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 week to see our final standings and top performers for the 2026 season.
Brogan Albers, WR, Hays High (Nicholl)
Hays High has improved to 6-1 and has been consistently on offense this season. The Indians have enjoyed one of the state’s best defenses, but their offense has scored between 20 and 35 points in all but one contest. HHS will have Senior Night against Liberal (3-4), a squad that has allowed 91 points in the last two weeks. Hays High could be a little limited in the backfield, which might yield a big game from leading receiver Brogan Albers. He has 18 catches for 340 yards, both in the top-six in the Western Athletic Conference, per Hays High broadcaster Dustin Armbruster. Albers, along with QB Joey Dintino and RBs Braxton Basgall and Archer Amrein, have helped the Indians average 329 offensive yards a game.
Will Buser, RB, St. James Academy (Clisso)
Will Buser has emerged as the primary running back for the St. James Academy Thunder. Buser (5-10, 185) leads the Thunder in rushing with 609 yards on 145 carries. He’s tied for the team lead with six rushing touchdowns with quarterback John Hornback. Buser is also a threat as a receiver out of the backfield. Buser has a team-high 19 receptions for 256 yards and four touchdowns. In last week’s 28-21 win over Blue Valley Northwest, Buser carried 28 times for 225 yards and two touchdowns. The Thunder may try and get the ground game going again this week as they take on Blue Valley in a battle of 5-2 teams jockeying for a more favorable playoff seed.
David McDiffett, DB, Council Grove (Maycock)
The leading tackler for the Braves a year ago with 113 tackles, McDiffett is on pace to top that mark this season, particularly if the Braves can keep their undefeated season going deep into the playoffs. Through seven games, McDiffett has 81 tackles, averaging 11.6 per game. He's tied for the team lead in solo tackles with 23 and has four games of 13 or more tackles, including a season-high 20 against Osage City. McDiffett had 13 tackles last week against Inman and added a fumble recovery and game-clinching interception. He's ranked No. 8 all-time on the Braves' career tackle chart with 263.
Benito Morrell, QB, KC Washington (Gilmore)
Morrell is in his first season as starting quarterback at Washington. The 5-10, 160-pound junior has directed one of the most explosive offensive units in Class 5A. Morrell has completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,802 yards and 23 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He’s also added 236 yards rushing with three touchdowns. Morrell has the benefit of throwing to big-time playmakers in Cam’ron Fields, Carlos Alexander, Khaliel Burns-Bey, Joel Arthur, and Alvin Riley among others. Washington (5-2) will take on KC Sumner Academy (6-1) this week in a game that will decide the Meadowlark Conference championship.
Week 7 Picks to Click results (scoring):
Landon Cole, QB, Bishop Miege – Cole passed for 176 yards and three touchdowns and added 106 yards rushing with another score as Miege defeated Blue Valley North, 45-14. (Clisso – 51 pts)
Kyzler Damman, QB, Clifton-Clyde – Damman continued his big season in leading Clifton-Clyde to a 40-28 won over Twin Valley League rival Washington County. Damman ran 44 times for 270 yards and a touchdown and also threw for 122 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also added four two-point conversion runs. (Maycock – 63 pts)
Fisher Elder, LB, Wellington – Elder recorded 21 tackles in Wellington’s 34-13 win at Fort Scott. He also added three carries for 15 yards and a touchdown on offense. For the season, Elder now has 114 tackles. (Gilmore – 42 pts)
Gavin Reece, QB, Hodgeman County – Reece completed 19 of 21 passes for 276 yards and seven touchdowns in Hodgeman County’s 67-0 win over Meade. Reece also rushed for 41 yards. (Nicholl – 73 pts)
Standings for the 2026 season through Week 7:
- Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com 311 points
- Conor Nicholl, Kpreps 303 points
- Brent Maycock, KSHSAA Covered 226 points
- Dion Clisso, PrepsKC.com 197 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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