Picks to Click -- Week Seven
Girard's Matt Perez looks to lead the Trojans to a district win over Parsons. (Photo by Marion McReynolds, For Kansas Pregame/Kpreps.com)
Girard's Matt Perez looks to lead the Trojans to a district win over Parsons. (Photo by Marion McReynolds, For Kansas Pregame/Kpreps.com)
By Kpreps.com & Kansas Pregame Magazine
Posted: October 14, 2010 - 10:53 AM
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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. Check back next Thursday to see our picks for week four, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior.
Trevor Axelson and Harrison Gilliland, RBs, Plainville
These two fueled the Cardinal ground game in their first win of the season over Ell-Saline last week. Now, a young Plainville team has confidence and their full house backfield should again be fueled by this sophomore duo.
Alex Bontz, RB, Andover Central
Bontz has had a break-out season thus far for Tom Audley’s Jaguars after transferring from Wichita Independent last year. The junior running back has rushed for 997 yards and 10 touchdowns through Central’s first six games behind a talented offensive line including 6-5, 280-pound Boston Stiverson. Bontz will look for his seventh straight game over the century mark against arch-rival Andover to begin district play.
Zack Goodrich, RB, Marais des Cygnes Valley
Goodrich has rushed for 813 yards and 10 touchdowns to help the Trojans to a 4-2 start. The senior running back has averaged more than nine yards per carry on the season aided by a 5-carry, 159-yard performance against Pleasanton, and 273 yards on 23 attempts against Marmaton Valley. He’ll need another big night against White City if MdCV is to continue to put pressure on the big three in a loaded 8 Man District 3.
Matt Perez, RB, Girard
The diminutive Perez (5-6, 140) has amassed 867 yards rushing and nine touchdowns this season for the 4-2 Trojans. The junior has rushed for more than 145 yards in each of Girard’s four wins, and broke loose for 243 yards and four scores last week against winless Erie. Perez is part of a solid Trojan backfield that includes seniors Reid Murphy and Dylan Kratz, and promising sophomore quarterback Anthony Scholes. Girard begins district play against one of Coach Leon Miller’s former teams in the improved Parsons Vikings.
Gunner Phelan, QB, Quivira Heights
Phelan has thrown for nearly 900 yards and 21 touchdowns against only two interceptions and he should play big in a key district contest against Hope. If the Thunderbirds are to return to the state title game Phelan's arm will be the key.
Smith Center Defense
The Redmen have been given two weeks to prepare for Beloit and Greg Koenig's Double Wing offense and Smith Center defensive coordinator Brock Hutchinson should have a game plan ready to go against the Trojans. Expect the Redmen to slow the Trojans in a close low scoring game that could determine the district championship.
Last week’s Picks to Click (Week Six):
Beloit’s Defense – The Trojan defense allowed a season high in points in a wild first quarter that ended with Beloit leading 35-18. Afterwards, Beloit rolled to a 55-26 win and captured at least a share of the North Central Athletics Association League title.
Christian Boor (LB) & Scott Martin (FS), Pittsburg High – Boor had 10 tackles and Martin added 13 stops and an interception as the Purple Dragons assured themselves at least a share of the SEK League title by beating Fort Scott 26-20. Boor also added 18 yards rushing and a score from his fullback position.
Marcus Irsik, QB, Elkhart – A week after a sore hamstring relegated Irsik to stay in the pocket and throw for 320 yards and 5 touchdowns, Irsik didn’t play against a 1-5 Satanta team in order to rest. The Wildcats managed a 54-0 victory without their senior leader.
Tyler Matthews, QB, McPherson –Matthews completed 24 of 35 passes for 376 yards and four touchdowns, but the Bullpups came up short against Gardner-Edgerton, 49-42.
Bo Savage, QB, Central Burden – Savage completed 20 of 24 passes for 365 yards and 7 touchdowns as the Raiders rolled past Udall, 56-6.
Austin Steinfort, QB, Hanover -- Steinfort rushed for 99 yards and a score, and threw for 76 yards and 3 touchdowns, but Hanover fell 31-28 in overtime to Baileyville B&B.
