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 2025 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 7, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Trenton Kern, LB, Great Bend (Nicholl)
The defending Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Kern (6-0, 215) is once again the leader of the Great Bend defense. Kern has registered 31 tackles and forced a fumble through five games this season. The Panthers have rolled to a 5-0 start by allowing just 10 points per game. Great Bend hosts unbeaten Liberal (5-0) this week in one of the state’s premier games.
Sam Krzykowski, WR, Olathe West (Clisso)
Krzykowski (6-2, 180) has had a break out year at receiver for Olathe West. Through five games, Krzykowski has 32 receptions for 675 yards and ten touchdowns for an Owl offense that is averaging 36 points per game. Olathe West is off to a 4-1 start after last week’s 49-21 win over two-time, defending 6A champion Gardner-Edgerton. Krzykowski had eight catches for 120 yards and two scores in the win over the Trailblazers. Olathe West has a big test this week when the Owls travel to 5A power Mill Valley.
Savion Stone, QB, KC Washington (Maycock)
Stone turned in one of the most electrifying performances in the state this year in leading Washington to a wild 82-44 shootout win over Meadowlark Conference rival Atchison. Stone torched the Phoenix for 482 yards of total offense and set a school record with 9 touchdowns. Stone ran for 273 yards and 5 touchdowns and threw for another 206 yards and four scores. Stone is having a monster season already with 1,267 yards and 18 touchdowns passing and 792 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing. This week, he'll get a Wyandotte defense that he burned last year to the tune of 352 yards of total offense and 5 touchdowns, including 309 yards and 4 scores through the air.
Cashton Young, QB, Leoti-Wichita County (Gilmore)
Young (5-8, 175) is the leader of the Wichita County offense and one of the state’s top eight-man players. After missing the season opening loss to defending Colorado champion Haxtun, Young has returned to account for 22 combined touchdowns over the past four weeks. He has passed for 638 yards and nine scores and added 759 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns. For his career, Young has surpassed 3,000 yards rushing (3,056) with 55 rushing touchdowns. He has passed for 1,111 yards and 18 scores. Young and the Wichita County Indians are 3-2 on the season after a 56-46 loss to WaKeeney-Trego. The Indians have a key district game at La Crosse this week.
Week 5 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Andale OL – Andale's offense only ran 25 plays in the Indians' 45-3 win over Nickerson, one in which the Indians led 37-0 at the end of the first quarter. The defense did some heavy lifting with two touchdowns and a safety, but the offense cranked out 4 touchdowns and 212 yards of total offense, averaging just under 10 yards per play. (Gilmore – 16 pts)
Wichita Northwest OL – Northwest used a balance attack as part of a 76-7 win over Wichita West. The Grizzly OL helped produce 196 passing yards and 195 rushing yards (391 total) and nine offensive touchdowns. (Gilmore – 34 pts)
Trai Woodruff, QB, SM Northwest – Woodruff carried 20 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns but the Cougars couldn’t contain Mill Valley in a 56-24 defeat. (Clisso – 27 pts)
Ashton Wynn, QB, WaKeeney-Trego – Wynn rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 102 yards and a score in the Golden Eagles’ 54-6 win over Ellis. (Nicholl – 36 pts)
Standings for the 2025 season through Week 5:
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 185 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 178 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 144 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 134 points
2025 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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