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 week to see the final Picks to Click standings and how the players performed that we picked this week. See the bottom of this article for details.
Quinton Cravens, QB, Saint Francis (Gilmore)
Saint Francis senior quarterback Quinton Cravens has led the Indians to an unbeaten 7-0 record and a spot atop the 8-Man, Division I rankings for most of the season. Cravens (6-3, 175) has completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,180 yards and 17 touchdowns against only two interceptions. All 17 of Cravens’ touchdown passes have come in the Indians’ last five games. Cravens is also a threat to run the ball having gained 536 yards and scored eight rushing touchdowns. Saint Francis travels to WaKeeney-Trego (3-5) having already clinched the District 8 championship, but with a chance to close out a second consecutive unbeaten regular season.
Hayden Friend, QB, Plainville (Kuplen)
Friend, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound, senior quarterback and defensive back, has been outstanding on both sides of the football for the Cardinals in 2016. He is a huge reason that Plainville is 7-1 as heading into Week 9 of the season despite playing against one of the toughest schedules in Class 2-1A. Friend has passed for 1,446 with 23 touchdowns, while rushing for 780 more with 11 scores. He has also picked off five passes on defense. He had a five total touchdowns last week in the 48-0 shutout over Ellis, marking the third shutout in a row for Plainville. Expect Friend to come up big once again for the Cards on Friday against La Crosse.
Dawson Johnson, QB, Lakeside-Downs (Nicholl)
Lakeside-Downs had lost 19 straight contests entering Week 5 and the first game of district play. The Knights then won games 86-50, 44-34, and 70-32 before a 66-40 loss last week. On Thursday, Lakeside plays at Stockton with the winner capturing wild Eight-Man, Division II, District 5 title. Lakeside and Stockton are currently tied for the lead with 3-1 records, while Lakeside currently leads the point differential. Five teams remain alive for the postseason, and no one has clinched a berth. It's the only Division II district where the champion is not yet decided. Senior Quarterback Dawson Johnson has led the offensive surge with 1,349 passing yards, 21 passing scores, 480 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Caden Kinderknecht, QB, Northern Valley (Schremmer)
The 8-Man Division II quarterback can hurt opposing teams through the air and on the ground. He’s passed for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns and has rushed for 1,287 yards and 25 touchdowns. Last week, he passed for 157 yards and a touchdown and ran for 174 yards and three touchdowns in a 74-54 loss to Stockton. Kinderknecht, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in six games this year, should have another strong outing against a winless Thunder Ridge squad.
Clay Phillips, QB, Mission Valley (Baetz)
Phillips, a 6-foot, 175-pound quarterback completed 45 percent of his passes for 738 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions last season. He also added 1,177 rushing yards on 200 attempts with 15 touchdowns as the Vikings finished with a 7-3 record. In 2016 he has increased his production with 1,871 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on 147 carries. Phillips has completed 46 of 94 pass attempts for 781 yards and four more scores. He is the catalyst for a Vikings team sitting at 6-2 and on the verge of their third consecutive playoff berth.
Harrison Van Dyne, WR, Blue Valley (Clisso)
Van Dyne has emerged as the leading receiver for Blue Valley this fall. The 6-foot-5, 195-pould senior has a team-high 41 receptions for 713 yards and eight touchdowns. Van Dyne has been a key component of Blue Valley’s success on offense under new quarterback Matt Dercher. Dercher has had an outstanding year completing 64 percent of his passes for 2,108 yards and 22 touchdowns. Van Dyne and Cade Green have been the primary receiving targets with senior Gus Gomez missing several games due to injury. Green has 30 receptions for 563 yards and five scores, while Gomez has 233 receiving yards and four touchdowns in only four games. The Tigers drew the No. 1 seed on the east side of Class 6A and will take on No. 16 Shawnee Mission South in Week 9.
Week 8 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Grant Cantrell, QB, South Barber – Cantrell completed all five of his passes for 104 yards and a touchdown and added 80 yards rushing and two scores as South Barber beat Ashland, 57-10. (Gilmore – 36 pts)
Valentino Degollado, QB, Hugoton – The senior quarterback completed 19 of 29 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns during a 42-17 win over Kingman. Degollado also rushed for 105 yards and two more touchdowns. (Schremmer – 71 pts)
Peyton Duvall, WR, Ellinwood – Duvall caught six passes for 52 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles’ 56-36 win over Little River. (Baetz – 11 pts)
J.J. Letcher, RB, KC Piper – Letcher rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the Pirates’ 28-0 win over Tonganoxie. He also caught three passes for 39 yards in the win. (Clisso – 30 pts)
Jayden Price, QB, Mulvane – Price passed for 127 yards and three touchdowns and added 121 yards rushing and a touchdown as the Wildcats beat Wellington, 48-7. (Kuplen – 48 pts)
Jesse Nunez, QB, Garden City – Nunez rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown and passed for 54 yards in the Buffs’ 21-14 overtime win over 5A No. 1 Great Bend. (Nicholl – 21 pts)
Standings for the 2016 season through Week 8:
1. Mark Schremmer, Kpreps contributor 390 points
2. Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 331 points
3. Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas 314 points
4. Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 275 points
5. Conor Nicholl, Kpreps contributor 220 points
6. John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine 218 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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