In our Picks to Click, we feature six players 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.
Ross Binford, QB/RB, Kiowa County
Binford, who plays both quarterback and tailback for the Mavericks, has already amassed 1,034 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns through four games. He has also thrown for 421 yards and four touchdowns this season. Binford rushed for 650 yards and 13 scores, and passed for 650 yards and nine scores last season as quarterback for Haviland before the Dragons combined with Greensburg to form Kiowa County this season. For his career, the junior has rushed for 1,952 yards and 41 touchdowns, while throwing for 1,553 yards and 16 scores.
Kellan Hernandez, QB, Meade
In Meade's single wing the quarterback is seldom used as a passer, but Buffalo QB Kellan Hernandez has made the most of his opportunities so far completing 11 of 13 passes for 170 yards in wins over Lakin and Southwestern Heights, but he also fits in the mold of so many dual-threat quarterbacks in the state rushing for 324 yards and seven touchdowns in the Buffaloes three wins over Kansas opponents. Meade has a potential test this week in 4-0 Stanton County and Hernandez will be a key component of the Buffaloes game plan if Meade is to continue their role as a 2A contender.
Lane Martin, QB, Oswego
Martin leads an Oswego offense that has averaged 46 points per game. The senior quarterback has rushed for 502 yards and six scores this season, while passing for 339 and four touchdowns. Last week, Martin rushed three times for 105 yards and two touchdowns, and completed three of five passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
LaQua Mayes, RB, Rose Hill
Mayes is averaging over seven yards per carry this season in accumulating 426 yards and eight touchdowns in the Rockets first four games. Mayes success doesn’t come as a surprise as he rushed for 2,038 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior last season, and has a talented offensive line that includes TCU-commit Brady Foltz (6-4, 295), Brandon Walther (6-2; 265), and Zach Cleveland (6-3; 240). Look for LaQua to have another big game this week as Rose Hill takes on a Winfield team that gave up 48 points to Tanner Fisher and Buhler last week.
Luke Ropp, RB, Inman
Ropp began the year on fire rushing for an even 400 yards in Inman’s first two games. He’s cooled off a bit over the last two weeks, but has still rushed for 567 yards and five scores on the season. Ropp’s efforts have come against good competition, as Inman’s three losses have come against Marion (4-0), Hutchinson Trinity (4-0), and Whitewater Remington (4-0).
Tayler Stull, QB, LaCrosse
LaCrosse junior quarterback Tayler Stull picked up 1,334 yards of total offense as the Leopards starter in 2009 and he has the Leopards rolling this season tallying over 800 total yards in LaCrosses four wins so far. Stull has the offense poised for another scoring fest Friday against Sacred Heart. Stull has shown efficiency in the passing game completing nearly 65 percent of his passes for 358 yards with six touchdowns against only one interception, but he's also done it with his legs tallying 477 yards rushing on 46 carries (10.37 ypc avg.) with seven more scores. Last week, when his team needed him most with the absence of standout senior Marcus Moeder, Stull rushed for 201 yards on 23 carries with three touchdowns in the Leopards 55-28 win over TMP. Expect more of the same from this explosive player.
Last week’s Picks to Click (Week Four):
Morgan Burns, RB, Wichita Trinity – Burns rushed for 220 yards and 2 TDs on 14 carries as Trinity drilled Independent, 55-7. On the season Burns has rushed for 832 yards and 10 TDs. He is averaging 208 yards per game and nearly 16 yards per carry.
Kyle Brunson (RB) and Skyler Windmiller (QB), Mill Valley – Brunson rushed for 185 yards and 5 TDs in Mill Valley’s 62-7 win over Bishop Ward. Brunson has rushed for 661 yards and 11 TDs on the season. Windmiller completed 9 of 12 passes for 204 yards and 2 TDs against Ward bringing his three-game total to 756 yards and 8 TDs.
Isaac Miller, RB, Washington County – Miller rushed for 99 yards on 16 carries despite drawing most of Onaga’s defensive attention. With the Buffs keying on Miller, Ryan Fiser broke loose for 217 yards and two scores.
Trevor Smith, RB, Phillipsburg – Smith rushed for 85 yards as the Panther offense used a big second half to run past Ellis, 24-7.
Christian Smith (RB/LB) and Zach Smith (RB/LB), St. Mary’s Colgan – Zach rushed for 55 yards and 3 TDs and Christian added 101 yards and a score on just ten carries in Colgan’s 45-0 shutout of Galena. The twins also led a Panther defense that held Galena to just 77 total yards including -4 yards rushing in the first half.
Wichita Heights Defense – The Falcon defense surrendered its first points of the season in a 45-14 win at Great Bend.
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