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 9, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Joel Broeckelman, RB, Mankato-Rock Hills (Kuplen)
Broeckelman has rushed for 1,094 yards and picked up 25 total touchdows on the year for the Grizzlies. Last week he rushed for eight touchdowns and 325 yards in their 86-64 win over Lincoln. Expect another big outing for the senior against Lakeside-Downs this week.
Jace McDown, RB, Columbus (Schremmer)
The junior has rushed for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns on only 114 carries. He ran for 212 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion during a 14-12 win over Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League rival St. Mary's-Colgan. The Titans will likely turn to McDown again as they host Frontenac in a game that will likely determine the league and district titles.
Will Schneider, QB, Shawnee Mission North (Clisso)
Sophomore quarterback Will Schneider (6-3, 180) helped the Shawnee Mission North Indians snap a 25-game losing streak with a 58-13 win over KC Wyandotte. Schneider has had a strong season having completed more than 50 percent of his passes for 1,445 yards and 15 touchdowns. He leads the Sunflower League in every major statistical passing category. Look for Schneider and the Indians to put up big numbers again this week against a depleted KC Harmon team.
Spearville Offensive Line (Nicholl)
The Lancers have started 7-0 behind an experienced offensive line with multiple two- and three-year starters. Spearville has quality wins against Madison and Ness City and plays at 7-0 Hodgeman County in a huge district game Friday. The Lancers' single wing offense has averaged 306 rushing yards, 9.1 yards per carry, and 77 passing yards a game. Spearville has just two turnovers all season.
Kendall Stewart, WR, Maize (Baetz)
While Stewart and the Eagles couldn't get the offense going last week against Bishop Carroll, this week's game with Valley Center will present a better opportunity for Eagle quarterback Connor Lungwitz to get things going with his favorite targets. The Hornets are much improved under second year coach Caleb Smith, and should keep it close, but the Eagle offense will score points.
Dustin Weber, QB/RB, Pratt-Skyline (Gilmore)
Weber has put up big numbers for a Skyline offense that is averaging nearly 50 points per game. Dustin has rushed for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, while passing for 253 yards and four more scores. Weber carried the ball 45 times for 270 yards and three scores a week ago against South Central. The T-Birds could get into another high-scoring affair with Kinsley this week.
Week 7 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Brady Dinkel, QB, Victoria – Dinkel passed for 103 yards and two touchdowns in the Knights’ 58-34 win over Thunder Ridge. He also rushed for 56 yards and a score. (Nicholl – 33 pts)
Cain Fowles, QB, Solomon – Fowles passed for 222 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 46 yards and three touchdowns during Solomon's 44-8 win over Goessel. . (Schremmer – 56 pts)
Jacob Head, QB, Topeka Hayden Head passed for 174 yards and three touchdowns and added 40 rushing yards and two scores in the Wildcats’ 51-21 win over Andover Central. (Baetz –51 pts)
DaeVonte’ Nance, RB, Olathe South – Nance rushed 19 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons’ 42-20 win over Blue Valley Northwest. (Clisso –24 pts)
Sherrick Rogers, WR, Chetopa – Rogers caught five passes for 48 yards and a touchdown and rushed two times for 21 yards and another score in the Hornets’ 54-6 win over Colony-Crest. (Kuplen – 18 pts)
Caden Walters, QB, Dodge City – Walters and the Red Demaons struggled in a blowout loss to Wichita Northwest. Walters completed 15 of 38 passes for 109 yards and rushed seven times for 110 yards and a touchdown. (Gilmore – 27 pts)
Standings for the 2014 season through Week 7:
- John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine 318 points
- Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas 294 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 265 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps contributor 202 points
- Mark Schremmer, The Joplin Globe 189 points**
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 185 points
**points total from six 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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