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 8, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Djimon Colbert, DB, Bishop Miege (Clisso)
Bishop Miege senior Djimon Colbert (6-1, 210) is just one key piece of a Stag defense that has given up an average of only 16.2 points per game. Colbert, who transferred to Miege from Winnetonka (Mo.) last summer, has verbally committed to play in the Big Ten at Iowa next season. In six games this season, Colbert has recorded 19 total tackles with an interception and seven passes broken up. Miege opens district play at Eudora (2-4) on Friday night.
Jacob Jenkins, RB, Chaparral (Baetz)
Jenkins, one of the best defensive players in all of Class 3A, has erupted on the offensive side of the ball over the last three weeks rushing for 201, 146, and 195 yards. He’s now ran his season total to 714 yards and is averaging an impressive 9.9 yards per carry. The Roadrunners now enter district play in one of the state's toughest, with four teams (Cheney, Conway Springs, Garden Plains) that have combined to go 22-2 through the first six weeks of the season. If Chappy is to continue their growth under coach Justin Burke, it will depend on running the ball with Jenkins.
Tyler Lingg, QB, Dighton (Nicholl)
Lingg, the Hornets’ 6-foot-5, four-year starter at quarterback, has delivered elite numbers for 6-0 Dighton. This year, he has completed 57 of 78 passes for 856 yards with 19 scores. Last week, Lingg led Dighton to a 42-32 road victory against Sharon Springs-Wallace County in a huge Eight-Man, Division II, District 6 contest. Lingg threw for 158 yards and four scores. This week, the Hornets (6-0, 2-0) play host to Otis-Bison (4-2, 1-1) in another key game.
Isaac McPherson, RB, Fredonia (Kuplen)
The senior speedster leads Kansas in rushing yardage in 11-man as we head into Week 7 with 1,459 yards and 18 touchdowns. He had a huge night last Friday in which he went for 395 yards and five touchdowns on 16 carries against Humboldt. McPherson is averaging 13.2 yards per carry when rushing the football in 2016. His twin brother, Isaiah, also a Kpreps picks to click member earlier this year, is also near the top of the rushing leaders in Kansas with just under 1,000 yards at Labette County this fall. McPherson is a transfer to Fredonia this football season from Parsons High School, where he played for Coach Mark Svaty last season. Svaty and the Yellowjackets (5-1) will take on TVL rival Neodesha this Friday at home.
Will Schneider, QB, Shawnee Mission North (Schremmer)
The senior quarterback has passed for 1,520 yards and 15 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He’s also rushed for 319 yards and five touchdowns. For his career, Schneider (6-4, 205) has passed for 7,434 yards and 67 touchdowns. The Indians will look for a big performance from Schneider as they Shawnee Mission Northwest this week.
Colten Ward, QB, Caldwell (Gilmore)
Ward is the catalyst to the state’s top scoring offense at 62.7 points per game. Through six games this season, Ward has completed 19 of 24 pass attempts for 506 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s rushed for 823 yards and 16 touchdowns on just 47 carries; good for an average of 17.5 yards per carry. Colten has finished with four carries or less in four of Caldwell’s six games. Last season, Ward rushed for 1,504 yards, 37 touchdowns, and passed for 1,013 yards and nine scores. For his career, Colten has rushed for 3,646 yards and 78 touchdowns, while passing for 2,276 yards and 30 scores.
Ward carried 24 times for 342 yards and six touchdowns and passed for 128 yards and three scores in a 90-48 win over Argonia-Attica back in Week 2. Ward will likely need a similar performance for the Blue Jays to outscore an explosive Hartford Jagaur squad. The Blue Jays and Jaguars battle in Hartford this week with the winner likely assuring themselves of a playoff spot.
Week 6 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Garden City Offensive Line – The Garden City offensive line paved the way for 407 rushing yards and 478 yards of total offense in a 46-34 comeback victory over Wichita Northwest. The Buffs produced six offensive touchdowns including four rushing. (Gilmore – 27 pts)
Joel Green, LB, Stockton – Green was credited with 10 solo tackles and 26 assists, an interception, and a fumble recovery in the Tigers’ 54-48 win over Thunder Ridge. (Schremmer – 80 pts)
Hooper Schroeder, QB, Sedgwick – Schroeder completed 13 of 20 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns in the Cardinals 61-28 win over Medicine Lodge. Schroeder also rushed for 46 yards on nine carries. (Baetz – 48 pts)
Keenan Stanley, WR, Columbus – Stanley rushed 19 times for 139 yards and a touchdown in the Titans comeback victory over Galena. Stanley also caught a pass for 14 yards. (Kuplen –20 pts)
David Thompson, RB, Logan-Palco – Thompson was held to 62 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in the 84-44 loss to Osborne. He also had one reception for one yard. (Nicholl – 12 pts)
Zach Witters, QB, SM West – Witters completed 13 of 17 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings 47-32 win over Olathe North. Witters also rushed for 28 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. (Clisso – 51 pts)
Standings for the 2016 season through Week 6:
1. Mark Schremmer, Kpreps contributor 261 points
2. Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 258 points
3. Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 241 points
4. Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas 236 points
5. John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine 172 points
6. Conor Nicholl, Kpreps contributor 129 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
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