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.
Daniel Deshazer & Dreamius Smith, RBs, Wichita Heights
We’ve featured the Heights’ defense quite a bit this year, but the Falcon offense has been equally impressive thanks to these two. Smith, a KU-commit, has rushed for 1,059 yards and 24 touchdowns while averaging just under 14 yards per carry. Deshazer has been just as good putting up 978 yards and 13 scores while averaging 16.6 yards per attempt. Add in Falcon quarterback Matt Reed (over 650 yards) and the Garden City defense has its hands full on Friday night.
Hanover Defense
If the cliché “defense win championships” is true, the Wildcats have to like their chances. Hanover has surrendered just 63 points in 10 games this season; unheard of in 8-man football. Thirty-one of those points came in a three-point overtime loss to top-ranked Baileyville B&B. The Wildcats have posted five shutouts, and face the challenge of stopping the Braden Lebeda and the Caldwell Blue Jays in the second round of the playoffs on Saturday.
Norton Defense
The Norton defense often takes a back seat to talk of running back Terrell Lane and the rushing juggernaut the undefeated Bluejays are bringing into their second round match-up with Beloit Saturday, but make no mistake, defense is a point of pride for this Bluejay team. While the Bluejays having been piling up offense at a 53 points per game clip, perhaps more impressive is their allowing only 95 points all season and posting three shutouts when much of the second half has been filled with younger players getting time in mop-up duty. Greg Koenig's double-wing offense at Beloit has been one of the most potent scoring attacks in 3A in his five seasons, but the Bluejays appear to be a team on a mission and the leadership of senior Kaid McKenna is a driving force. McKenna has posted an impressive 105 total tackles and six caused fumbles through nine games this season (the Bluejays had an open date in week six), an average of 11.7 tackles per contest. Landon Keiswetter also brings plenty to the table with 96 tackles and four sacks in 2010.
Brandon Rapp, RB, Sacred Heart
After opening the season with a narrow two-point win over Minneapolis the Knights posted four straight losses and let Belleville-Republic County end a 29 game losing streak in the process. But first year Sacred Heart coach Bruce Graber resurrected the program's playoff chances with four straight wins to close the season earning a Distrcit Championship in the process. Graber used a potent ground game to deliver the Knights to the playoffs thanks to the dominance of junior running back Brandon Rapp. Rapp posted 199 yards rushing in the season finale against Herington and that wasn't the only impressive single game performance for Rapp this year. He also posted 262 yards rushing against Chase County and an incredible 301 yards on the ground against Moundridge. Ell-Saline's defense has been exposed by solid rushing games this season especially in recent contests with LaCrosse, Inman and Moundridge, but the return of Tate Omli gives the Cardinals a potent passing attack and the combination should make for a shootout with Rapp primed for another stellar performance.
Kole Schankie, RB, Madison
Throughout the regular season, Schankie had put up good numbers in limited playing time as most of the Bulldogs’ games had ended early. That changed in Tuesday’s first-round playoff game against Clifton-Clyde as the junior back got to show off his skills in rushing for 355 yards and 8 touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 82-32 win. Schankie also scored on a touchdown reception and returned a fumble for a score giving him 10 touchdowns on the night.
Ty Suggs, RB, Manhattan
Manhattan running back Ty Suggs has been a key component of a multi-pronged offensive attack that has delivered the Indians an undefeated season and top-five state ranking. Suggs will have a chance to post another big night against a Derby defense that has been porous behind the return of only two starters this season. Derby is no stranger to playoff football under Derby coach Brandon Clark, but the defense just can't find the personnel to slow down the opposition allowing 70 points in last week's District Title match-up with Wichita Heights and over 42 points in a game four times during the regular season. If Suggs is bottled up the Panthers must contend with threats Jordan Nelson, Trey Campbell and quarterback Ryan Wilkinson.
Last week’s Picks to Click (Week 9):
Zack Demars, RB, and Chase Gumm, QB, Southern Cloud – Demars and Gumm provided much of the offense in Southern Cloud’s 56-40 win over Pike Valley. Gumm completed 12 of 18 passes for 262 yards and 4 touchdowns, while rushing for 90 yards and a touchdown. Demars rushed for 110 yards and 3 touchdowns, while hauling in 10 passes for 192 yards and 3 more scores. For good measure, Gumm added 15 tackles on defense ,while Demars had 9 stops.
Tanner Fisher, RB, Buhler – Fisher for 247 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Crusaders blanked Nickerson 45-0 to win the district title. He turned around and added 127 yards and 3 scores in Buhler’s 55-21 first round playoff win over Hugoton. Fisher now has 1,941 yards and 34 touchdowns this season.
Camron Leupold, RB, Hiawatha – Leupold rushed for 189 yards and 3 touchdowns, but the Red Hawks lost to Atchison 46-28. He finishes the season with 1,601 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns, and wraps up his brilliant career with 5,041 yards and 69 touchdowns.
Gunnar McKenna, RB, Holton – McKenna rushed for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Wildcats rolled past Royal Valley 40-8. McKenna added 77 yards on 20 carries in Holton’s 32-25 first-round playoff win over Rose Hill. The senior now has 1,132 yards and 9 touchdowns on the season.
Cody Parmely, RB, Junction City – Parmely rushed for both Blue Jay touchdowns, but Manhattan rallied for 2 late scores to knock off Junction City 21-14.
Cale Sharp, RB, Salina Central – Sharp rushed for 105 yards on 20 carries, but the Mustangs fell short to Hays 21-14. Sharp has now rushed for 889 yards and 11 touchdowns this season entering Friday’s playoff opener at Hutchinson.
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