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 2026 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 8, and how the players performed that we picked the week prior. See the bottom of this article for details.
Landon Cole, QB, Bishop Miege (Clisso)
Bishop Miege is one of the top teams in Kansas regardless of classification. The Stags have an explosive offense that averages 40.2 points per game against some of the toughest competition in the Kansas City area. Senior quarterback Landon Cole (5-8, 170) has put up stellar numbers thus far this season. Cole has completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s added 271 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Miege has an experienced group of receivers including Michael Blount, Wesley Walsh, Jayden McDaniel, and Brody Lynn. Cole will need to have another big night as Miege hosts a dangerous Blue Valley North team that has won two consecutive games.
Kyzler Damman, QB, Clifton-Clyde (Maycock)
After sharing the offensive load a year ago, Damman has become Clifton-Clyde's primary weapon this season. He is coming off a huge game against Canton-Galva in which he ran for 261 yards and 6 TDs and also threw for 88 yards. On the season, Damman has rushed for 1,024 yards and 18 TDs and also thrown for 506 yards and 5 TDs. He'll face an improved Washington County team this week that has won four straight while averaging 56 points per game in those wins.
Fisher Elder, LB, Wellington (Gilmore)
Elder (6-2, 220) stars at middle linebacker for the Wellington Crusaders. The junior leads the team with 93 tackles through six games for an average of 15.5 stops per contest. He’s added four tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, and a blocked punt this season. As a sophomore last fall, Elder recorded 113 tackles with nine for loss. Last week, Elder surpassed 250 tackles for his career. This week Wellington (4-2) will travel to take on Fort Scott (5-1). This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the Crusaders and Tigers. The two teams met in the 4A state championship game for three consecutive seasons from 2000 to 2002. Fort Scott won the title in 2000 with a 20-7 victory over Wellington. Wellington won the state title matchup in 2001 (30-8) and 2002 (21-14). The two schools also met back in 1920 with Fort Scott winning 62-0.
Gavin Reece, QB, Hodgeman County (Nicholl)
Hodgeman County has rolled to a 6-0 start to the season while scoring 60.7 points per game. The No. 5 ranked Longhorns will host Meade (4-2) in a de facto District 5 championship game tonight. Reece (6-0, 160) has picked up where he left off after a stellar freshman season last fall. Reece has completed 73 percent of his passes for 992 yards and 21 touchdowns without throwing an interception. He has added 206 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. As a freshman last fall, Reece passed for 1,494 yards and 19 touchdowns. Reece and the Longhorns are expected to be a factor in the playoffs on an incredibly deep western half of Eight-Man, Division II.
Week 6 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Gavin Larson, WR, Hesston – Larson had nine catches for 66 yards and a touchdown and threw a 44-yard pass in the Swathers’ 49-8 win over Clay Center. (Maycock – 16 pts)
Landen Lewis, QB, Rossville – Lewis passed for 179 yards and a touchdown and added 145 yards rushing with four scores in Rossville’s 49-0 shutout of Wabaunsee. (Gilmore – 61 pts)
Mill Valley Offensive Line – Mill Valley’s OL helped pave the way for 391 yards rushing, including 295 yards from Max Piva. The Jaguars put up 515 yards of total offense with seven touchdowns. (Clisso – 31 pts)
Josiah Pattangall, RB, Oberlin-Decatur Co. – Pattangall rushed 25 times for 196 yards and a touchdown in the first half and finished with 267 yards on 40 carries. He also had a 4-yard catch. The Red Devils lost 40-26 to Hoxie. (Nicholl – 32 pts)
Standings for the 2026 season through Week 6:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 269 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 230 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 163 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 146 points
2026 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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