We are proud to welcome SureFire Ag Systems as the primary sponsor of our “SureFire Picks to Click” feature for 2015. Our SureFire Picks to Click feature six players or units from across the state that we feel will have breakout performances on Friday night.
SureFire Ag Systems provides solutions for the control and application of liquid and anhydrous ammonia fertilizer. SureFire Ag is proud to support Kansas high school football. Learn more about these products, and other industry leading agriculture technologies by visiting www.surefireag.com and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
We have 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.
Picks to Click contributors for the 2015 season include: John Baetz (Kansas Pregame Magazine); Dion Clisso (PrepsKC.com); Matt Gilmore (Kpreps.com); Chet Kuplen (Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas); Conor Nicholl (Kpreps contributor); and Mark Schremmer (The Joplin Globe)
Check back next Thursday to see our picks for week four, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Thomas Graham, LB, Andover Central (Kuplen)
Graham has starred at linebacker in the first two games of his senior season. He leads the Jaguars in tackles with 33 total tackles (11 solo; 22 assists) and 6.5 tackles for loss. Graham also had an interception in a 54-31 win over Valley Center. Last season, Graham recorded 172 total tackles (58 solo; 114 assists), six tackles for loss, a sack, and two interceptions. He’ll have to continue his consistent play as the Jaguars take on a Goddard team averaging 31 points per game through the first two weeks.
Holton Offensive Line (Baetz)
It's been ages since the Holton Wildcats have opened the season 0-2, or even posted a two-game losing streak. While Big 7 rival Sabetha is no pushover, the Bluejays don't have the talent of Silver Lake or Maize South, who each edged the Wildcats in the first two weeks of the season. As usual the Wildcat offense comes via the ground game, and it will likely be on-point after the two tough losses.
Cooper Leach, WR, Doniphan West (Gilmore)
Leach and sophomore quarterback Levi Watts are developing quite a connection through the first two weeks of the season. Leach (6-4, 185) has hauled in 22 receptions for 373 yards and eight touchdowns through two games, including 16 receptions for 261 yards and five touchdowns in last week’s 35-34 win over Valley Heights. Watts has thrown the ball 62 times this season for nearly 600 yards and seven touchdowns. Leach will have to come up big this week as the Mustangs host 2-0 Washington County.
Colton McCumber, QB, Blue Valley (Clisso)
McCumber is the senior leader and engine that makes Blue Valley’s offense go. As a junior last fall, he rushed for more than 600 yards and nine touchdowns, and passing for nearly 1,000 more yards and eight scores. He rushed for 238 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and passed for 100 yards and another score in a Week 1 win over Shawnee Mission Northwest. Last week, McCumber left after the first snap of the game sailed over his head and into the end zone where he recovered for a Blue Valley West safety. McCumber is believed to have aggravated an existing injury to his non-throwing shoulder and he may return to action on Friday against Miege. The Tigers will need him if they are going to knock off a talented Miege team.
Sherrick Rogers, RB, Pittsburg (Schremmer)
Rogers returned to Pittsburg High after an all-state season as a receiver at Eight-Man, Division II Chetopa. Rogers had 50 receptions for 1,022 yards and 22 touchdowns for the Green Hornets. But now he’s back as a Purple Dragon and back in the backfield where he closed out the 2013 season rushing for 80 yards and two touchdowns against Blue Valley Southwest. Sherrick Rogers has rushed for 229 yards this season and scored four touchdowns in last week’s win over Independence. He’ll need to have a big night as the Purple Dragons get their first test at rival Fort Scott.
Kade Urban, QB, Otis-Bison (Nicholl)
Otis-Bison is 2-0 this season and 9-5 in its last 14 games but hasn't secured a signature victory during that span. The Cougars have a chance this Friday at unbeaten Ness City; the Eight-Man, Division I sub-state runner-up from 2014. Urban, a junior, has started since midway through his freshman year. A solid player on both sides of the ball, he is 7 of 13 passing for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He’s added 14 carries for 88 rushing yards and two scores in 2015. For his career, Urban has thrown for 759 yards with an 11/5 TD/INT ratio and has 814 rushing yards with 10 scores. Urban will need another strong performance in Week 3 to top Ness City.
Week 2 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Dawson Downing, RB, Bishop Miege – Downing carried five times for 34 yards and a touchdown and hauled in a 45-yard reception for the Stags before being limited by an injury. Miege beat Gardner-Edgerton, 59-20. (Clisso – 13 pts)
Jacob Green, DL, Norton – Green totaled 14 tackles, including five for loss, in Norton’s 7-6 win over rival Phillipsburg. (Nicholl – 38 pts)
Jace McDown, RB, Columbus – McDown carried ten times for 142 yards and a touchdown in a 50-8 win over Southeast-Cherokee. (Kuplen – 20 pts)
Christian Merz, WR, Holcomb – Merz had four receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown in a 51-6 win over Goodland. (Baetz – 20 pts)
Klein Ryan, WR, Labette County – Ryan had three catches for 41 yards and a touchdown last Friday, but the Grizzlies fell 54-22 to Osawatomie. (Schremmer – 10 pts)
Zac Walter, QB, Lincoln – Walter completed five of seven passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns in the Leopards’ 50-12 win over Sylvan-Lucas Unified. He also rushed eight times for 119 yards and another score. (Gilmore – 48 pts)
Standings for the 2015 season through Week 2:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 116 points
- John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine 70 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 67 points
- Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas 61 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps contributor 51 points
- Mark Schremmer, The Joplin Globe 39 points
2015 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, TFL, sack
- 4 points for every INT or fumble recovery
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