In our Picks to Click, we feature eight players or units from across the state that we feel will have breakout performances on Friday night.
This season, we’ve assembled a team of eight 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 2017 season include: John Baetz (Kansas Pregame Magazine); Dion Clisso (PrepsKC.com); Taylor Eldridge (Wichita Eagle); Matt Gilmore (Kpreps.com); Chet Kuplen (Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas); Brent Maycock (Topeka Capital Journal); 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.
Dan Bollig, LB, St. Thomas Aquinas (Clisso)
Bollig (5-11, 185) is part of an Aquinas defense that is giving up 18 points per game. While that might not be an eye-popping statistic, consider the Saints play in the best league in the state. The Saints’ lone loss of the season came 27-14 to 4A-I No. 1 Bishop Miege, which averages nearly 43 points per game. Bollig, a senior linebacker, has been solid in registering 30.5 tackles including a season high 8.5 stops against Miege. Bollig has also collecting 3.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and an interception. St. Thomas Aquinas will need another strong defensive performance this week as the second-ranked Saints host unbeaten and fourth-ranked St. James Academy.
Brayden Francis, WR, Sedgwick (Maycock)
Two of Class 2-1A’s top receivers will go head-to-head in Friday’s showdown between Sedgwick and Medicine Lodge. This season, Francis, a returning All-2-1A pick, has racked up 30 catches for 591 yards and 10 touchdowns. Medicine Lodge’s Drew Honas has been just as good if not better with 27 catches for 671 yards and 6 TDs. Expect both teams to fill the air and Francis to get up for the showdown. Last year against the Indians, Francis had just 5 catches for 97 yards, but found the end zone three times on his way to 15 TD grabs – one of several school records the senior already holds.
Sam Hardin, QB, Wichita Trinity Academy (Kuplen)
Hardin has passed for 1,411 yards and 16 touchdowns over the first five weeks of the season for the Knights. He has also rushed for 441 more on the year with three scores. His last three outings he has thrown for 300 plus yards and had four passing touchdowns in each of those games. Trinity Academy gets Belle Plaine this week and Hardin should have another big night. The Dragons are the only 11-man team in the state that has given up more than 300 points thus far this season. Belle Plain has given up 313 points or 62.6 per game.
Kaden Kraus, LB, Halstead (Schremmer)
Sophomore linebacker Kaden Kraus has been a leader for the Dragons defense, posting 80 tackles through five games. Those 80 tackles include 28 solo tackles and three tackles for loss. In addition, Kraus has forced two fumbles. Expect the Dragons to rely on Kraus often as they face undefeated Pratt this week.
Cade Miller, QB, West Elk (Gilmore)
Miller is one of the top eight-man quarterbacks in the state. The senior has passed for 456 yards and nine touchdowns this season, and added 556 yards rushing and 12 more scores. He is coming off of a season where he rushed for 1,240 yards and 29 touchdowns and passed for 1,033 yards and 18 scores.
Miller and the Patriots have a key district showdown with unbeaten St. Paul this week. Last season, St. Paul beat West Elk 66-42 and both teams advanced to the playoffs after a three-way tie atop the district standings with Sedan. Miller passed for nearly 250 yards and three touchdowns while adding 112 yards and two scores in last year’s meeting. For his career, Miller has rushed for 3,378 yards and 74 touchdowns, while passing for 1,856 yards and 35 scores.
Journey Schule, LB, Clearwater (Eldridge)
Jace Ruder, QB, Norton (Nicholl)
Norton has been ranked in Class 3A for most of Jace Ruder’s career. This season, the 4-1 Bluejays have not been ranked in a deep Class 3A.
However, Ruder, a four-year starter and North Carolina commit, has enjoyed his best statistical season. Norton has quality wins versus Goodland (37-34) and Plainville (40-10) and a road loss versus rival Smith Center, 43-0. Norton was only outgained 346-222 in the loss but finished minus-3 in turnover margin.
A three-sport standout, Ruder has showcased his speed in the running game with 63 carries for 509 yards and eight touchdowns. He and senior Tevin Petrie (95 carries, 683 yards, nine scores) have handled virtually all of Norton’s ground game.
Ruder has completed 53 of 94 passes for 635 yards with a 7/3 TD/INT ratio. He has a 39/21 career TD/INT ratio and 30 rushing scores. Ruder has delivered an 88.7 quarterback rating and 56 percent completion, both the highest since his freshman year. His 8.1 yards per carry and 102 rushing yards a game are by far the best in his four year. Norton averaged 34.4 points a game in ’16 and is at 36.8 this season.
Ruder has benefited from a solid wide receiver corps that includes sophomore Kade Melvin, junior Hayden Wiltfong and senior Ryan Johnson. The trio has 38 grabs after little time in ’16. Ruder’s brother, freshman Jonah, has three catches in a reserve role.
This week, the Bluejays play host to 4-1 Colby and junior standout Jordan Schippers. Colby had its best start since 1992 before falling to Holcomb last week. Norton won 52-41 last fall. Expect the game to again be close and high-scoring.
Denton Schurr, RB, Osborne (Baetz)
Schurr had a huge night for the Bulldogs last week in their 58-40 district win against Solomon rushing for 465 yards and seven touchdowns on 49 carries. With Friday’s performance, Schurr improved his season total to 807 yards rushing and 14 scores to follow-up a 1,788 yard, 31 TD season a year ago.
Playing in one of the toughest districts in Kansas, every game is key, and Friday is no exception as the Bulldogs travel to play a quality Logan-Palco team in Palco. If the Bulldogs are going to win another shootout over the Trojans - Osborne won 84-44 last year - Schurr should be counted on to carry the load early and often.
Week 5 Picks to Click results (scoring):
J.J. Allen, RB, Bennington – Allen rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries in Bennington’s 54-6 win over Lincoln. (Kuplen – 20 pts)
Cameron Clark, RB, Bishop Miege – Clark carried six times for 41 yards and a touchdown and caught a 6-yard touchdown pass in the Stags’ 51-7 win over Blue Valley West. (Clisso –16 pts)
Cole Coggins, RB, Valley Heights – Coggins rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns on only seven carries in the Mustangs’ 50-20 win over Wabaunsee. (Baetz – 31 pts)
Eric Dooley, LB, Olathe North – Dooley registered 15 tackles including one for loss the Eagles’ 33-28 upset win over Lawrence. He now has 94 stops on the season. (Gilmore – 30 pts)
Will Eldridge, QB, Blue Valley Southwest – Eldridge completed 30 of 40 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-27 win over Blue Valley Northwest last week. He also rushed for 42 yards and two scores. (Schremmer – 68 pts)
Garden Plain Offensive Line – Garden Plain put up 502 yards of total offense including 461 yards on the ground in a 71-14 win over Belle Plain. The Owl offensive line paved the way for 10 offensive touchdowns. (Maycock – 40 pts)
Spencer Stewart, QB, Shawnee Mission Northwest – Stewart passed for 315 yards and tossed three touchdown passes in the Cougars’ 35-14 win over Shawnee Mission West. Stewart also added 47 yards rushing in the game. (Eldridge – 53 pts)
Maitland Wiltse, TE/WR, Otis-Bison – Wiltse caught three passes for 33 yards and a touchdown in the Cougars’ 70-24 win over Wallace County. (Nicholl – 9 pts)
Standings for the 2017 season through Week 5:
1. Brent Maycock, Topeka Capital Journal 249 points
2. Taylor Eldridge, Wichita Eagle-Varsity Kansas 236 points
3. Mark Schremmer, Kpreps.com 227 points
4. Chet Kuplen, Kansas-Sports.com & @sportsinkansas 175 points
5. John Baetz, Kansas Pregame Magazine 150 points
6. Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 149 points
7. Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 145 points
8. Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 129 points
2017 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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