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.
Krystian Abbott, QB, Lansing (Clisso)
The Lions have one of the best passing attacks in the Kansas City metro area. Lansing averages more than 300 yards per game and Abbott is the trigger to that attack. He faces a Schlagle team that has played well but struggled to slow teams down at times.
Garrett Krueger, FB, Thunder Ridge (Nicholl)
Krueger, the lone three-year starter for the Longhorns, has played quarterback for the last year and a half. After Week 4, though, Thunder Ridge wanted better play at fullback. The Longhorns moved Krueger to fullback and put junior Dylan Bretton under center in the team’s traditional power running game. Krueger collected seven offensive touches for 118 yards and three scores and returned a fumble for 15 yards and another touchdown in a 48-0 victory against Bird City-Cheylin. Krueger needs to have a big game in a must-win road district contest versus Almena-Northern Valley this week.
Jett Little, QB, Meade (Kuplen)
The senior utility back of Meade (6-1), Jett Little, has racked up 33 touchdowns (21 rushing, 12 passing) on the season. He has 839 rushing yards and 478 passing yards on the season for the defending 2-1A champion Buffaloes. Although he hasn't been getting many reps in the blowout wins, he should get more looks this Friday when they visit Elkhart (7-0). The senior captain has the ability to take the ball to the house anytime it touches his hands.
J.W. Maldaner, QB, Salina Central (Schremmer)
Salina Central senior quarterback J.W. Maldaner has been a dual-threat for the Mustangs. He has passed for 1,233 yards and six touchdowns, while also leading the team in rushing with 830 yards and seven touchdowns on 119 carries. Maldaner passed for a season-high 332 yards in last week’s 55-27 loss to Salina South. He also ran for 127 yards. He has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark four times this season, including a 179-yard and two-touchdown performance against Newton. Salina Central will look for its first district win against Great Bend on Friday.
Levi Wyrick, QB, Caney Valley (Baetz)
The Caney Valley Bullpups needed a new quarterback entering the 2013 season, and they found one in 6-foot-4, 230-pound Levi Wyrick, an all-league player on both the offensive and defensive lines as a sophomore in 2012. Wyrick still man’s his defensive end spot for the Bullpups, but now he directs the Bullpup offense. While the Bullpups are known for their powerful running game, behind last year's 3A champion discus thrower, Caney has been more balanced. Over the last three weeks Wyrick has rushed for 278 yards on 36 carries (7.72 yards per carry) while completing 14 of 21 pass attempts for 336 yards (24 yards per completion). He has accounted for 11 total touchdowns during that three game span. The Bullpups could wrap up a playoff berth this week against a 1-6 Neodesha team, and Wyrick will lead the way.
Peyton Yandel, QB, South Barber (Gilmore)
Yandel (5-9, 180) has been a standout quarterback for the Chieftains the past two seasons. As a sophomore last season, Peyton earned Kpreps All-District honors at quarterback as well as the District 4 Offensive MVP when he produced more than 2,300 total yards and a combined for 46 touchdowns. This season he has passed for 881 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 1,048 yards and 23 touchdowns. He rushed for 284 yards and six touchdowns and passed for 116 yards and two more scores last week in a 66-56 win over Argonia-Attica. South Barber can clinch the district title with a win at Norwich on Friday night.
Week Seven’s Picks to Click results (scoring):
Tucker Horak, QB, Rossville – Horak rushed 24 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 19 more yards in the Bulldogs’ 35-0 shutout of Mission Valley. (Gilmore – 37 pts)
Kyler Kinnamon, QB, McPherson – Kinnamon rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown and passed for 62 yards and another score in the Bullpups’ 42-13 win over Smoky Valley. (Baetz – 28 pts)
Michael Mason, RB, Mulvane – Mason carried 24 times for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but the Wildcats fell 20-14 to Winfield. (Kuplen – 27 pts)
Henry McGrew, LB, Blue Valley – McGrew registered 12 tackles, two for loss, in the Tigers’ 47-3 district win over Blue Valley Southwest. (Clisso – 24 pts)
Skyler Tebo, DL, Ellis – Tebo registered five tackles and .5 sacks in Ellis’ 26-0 shutout of St. Francis. (Nicholl – 12 pts)
Brylie Ware, QB, Segwick – Ware completed 11 of 13 passes for 223 yards and two scores. He also rushed for 23 yards and a touchdowns as the Cardinals beat Wichita Independent 55-14. (Schremmer – 42 pts)
2013 Picks to Click contributor standings (after Week 7):
Mark Schremmer, Joplin Globe (237 points)
Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com (224 points)
Conor Nicholl, Hays Daily News (221 points)
Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas (219 points)
John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine (207 points)
Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com (170 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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