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 eight, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Brady Dinkel, QB, Victoria (Nicholl)
Dinkel enjoyed arguably the finest game of his career in a thrilling 68-56 road victory against Beloit St. John’s-Tipton in a top-five matchup last Friday. He completed 5 of 9 passes for 114 yards and two scores, and rushed 20 times for 167 yards and four TDs. Dinkel has passed for 486 yards and seven scores and rushed for 522 yards and nine TDs. Victoria will play host to Thunder Ridge in another huge district matchup this week.
Cain Fowles, QB, Solomon (Schremmer)
The junior quarterback has passed for more than 1,400 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Gorillas. He also has rushed for more than 200 yards and eight touchdowns. Solomon is at home in a district game against Goessel this week.
Jacob Head, QB, Topeka Hayden (Baetz)
While it's difficult to pick a star for a Wildcat offense that includes so many weapons, the one constant is the man who takes the snap from center. Head can rely on a number of weapons to distribute the ball to in a variety of ways, but a district championship and deep playoff run will likely go through Head's arm. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior threw for 274 yards and four touchdowns in last week's win over Topeka West in completing 16 of 20 pass attempts.
DaeVonte’ Nance, RB, Olathe South (Clisso)
The Falcons tailback stepped into the limelight last week with 236 yards and two touchdowns in South's win over Lawrence. This week he could have a big night in a district showdown with Blue Valley Northwest.
Sherrick Rogers, WR, Chetopa (Kuplen)
Rogers, a 6-foot, 180-pound junior, who transferred from Pittsburg High after last year’s football season, has been an immediate impact player for the 8M-II No. 1 Green Hornets (6-0). Rogers has 530 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions in 2014 in limited action, due to 45-point rule ending Chetopa’s games at the half. Look for another big week for Rogers as they take on Colony-Crest.
Caden Walters, QB, Dodge City (Gilmore)
Walters is putting up huge numbers for the Red Demon offense. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior has completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,856 yards and 14 touchdowns. Walters has also rushed for 275 yards and ten scores. In last week’s 64-50 loss at Hays, Walters passed for 453 yards and four touchdowns and added 29 yards and three scores on the ground. Walters and the Red Demons will need to stay consistent in a tough district that starts with a trip to Wichita Northwest.
Week 6 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Luke Avila, WR, Goodland – Avila had seven receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns in the Cowboys 41-12 victory over Russell. The junior pushed his season totals to 41 receptions for 648 yards and eight scores. (Gilmore – 21 pts)
Zack Melius, RB, Wakefield – Melius rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and caught two catches for 45 yards in a 46-0 win over Lakeside-Downs. (Schremmer – 30 pts)
Grant Raleigh, QB, Hesston Raleigh passed for 225 yards and five touchdowns and added 129 yards rushing in Hesston’s 49-39 win over Pratt. (Kuplen – 64 pts)
Robert Steck, RB, Chapman – Steck rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries in a 21-6 win over Marysville. (Baetz – 18 pts)
Tyler Waggoner, QB, Quinter – Waggoner completed 9 of 13 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 54-34 win over Logan-Palco. Tyler also added 62 yards rushing on five attempts. (Nicholl – 67 pts)
Javeon Williams, RB, KC Washington – Williams rushed 31 times for 256 yards and three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 42-0 shutout of Sumner. (Clisso – 43 pts)
Standings for the 2014 season through Week 6:
- Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas 276 points
- John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine 267 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 238 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps contributor 169 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 161 points
- Mark Schremmer, The Joplin Globe 133 points**
**points total from five weeks.
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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