are giving up an average of 41 points per game this season.
Ryan Sramek, QB, Atwood-Rawlins Co. (Nicholl)
Atwood-Rawlins County has opened 7-0 and moved into the top-five in Eight-Man, Division I behind a huge season from junior running back Ryan Sramek. He has 117 carries for 1,086 yards and 20 scores. Sramek has exceeded 100 rushing yards in six of seven contests. Plus, Sramek has eight catches for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Atwood is 4-0 in District 6 and will play rival Hoxie (6-1, 4-0) at home for the district crown this week. Expect Sramek to have a heavy load for a team that has scored 54, 66, 44 and 58 points in the last month.
Week 7 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Duncan Bell, QB, Hoxie – Bell passed for 209 yards and three touchdowns and added 101 yards on the ground and three more scores as Hoxie blasted Quinter, 52-6. (Nicholl – 66 pts)
Trey Carter, QB, Atchison – Carter rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown and passed for 78 more yards in Atchison’s 42-0 win over Perry-Lecompton. (Clisso – 20 pts)
Carter Hajek, QB, Nemaha Central – Hajek rushed 30 times for 107 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 76 more yards as Nemaha Central blanked Riley County, 30-0. (Kuplen – 41 pts)
Britton Pascual, LB, Derby – Pascual registered 14 tackles, including one for loss and a sack in the Panthers’ 35-27 win over Maize South. (Boston – 32 pts)
Luciano Riggi, LB, Lansing – For the sixth time in seven games, Riggi finished with double digit tackles. The senior linebacker had 5 solos and 5 assists in the Lions' 42-0 loss to Manhattan. (Maycock – 10 pts)
St. Mary’s Colgan OL – Colgan defeated Erie 63-8 and the Panther OL paved the way for 522 total yards, including 339 rush yards, along with nine offensive touchdowns. (Gilmore – 37 pts)
Standings for the 2023 season through Week 7:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 336 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 294 points
- Chet Kuplen, Sports in Kansas 292 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 267 points
- Sean Boston, Eagle Radio 184 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 176 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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