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 week 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.
Andale Offensive Line (Maycock)
Andale returned only one starter from last year's offensive line that paved the way a year ago for an offense that averaged better than 400 yards per game, All-Class 3A lineman Brody Winter. He's been joined by fellow seniors Wyatt Smarsh, Matthew Braaten and Cash McCormick, junior Easton Rieger and sophomore Cash Beyrle up front this year and in last week's 65-12 win over Rose Hill, the Indians rushed for 426 yards and 5 TDs and finished with 495 yards of total offense. A year ago against El Dorado, Andale rolled up 12 rushing touchdowns and 451 yards of total offense in a 104-0 win. While the Indians may not crack the century mark in this year's meeting, they should put up big numbers against a Wildcat program that has lost 29 straight games.
Brooks Bayer, DE, Spring Hill (Clisso)
Bayer (6-2, 245) is simply put one of the top defensive players in Class 5A and in all of Kansas. He is coming off of a junior season in which he registered 69 tackles, including 27 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, recovered three fumbles, and picked off two passes. In the Broncos’ season-opening 48-14 win over Lansing, Bayer had three tackles, half a sack, a hurry, and batted down a pass. Bayer, who recently committee to Pitt State, should get plenty of opportunities to rack up tackles this week when Spring Hill hosts United Kansas Conference rival KC Turner.
Dalton Lingenfelter, QB, Marais des Cygnes Valley (Gilmore)
Lingenfelter (6-1, 165) delivered an incredible performance in the Trojans’ season-opening, 53-6, win over Southern Coffey County. The MdCV senior rushed 17 times for 270 yards and six touchdowns and had a pair of receptions for 45 yards and another score. In all, Lingenfelter amassed 315 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns last week. Marais des Cygnes Valley looks to be a challenger on the eastern side of the 6-Man bracket this fall. Lingenfelter and the Trojans will travel to Altoona-Midway this week and try and build momentum before a tough test against No. 1 Weskan next week.
Demitri Wiliamson, RB, Oswego (Nicholl)
Williamson (5-10, 165) is just one game into his junior season and is already reaching some career milestones. After an impact freshman season in 2024 in which he rushed for 784 yards and 17 touchdowns, Williamson had a breakout sophomore campaign in 2025. Demitri rushed for 1,580 yards and 30 touchdowns, passed for 234 yards and eight scores, and had three touchdown receptions. This season, he opened with a 266-yard, three-touchdown rushing performance in Oswego’s 56-32 win over Marmaton Valley. Williamson scored his 50th career rushing touchdown last week and is closing in on 3,000 career rushing yards. He’ll continue that chase this week with a road trip to St. Paul.
Week 1 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Vladon Crawford, QB, WaKeeney-Trego – Crawford passed for 168 yards and a touchdown and added 87 yards rushing and four more scores, but the Eagles fell 38-32 to Hill City. (Nicholl – 54 pts)
Jeremiah Miller, QB, Lincoln – Miller passed for 161 yards and four touchdowns and added 95 yards rushing with another score as the Leopards beat Lakeside-Downs, 60-12. (Gilmore – 55 pts)
Dan Sogard, QB, Blue Valley – Sogard passed for 264 yards and four touchdowns in the Tigers’ 51-24 win over Blue Valley Northwest. (Clisso – 50 pts)
Austin Swonger, QB, South Barber – Swonger threw a 30-yard touchdown pass and rushed for 35 yards before exiting South Barber’s 58-20 loss to Tescott with an injury after the first quarter. (Maycock – 12 pts)
Standings for the 2026 season through Week 1:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 55 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 54 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 50 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 12 points
FINAL Standings for the 2025 season:
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 328 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 317 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 243 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 171 points
2026 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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