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 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 5, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Carter Aslin, QB, Manhattan (Gilmore)
Aslin (6-0, 170) is off to an incredible start to his senior season. The Manhattan quarterback has already produced 1,027 yards of total offense and 13 touchdowns in three games. Aslin has completed 67 percent of his passes for 640 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for 387 yards and eight more scores. The Manhattan offense has been explosive in averaging 43 points per game, but the Indians will make the short trip to rival Junction City on Friday. Manhattan has won the last three meetings in the battle for the Silver Trophy – the last two coming in blowout fashion. One-sided decisions have been rare in this series as 11 of the past 15 meetings have been decided by single digits. Junction City enters this week having lost two consecutive games in which the Blue Jays have surrendered a total of 112 points.
Gardner-Edgerton Offensive Line (Clisso)
Defending champion Gardner-Edgerton is off to another strong start and is ranked No. 2 in Class 6A. Coach Jesse Owen’s Trailblazers have won nine consecutive games and 15 of their last 16. A big reason for that success has been a strong flexbone attack and the guys winning the battle up front. Gardner-Edgerton lost several key starters off last year’s title team, but returned quarterback Bravin Powell and a couple of All-Sunflower League selections up front in Kaleb Moore and Mason Matlock. Those two have helped the Blazers average nearly 48 points per outing in their first three games. Gardner-Edgerton will look to control the ball and the clock this week against another high scoring offense in the Banks Bowen-led Lawrence Chesty Lions.
Max Huston, QB, Topeka Seaman (Maycock)
After having a breakout season a year ago, Huston has been somewhat quiet this season in Seaman's 2-1 start. A year after throwing for 3,257 yards and 39 touchdowns and rushing for 706 yards and 8 scores, Huston has ONLY thrown for 530 yards and 8 touchdowns and run for just 63 yards with no scores this year. Last year against Turner, Huston signaled the start of his huge season, throwing for 355 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Isaiah Ridgeway, RB, Mankato-Rock Hills (Nicholl)
Mankato-Rock Hills' running back Isaiah Ridgeway (6-1, 170) has enjoyed a great start to the 2024 season. He has carried 46 times for 550 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has already exceeded his rushing total of 510 yards from last season. In last week’s 68-22 win over Pike Valley, Ridgeway rushed for 305 yards and seven touchdowns on 25 attempts. Rock Hills is at Sylvan-Lucas on Friday in a matchup of 3-0 teams.
Week 3 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Dusty Bannister, QB, Wellington – Coming off a school-record performance in a shootout loss to Andale, Bannister had another solid outing in leading the Crusaders to their first win. He threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 24 yards in a weather-shortened 35-14 win over Clearwater. (Maycock – 41 pts)
Jaxon Becker, WR, Lawrence – Becker caught 11 passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns, but the Lions fell 42-34 to Olathe North. (Clisso – 22 pts)
Dayton Stephen, WR, Hill City – Stephen caught five passes for 51 yards and a touchdown and added eight carries for 101 yards on the ground. (Nicholl – 21 pts)
Dane Winters, WR, Burlingame – Winters had 14 receptions for 168 yards and three touchdowns as the Bearcats got past Madison, 66-16, on a game finished Monday night. Winters also added 20 yards rushing on seven carries. (Gilmore – 36 pts)
Standings for the 2024 season through Week 3:
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 156 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 139 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 101 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 98 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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