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.
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 week to see our picks for week six, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Riley England, RB, Osawatomie (Kuplen)
England has rushed for 651 yards over the 2014 season including 312 yards and four touchdowns last week against Iola. Expect another big week against Anderson County for England who rushed for more than 2,000 yards as a sophomore in 2013.
Gunnar Englund, QB, Shawnee Mission East (Clisso)
The Lancers travel to Lawrence Free State looking to avenge their only regular season loss from last year. Shawnee Mission East has several weapons for its high-powered, flexbone attack but Englund triggers the offense. The senior might only throw five passes, but three of those can go for touchdowns not to mention what he can do with his feet in the running game.
Dean Masters, DE, Natoma (Schremmer)
Masters (6-0, 160) already has 76 tackles, including 25 solo, through the Tigers’ first four games. He posted 30 tackles in last week's 58-26 win over Wilson. Masters also has three fumble recoveries on the season. This week’s challenge will be to slow down No. 2 Beloit St. John’s-Tipton.
Sheldon Schmidt, FB, La Crosse (Nicholl)
Schmidt, one of Kansas' best all-around players, has continually improved in his first year at fullback. He had 11 carries for 49 yards in La Crosse's 40-6 road loss to Southeast of Saline. La Crosse ran for just 70 yards against the Trojans, but hosts Ellis to open district play Friday. Ellis has plenty of speed, but Schmidt's 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame should help out in the run game. He had 14 carries for 186 yards and three scores in a 33-29, Week 3 win against Minneapolis.
Colter Silhan, LB, Oxford (Gilmore)
Silhan (6-0, 190) is one of 8-Man football’s best linebackers. As a junior last season, Colter registered 153 tackles (17 per game), two sacks, and four interceptions on his way to earnings Kpreps All-District honors. Through four games this season he has been in on 58 stops, pushing his career total to more than 300. He’s also been a factor for the Wildcats on offense in rushing for nearly 500 yards and nine touchdowns. Silhan will need another good defensive performance for Oxford to pick up a key district win over Cedar Vale-Dexter.
Tristan Speer, QB, Troy (Baetz)
Speer has thrown for 828 yards with 11 touchdowns while completing 62 of 98 passes in leading the Trojans to a 3-1 record. It should be more of the same Friday night as the Trojans travel to play winless Jefferson County North.
Week 4 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Kenneth Banks, WR, Lansing – Banks caught seven passes for 117 yards in last week’s 27-13 loss to Bonner Springs. (Clisso – 11 pts)
Beloit Offensive Line – The Beloit offensive line paved the way for 571 yards of total offense and nine touchdowns in a 70-6 win over Republic County. (Baetz – 38 pts)
Cannon Burns, RB, Fairfield – Burns rushed for 195 yards and four touchdowns in the Falcons’ 56-46 win over Hutchinson Central Christian. Burns also caught a pass for 12 yards. He has now rushed for 1,325 yards and 20 touchdowns on 128 attempts this season. (Kuplen – 44 pts)
Chetopa Offensive Line – Chetopa beat Uniontown 56-8 and racked up 247 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns. (Schremmer – 25 pts)
Santa Fe Trail Offensive Line – The Chargers rolled to 4-0 with a 61-6 win over Anderson County. Santa Fe Trail put up 546 yards of total offense and seven offensive touchdowns in the win. (Gilmore – 31 pts)
Brandt Wolters, WR, Osborne – Wolters caught three balls for 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 56-8 win over Lincoln. Wolters now has 28 receptions for 363 yards and six scores this season. (Nicholl – 20 pts)
Standings for the 2014 season through Week 4:
- John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine 187 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 171 points
- Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas 166 points
- Mark Schremmer, The Joplin Globe 103 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps contributor 97 points
-
Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 95 points
2014 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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