In our Picks to Click, we feature several 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 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 2025 season include: Dion Clisso (PrepsKC.com); Matt Gilmore (Kpreps.com); Brent Maycock (KSHSAA Covered); and Conor Nicholl (Kpreps.com).
Check back next Thursday to see our picks for Week 3, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Carson Dixon, QB, Basehor-Linwood (Clisso)
Dixon (6-3, 185) opened his senior campaign by completing 13 of 18 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns in the Bobcats’ 42-21 win over Leavenworth. He also added 41 rushing yards on 11 attempts. For his career, Dixon surpassed the 2,000-yard mark for passing yards with 2,052. He’s thrown 26 career touchdown passes against only six interceptions. Dixon and the Bobcats will host rival KC Piper in key United Kansas Conference showdown. The Pirates are coming off of a 33-22 win over Topeka Seaman in last week’s opener.
Kasen Parsons, QB, Osage City (Gilmore)
Osage City quarterback Kasen Parsons (6-1, 195) delivered an all-state caliber season in 2024. He led the Indians to a 10-1 record and a state quarterfinal appearance. The Indians challenged state power Nemaha Central before falling 33-27. Parsons finished the 2024 season with 1,821 yards passing and 21 touchdowns. He added 1,010 rushing yards and 19 more scores. For his career, Parsons has passed for 4,762 yards and 55 touchdowns and added 2,153 rushing yards and 36 more touchdowns. In last week’s 41-13 win over Olpe, Parsons completed 18 of 23 attempts for 270 yards and three scores along with 60 rush yards and a touchdown. The Indians will be on the road in Topeka to take on Cair Paravel this week. Osage City won last year’s meeting 54-20.
Aiden Scott, QB, Shawnee Heights (Maycock)
The only quarterback in the state to throw for more than 3,000 yards last year (doing it in just 9 games), Scott already is on pace to eclipse that number again this year. In last week's 51-41 loss to Washburn Rural, the Washburn commit threw for a career-high 428 yards and 4 touchdowns. Scott and the passing game should have a big night against Topeka West this week after Scott burned the Chargers for 333 yards and 3 scores last year.
Tate Tiernan, QB, Osborne (Nicholl)
Tate Tiernan is part of a highly-anticipated freshman class at Osborne that has enjoyed great success at the junior high ranks. The young Bulldogs announced their arrival last week with a 52-46 victory over defending state champion Hoxie. Tiernan completed 15 of 20 pass attempts for 290 yards and six touchdowns. He added 66 yards on the ground. Classmate Donovon Holloway added 88 yards rushing and caught seven of Tiernan’s passes for 216 yards. Tate Tiernan is the son of Osborne coach Steve Tiernan. The Bulldogs have another test this week when they host Eight-Man, Division I contender Ell-Saline. Ell-Saline won this contest last year, 38-20.
Week 1 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Blake Jay, QB, Mill Valley – Jay made the transition back to quarterback with a solid debut. He passed for 105 yards and two touchdowns and added 118 yards and a score on the ground. Mill Valley blanked Olathe East, 28-0. (Clisso – 39 pts)
Dylan Wark, RB, Golden Plains – Wark rushed for 150 yards and five touchdowns and added 70 receiving yards and two more scores as the Bulldogs routed Moscow, 53-6. (Nicholl – 64 pts)
Jameson Miles, WR, Peabody-Burns – Miles rushed for 12 yards but was held without a catch in the Warriors’ 39-8 loss to Tescott. (Maycock – 1 pts)
Jamaal Jackson, RB, Labette County – Jackson suffered a knee injury on the fifth playoff the game and exited the contest. He finished with two carries for one yard, but the Grizzlies bested Parsons, 26-6. (Gilmore – 0 pts)
Standings for the 2025 season through Week 1:
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 64 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 39 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 1 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 0 points
FINAL Standings for the 2024 season:
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 344 points
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 329 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 228 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 168 points
2025 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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