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.
Like last 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.
Picks to Click contributors for the 2016 season include: John Baetz (Kansas Pregame Magazine); Dion Clisso (PrepsKC.com); Matt Gilmore (Kpreps.com); Chet Kuplen (Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas); Conor Nicholl (Kpreps.com); and Mark Schremmer (Kpreps.com).
Check back next Thursday to see our picks for Week 7, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Garden City Offensive Line (Gilmore)
Garden City is off to a 5-0 start behind an offense that averages more than 38 points per game. The Buff defense has been equally impressive in surrendering only 15 points per game. The Buffs host high-scoring Wichita Northwest on Friday. A typical Grizzly game this season has been a score-fest. Northwest is 3-2 and averaging 51 points per game while giving up 44 per game. Garden City returned four starters across the O-Line this season in Mario Chairez (6-0, 270), Benny Hernandez (5-10, 250), Lorenzo Ruiz-Hernandez (5-10, 235), and DeMarcus Elliott (6-4, 285). Benny Hernandez and fullback Peyton Hill have each missed the last two games, but are likely to play this week. The line’s job is to allow quarterback Jesse Nunez to make plays. Nunez has passed for 665 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for 738 yards and 11 scores. The Buffs will need a big night on Friday to outscore Northwest.
Joel Green, LB, Stockton (Schremmer)
The Tigers eye their first win of the season and will try to snap a seven-game losing streak when they face the winless Thunder Ridge Longhorns on Friday. If Stockton is to earn that first victory, it’s fair to assume that Green will play a big part. The senior has already posted 101 tackles in five games. He has four tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception.
Hooper Schroeder, QB, Sedgwick (Baetz)
At 6 feet tall, and just 147 pounds, sophomore quarterback Hooper Schroeder has been solid for first year Sedgwick head coach Doug Mabry. The Cardinals are 3-2 behind Schroeder's 906 yards passing with eight touchdowns, along with 163 yards on the ground and three more scores. The Cardinals open district play this week against winless Medicine Lodge, and are the favorite in a district with four opponents that have combined for a 2-18 record this season. The future could be bright for the Cardinals as Schroeder is the oldest starter of the six skill position players at just 16 years old.
Keenan Stanley, WR, Columbus (Kuplen)
Stanley, a junior that has been primarily a receiver, has been seeing time carrying the football this season due to the graduation of all-state back Jace McDown. He is one of the top offensive players in 4A-II this season, whether at receiver or in the backfield. He had six catches a week ago for 58 yards and rushed for 141 more yards with three total touchdowns in the win over Prairie View. Stanley averages 177.5 total yards per game and has scored 13 total touchdowns in 2016. Galena will be a big test for the undefeated Titans, and if Columbus is to win, it will be due to a big night from Stanley.
David Thompson, RB, Logan-Palco (Nicholl)
Thompson has exceeded 1,000 rushing yards for the second straight season. The junior leads all Kansas eight-man running backs with 126 carries for 1,098 yards and 20 scores. Thompson has exceeded 100 yards in each game, including 32 carries for 224 yards and three scores last week in a high-profile 50-28 win versus Victoria. In his last 11 contests, Thompson has no fewer than 90 yards in any game. Logan-Palco is 5-0 and has a key Eight-Man, Division I, District 4 contest at undefeated Osborne.
Zach Witters, QB, Shawnee Mission West (Clisso)
Shawnee Mission West senior quarterback Zach Witters put up an incredible Week 1 performance in a 41-40 win at Lawrence Free State. Witters (6-1, 170) passed for 306 yards, two touchdowns, and rushed for 217 yards and three more scores. For the season, Witters has passed for 823 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 460 yards and five scores. The Vikings are 3-2 and host Olathe North (1-4) this week.
Week 5 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Kaden Davis, WR, Ellsworth – Known for his playmaking abilities, Davis caught two passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns during a 55-7 win over Sacred Heart. He also carried the ball five times for 39 yards. (Schremmer – 29 pts)
Michael Maffry, LB, Blue Valley – Maffry registered 12 total tackles in the Tigers’ 45-0 shutout of St. James Academy. (Kuplen – 24 pts)
Phillipsburg Offensive Line – Phillipsburg’s line paved the way for 479 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns in the 56-14 win over Ellis. (Nicholl –30 pts)
Cornelius Ruff, RB, KC Schlagle – Ruff rushed for 266 yards and six touchdowns in the Stallions 52-18 victory over KC Wyandotte. (Clisso – 62 pts)
Hunter Stevenson, RB, Valley Heights – Stevenson carried 17 times for 111 yards and a touchdown in the Mustangs’ 34-28 win over Wabaunsee. (Baetz –17 pts)
Dexton Swinehart, WR, Lyndon – Swinehart did most of his damage on the ground in the Tigers’ 26-8 win over Council Grove. Swinehart rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns, and caught three passes for 15 yards. (Gilmore – 26 pts)
Standings for the 2016 season through Week 5:
1. Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 231 points
2. Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas 216 points
3. Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 190 points
4. Mark Schremmer, Kpreps contributor 181 points
5. John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine 124 points
6. Conor Nicholl, Kpreps contributor 117 points
2016 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
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
