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 2024 season include: Dion Clisso (PrepsKC.com); Matt Gilmore (Kpreps.com); 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.
Hoxie Offensive Line (Nicholl)
Last week, Hoxie went on the road and picked up a quality 20-14 win against a good Osborne squad. As a result of that win and Leoti-Wichita County’s season-opening loss, the Indians moved up to No. 1 in the Eight-Man, Division I rankings. Duncan Bell passed for 129 yards and three scores in the win over Osborne. While the Indians managed just 33 rush yards against Osborne, Hoxie's experienced offensive line should help Bell and a deep corps of running backs enjoy a big day against WaKeeney-Trego on Friday.
Tate McNew, QB, Maize South (Gilmore)
Maize South quarterback Tate McNew (6-1, 195) had one of the top performances in the state in the opening week. McNew completed 17 of 21 passes for 332 yards and six touchdowns in the Mavericks’ 56-20 win over Newton. He connected with receiver Landen Gatto six times for 151 yards and two scores. He also threw two touchdown passes to Alex Singhateh, who had 87 receiving yards. Christian McDonald and Reece Pauly also caught touchdown passes. That group, along with Braxton Liby and Stratten Ebers, provides McNew with a deep and talented group of receivers. Last season, McNew passed for 2,876 yards and 45 total touchdowns. He looks to have another big game this week as the Mavericks travel to Salina South to take on the Cougars. Salina South lost its opener, 55-13, last week to crosstown rival Salina Central. The Cougars have lost 25 consecutive games.
JD Tyson, QB, Burlingame (Maycock)
Tyson didn't find much resistance from Northern Heights a week ago in the opener as Burlingame rolled to a 62-0 victory. He logged six carries for 111 yards and three touchdowns and also completed 8 of 9 passes for 113 yards and three touchdowns. Tyson also threw for four two-point conversions and ran for two. Waverly will pose a tougher test in its return from a two-year stint in six-player football, but that will mean more touches for Tyson, who a year ago threw for 1,336 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for 552 yards and 10 scores.
John Whitener, RB, Shawnee Mission Northwest (Clisso)
Whitener (5-7, 200) broke out with a 250-yard, four-touchdown performance in Shawnee Mission Northwest’s 28-14 win over Olathe North in the season opener. The senior fullback will be a feature in the new Cougar flexbone offense. Whitener will benefit from running behind a strong group up front that includes the likes of Jacob O’Donnell (6-5, 300), Mason Barth (6-1, 250), Mike Fandel, II (6-3, 250), and Harper Engel (6-2, 215). The Cougars will take on Blue Valley Northwest this week in a EKL – Sunflower League showdown.
Week 1 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Banks Bowen, QB, Wichita Lawrence – Bowen completed 18 of 29 passes for 333 yards and five touchdown in the Lions’ 43-0 win over Shawnee Mission South. He also added 68 yards rushing with a touchdown. (Clisso – 75 pts)
Josh Burdick, QB, Cheney – Burdick passed for 305 yards and three scores as Cheney rolled to a 38-7 opening win over Holcomb. (Nicholl – 48 pts)
Nate Johnson, QB, Jayhawk-Linn – Coming back after missing the last half of the 2023 season with an injury, Johnson got revenge on the team that knocked him out for the year in leading the Jayhawks to a 38-14 win over Central Heights. Johnson threw for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns and also ran for 40 yards and another score. (Maycock – 53 pts)
Creyo Koop, RB, West Elk – Koop rushed for 75 yards and three touchdowns and added four catches for 102 yards and two more scores in the Patriots’ 46-0 blanking of Argonia-Attica. (Gilmore – 47 pts)
Standings for the 2024 season through Week 1:
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 75 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 53 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 48 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 47 points
2024 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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