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.
Braedan Crites, QB, Central Plains (Gilmore)
Only a sophomore, Crites (6-2, 185) has put together an outstanding season for the Oilers. He has completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,696 yards and 29 touchdowns against only four interceptions. Braedan has also added 531 yards rushing and ten more scores. He passed for 354 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 132 yards and another score in last week’s 86-40 win over previously unbeaten Solomon. Central Plains wraps up the regular season at home with Little River this week.
Gabe Helton, RB, Galena (Schremmer)
The Bulldogs junior running back has rushed for 1,155 yards and 17 touchdowns on only 122 carries for 9.47 yards per attempt. He's also caught four passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Expect Helton to have a strong performance as Galena faces rival Riverton in the regular season finale.
Riley Juenemann, QB, Phillipsburg (Nicholl)
Juenemann has played very well for the 7-1 Panthers after had a strong season in relief of an injured Sean Newlan for several games in 2012. This fall, Juenemann has completed 41 of 70 passes for 988 yards and an 8/3 TD/INT ratio. He ranks seventh among Kansas 11-man quarterbacks in passing efficiency, according to maxpreps. As well, Juenemann has rushed 67 times for 441 yards and six TDs in the Panthers’ pistol flexbone offense. Juenemann must have a big game for Phillipsburg at rival Norton (5-3) on Thursday night. For the second straight season, the winner earns the district runner-up berth behind Beloit. Last year, Norton pulled off a 20-7 upset.
Chance Nelson, RB, Blue Valley (Clisso)
Nelson rushed for 222 yards and two touchdowns last week in a 35-14 win over Pittsburg. He had a third touchdown run negated because he was ruled to have fumbled before crossing the goal line. For the season, the senior back has rushed for 1,155 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’ll need another big performance as the Tigers host Blue Valley West for the District 4 championship on Friday night.
Avery Urban, RB, Hoisington (Baetz)
The 6-foot, 215-pound senior is the elder statesmen on a young Cardinal team that is picking up steam as we head toward the postseason. After opening the season with three losses in their first four games, the Cardinals have since won three of their last five and are poised to make a return trip to the playoffs with a win in their season-ending match-up with TMP. Urban rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown in last week's win over Russell, and he'll be expected to carry the offense this week against the Monarchs.
Traevohn Wrench, RB, Gardner-Edgerton (Kuplen)
The 6-foot-1 191-pound senior running back, who is rated four stars by Rivals, may be the state’s best. Wrench, who has committed to play football at Kansas, has rushed for 1,731 yards and 24 TDs in eight games in 2013. He has had over 200 rushing yards in five of his eight games this season. Look for another big night for Wrench this Friday against Olathe Northwest in the final game of district play.
Week Eight Picks to Click results (scoring):
Krystian Abbott, QB, Lansing – Abbot completed 14 of 26 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns before leaving with an injury in Lansing’s 42-35 loss to KC Schlagle. (Clisso – 45 pts)
Garrett Krueger, FB, Thunder Ridge – Krueger rushed 15 times for 139 yards and two scores and also caught an 11-yard TD pass in the Longhorn’s 53-22 win over Northern Valley. (Nicholl – 32 pts)
Jett Little, QB, Meade – Little rushed 30 times for 144 yards and a touchdown and added 109 yards passing in Meade’s 28-6 win over previously unbeaten Elkhart. (Kuplen – 30 pts)
J.W. Maldaner, QB, Salina Central – Maldaner rushed for 49 yards and passed for 45 yards in the Mustangs’ 41-14 win over Great Bend. Malik Veal led Salina Central with 289 yards rushing and three scores. (Schremmer – 8 pts)
Levi Wyrick, QB, Caney Valley – Wyrick rushed eight times for 111 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 70 more yards in Caney’s 42-0 shutout of Neodesha. (Baetz – 30 pts)
Peyton Yandel, QB, South Barber – South Barber beat Norwich 62-14 in a game that ended at halftime. Yandel passed for 106 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 99 yards and three scores. (Gilmore – 49 pts)
2013 Picks to Click contributor standings (after Week 8):
Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com (273 points)
Conor Nicholl, Hays Daily News (253 points)
Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas (249 points)
Mark Schremmer, Joplin Globe (245 points)
John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine (237 points)
Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com (215 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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