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 five, and how the players performed that we picked this week.
Skylar Curtis (QB) and Brandon Dozier (RB), Washburn Rural
Curtis and Dozier have fueled a developing Washburn Rural program under head coach Derrick Hammes. Dozier has rushed for more than 800 yards in each of the last two seasons while Curtis passed for 1,200 yards and rushed for nearly 500 more in 2010 to earn all-state honors. If the Blues are going to take the next step this season it starts with getting over the hump against Centennial League power Hayden and to do that Curtis and Dozier need to have big games.
Osvaldo Granillo, (RB/WR) and Jonatan Manriquez (RB), Moscow
Granillo and Manriquez have run wild in Moscow’s first three games as first-year coach Travis Johnson’s Wildcats are putting up huge numbers. Granillo has rushed for 419 yards and nine scores and has added 300 receiving yards and five more scores. Manriquez has rushed for 510 yards and nine touchdowns and is averaging nearly 14 yards per carry. Moscow has scored 90, 88, and 60 points in the first three games, and faces a 2-1A school on Friday in Satanta which gave up 76 points to Ingalls last week.
CJ Hamilton, Coach, Silver Lake
For 36 seasons Silver Lake coach CJ Hamilton has produced winners on and off the field, and his 36th edition may be his best coaching job yet. With only three players with starting experience back a slide would be forgiven but so far this season the Eagles have outscored opponents 115-22. A motivated Eagle team will be ready to avenge last year's loss to Louisburg and make Hamilton the all-time winningest coach in Kansas prep football history.
Matt Reed, QB, Wichita Heights
Reed is the cog that makes the Heights offensive machine run. In leading Heights to the 6A state crown last fall, Reed rushed for nearly 1,100 yards. This season, the senior signal-caller has rushed for 403 yards and six touchdowns already this season as the Falcons have averaged 58 points per game. Heights will step out of the Wichita City League this week to take on Great Bend.
The Thunder Ridge Offensive Line
The Longhorns have exploded on the scene this season and senior running back Joel Struckhoff continues to pile up yards in his fourth year as a starter. Thunder Ridge appears poised for a special season but for Struckhoff and Co. to continue on their collision course with a state title the guys up front will have to do the heavy lifting against Otis-Bison.
Skyler Windmiller, QB, Mill Valley
Last season as a sophomore, Windmiller was thrust into action after an injury to the starter and responded by throwing for 1,993 yards and 21 touchdowns. Thus far this season, the Jaguar offense has not seen any ill effects of losing a 2,000-yard running back in Kyle Brunson to graduation. Windmiller has already thrown for 854 yards and 11 touchdowns as Mill Valley is off to a 3-0 start. The Jaguars face winless Bishop Ward this week, and the Cyclones are surrendering an average of 42 points per game.
Last week’s Picks to Click (Week Three):
Isaiah Ming, RB, KC Harmon – Ming rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown, but the Hawks fell 16-14 to Topeka Highland Park.
Trent Stucky, QB, Sedgwick – Stucky completed 17 of 26 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns in the Cardinals 49-13 win over Moundridge. The senior quarterback also had a big game on the ground rushing for 187 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Bo Savage (QB) & Ky Biddle (RB/WR), Central Burden – Savage completed 17 of 25 passes for 292 yards and six touchdowns as the Raiders put 76 points in a win over Wilson. Ky Biddle had three receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown.
Tayler Stull, QB, LaCrosse – Stull rushed for 103 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries as LaCrosse routed Oberlin. Stull also completed 6 of 12 passes for 72 yards, but was intercepted twice.
Malik Veal, RB, Salina Central – Veal rushed for 131 yards and five touchdowns on 23 carries as the Mustangs ran past Haysville Campus, 49-20.
Traevohn Wrench, RB, Gardner-Edgerton – Wrench was completely shut down by the Bishop Miege defense in a 34-0 Gardner-Edgerton loss. Wrench finished with just 46 yards on 21 carries on the night.
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