In our Picks to Click, we feature six 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 six 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. Check back next Thursday to see our picks for next week, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Kyle Comstock, RB, Tescott (Baetz)
Tescott's Kyle Comstock has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the last three weeks including 137 yards with four touchdowns in last week's heartbreaking 34-32 loss to Goessel. The Trojans should have the edge over the Chase Kats this week in their third district game, but their two toughest opponents, Hope and Southern Cloud, await in weeks eight and nine. While Comstock may find some tough going those final two weeks of the season, he should find some running room against Chase in a game that could light up the scoreboard.
Lyndon O-Line (Kuplen)
The 5-0 Tigers, who are ranked No. 5 in 2-1A, are averaging 49.2 points per game on the season and have scored at least fifty in four of their five contests. They will face Jayhawk-Linn in a district match-up on the road on Friday. The Jayhawks (2-3) are giving up 36 points per game on the season and Lyndon should be the best team they have faced up to this point. Lyndon has put up 553 yards of total offense per game in 2013, featuring a balanced offensive attack (332.8 rushing per game, 220.8 passing per game). Expect them to keep rolling this Friday.
Jacob Norris, QB, Norwich (Gilmore)
Just a sophomore, Norris (5-11, 160) is one of the most talented offensive eight-man players in the state. He has already surpassed his freshmen totals from a year ago when he passed and rushed for more than 700 yards and scored a combined 17 touchdowns. This season, he has passed for 1,173 yards and 19 touchdowns against only four interceptions. A true dual-threat quarterback, Norris also leads the Eagles in rushing with 713 yards and 11 scores. He threw for 289 yards and six touchdowns and added 197 yards rushing and three more scores as Norwich picked up their first win last week, 70-22 over Cunningham. He should have another strong performance this week as the Eagles step outside of district play to take on a Goessel (2-3) team that is surrendering more than 48 points per game.
Northern Valley O-Line (Nicholl)
Almena-Northern Valley had high expectations entering the season after it returned three rushers who gained at least 800 yards for a 7-2 team last fall. The Huskies have opened 2-3, but it’s mainly been run defense and special teams woes that have led to losses. Northern Valley has averaged 38 points per contest, second-most among Eight-Man, Division II teams with a losing record. This week, the Huskies play host to Natoma (4-1) for Homecoming in a key district matchup. Senior Ian Vincent, a four-year starter and arguably the best lineman in Chuck Fessenden’s 37-year history, suffered a season-ending ankle injury in a loss to Beloit-St. John’s-Tipton last week. However, the Huskies still have plenty of talent up front including juniors Ame Baird and Carson Montgomery, each returning starters. Northern Valley has averaged 296 rushing yards a game.
Greyson Tempel, QB, Garden City (Schremmer)
Tempel has been a dual threat for Garden City this season. He has passed for 961 yards and 10 touchdowns, while rushing for 748 yards and 12 touchdowns. In last week's 61-20 win over Liberal, Tempel passed for 143 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 290 yards and five touchdowns. Tempel will be a key for the Buffaloes when they face Wichita East on Friday.
Ryan Willis, QB, Bishop Miege (Clisso)
Willis (6-4, 190), the Stags’ junior signal caller has been putting up big numbers all season long. This week Miege hosts Blue Valley West in a must win for the Jaguars. Defenses in the EKL have struggled to stop the high-scoring attacks in the league all season and this could be another high-scoring shootout.
Week Five’s Picks to Click results (scoring):
Dylan Allison, LB, South Barber – Allison registered 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and forced a fumble in the Chieftains 64-28 win over Macksville. He also contributed on the offensive side of the ball; rushing for 228 yards and two touchdowns and catching two passes for 74 yards and another score. (Schremmer – 44 pts)
Luke Eilert, WR, Beloit St. John’s-Tipton – Eilert was chosen as a receiver, but unfortunately he didn’t catch a pass in the Blujays 54-28 win over Northern Valley. However, he made a huge contribution on defense in registering 17 tackles and three sacks for St. John’s-Tiption. (Baetz – 0 pts)
Gardner-Edgerton O-Line – Gardner-Edgerton beat Blue Valley West 27-24 on Saturday. The Blazer offense produced 427 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in the win . (Clisso – 20 pts)
Kyle Gfeller, QB, Sharon Springs-Wallace Co. – Gfeller carried 26 times for 130 yards and a touchdown to help Sharon Springs-Wallace County win the battle of ranked teams with Hanover, 22-6. (Nicholl – 19 pts)
Brad Ivey, LB, Bishop Miege – Ivey recorded 13 tackles and a tackle-for-loss in Miege’s 37-12 win over Blue Valley Southwest. (Gilmore – 26 pts)
Ryan Schadler, RB, Hesston – Schadler continued his incredible season with 285 yards rushing and five touchdowns. He also caught a 6-yard touchdown pass to help Hesston beat Kingman 41-27. (Kuplen – 64 pts)
2013 Picks to Click contributor standings (after Week 5):
Conor Nicholl, Hays Daily News (174 points)
Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas (164 points)
Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com (162 points)
Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com (146 points)
John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine (143 points)
Mark Schremmer, Joplin Globe (141 points)
2013 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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