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 three, and how the players performed that we picked this week.
Beloit’s Defense
The unorthodox 10-1 defense employed by Beloit coach Greg Koenig held up for all but the last 1:30 of last week's 18-6 loss to Concordia. That's when Panther senior Tyler Snavley rumbled 76 yards for a touchdown to put the game out of reach. The defense allowed only one other offensive score in the game after a fumble deep in their own territory. The other score came on a long Panther punt return in the first half. This week the Trojans face an improved Ellsworth squad that welcomes the return of starting quarterback Jacob Froese, an all-league performer a year ago. The huge Trojan defensive front will make it difficult for Froese and the Bearcats to open the season 2-0.
Kyle Hammond, RB, Colony-Crest
Hammond is the do-it-all player for Brent Smith’s Lancer squad. Last season as a sophomore, Hammond (6-1, 180) rushed for 1,670 yards and 25 touchdowns. Last week in a 72-42 loss to Southern Coffey County, Hammond did his part with 147 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. He also had 75 receiving yards and a fourth score, while contributing 21 tackles on defense. He may be limited in carries against Altoona-Midway this week, but should put up big numbers.
Zach Oberle, QB & Cole Brady, RB, Chase
Oberle and Brady put on a show in last week’s 103-68 win over Wilson. Oberle rushed for 199 yards, five touchdowns, threw a touchdown pass, and returned a kickoff 78-yards for another score. The senior quarterback also converted four 2-point conversions on the ground and threw for another. Brady rushed for 290 yards and six touchdowns. He scored a pair of two-point conversions on the ground and caught another. Can the two come anywhere close to duplicating this type of performance in Week 2? The Kats are on the road at Tescott which gave up 70 points in a loss to Lincoln last Friday night.
Riverton's Defense
Derrick Rider’s Rams shutout rival Baxter Springs 48-0 last week and limited the Lions to just 65 yards of total offense. Riverton returns 15 starters from last season’s 7-3 playoff qualifier, including seven on the defensive side of the ball. Linebackers Greyson Spriggs and KeeShawn Walker will have the difficult assignment of tracking down Erie running back Keith Marquardt who rushed for 140 yards and four scores in the Red Devils 28-26 come-from-behind win over Eureka last week.
Damon Schurr, RB, Osborne
After opening the game with touchdown runs of 43 and 48 yards last week Schurr was bottled up by the Lakeside defense en route to the 32-26 loss to open Steve Tiernan's career as the head coach of the Bulldogs. Tiernan will certainly have the Bulldogs motivated this week against a very good Rock Hills team and the super fast Schurr will be expected to have a great game to get the bad taste of a season opening loss out of the Bulldogs' mouths.
Dayton Walter, QB/LB, Lincoln
In just his first start at linebacker after spending last year only on offense Lincoln's Dayton Walter showed he can play defense too, intercepting three passes and returning them for touchdowns, all in the second quarter to blow the lid off what was a close game after one quarter. Walter added three touchdown passes and a 76 yard touchdown run to lead the Leopards to the 70-24 win. This week Walter and the Leopards face rival Sylvan-Lucas, a team they have not beat in their first three seasons of 8-Man. If the Leopards are to get over the hump that is the Mustangs it will require a big-game from Walter.
Last week’s Picks to Click (Week One):
Conway Springs defense – The Cardinal defense allowed just 101 yards of total offense in pitching a 65-0 shutout of Belle Plaine.
Alex Deaver, QB/RB, Clifton-Clyde – Deaver carried 30 times for 185 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles knocked off Linn 40-24.
Tanner Fisher, RB, Buhler – Fisher rushed 20 times for 148 yards and 2 TDs as the Crusaders got a tough road win at Rose Hill.
Christian Linenberger, QB, Salina South – Linenberger rushed for 132 yards and 4 TDs as the Cougars beat Haysville Campus, 60-28. The Cougar QB also completed 10 of 13 passes for 82 yards.
Marcus Phox, QB, Wichita Collegiate – Phox rushed for 116 yards and threw for 138 more, but Collegiate lost at Clearwater, 23-7.
Brandon Rapp, RB, Sacred Heart – Rapp had 18 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown as the Knights beat Minneapolis, 33-10.
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
