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 seven, and how the players performed that we picked this week.
Concordia Offensive Line
The Panthers are 4-1 with only a one-point loss to Abilene thanks in part to a big, experienced offensive line. With three linemen over six feet tall and weighing more than 230 pounds, the Panthers rushing attack should thrive against a winless Chapman team. Homecoming night should provide motivation for the Irish, but not enough to slow down one of the state's top rushing attacks from Concordia.
Dalton Dreiling, RB, Victoria
Northern Valley is the feel good story of the season. After suffering through a streak of losing seasons the Huskies and veteran Coach Chuck Fessenden are only four points from being undefeated and picked up a huge win over Palco last Friday. Their reward? A game against a Victoria team that has won three straight following consecutive losses to open the season. Junior running back Dalton Dreiling is a big part of that success and in a key district match-up he'll be expected to have another big game running the ball for the Knights.
Guy Fullmer, RB, Dighton
As a junior last season, the 5-10, 170-pound back rushed for 1,668 yards and 28 touchdowns. This season, Fullmer is averaging nearly 11 yards per, and has already amassed 939 yards and 16 touchdowns. Last week, he ran for 243 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-24 loss to state-ranked Ashland. The Hornets take on unbeaten Moscow this week. The Wildcats have averaged 76 points per game this season, but have given up 31 points per game.
Holton Defense
No doubt Jeremy Immenschuh, Luke Kellum and the rest of the Perry-Lecompton offense is explosive. The Kaws have averaged nearly 40 points per game in rolling to a 5-0 start this season. But the Holton defense has been the immovable object -- allowing less than a touchdown a game since giving up 30 against class 6A Topeka High in a season opening win. The Wildcat defense is anchored by the linebacker duo of Rob Riederer and Trent Tanking, a pair coach Brooks Barta calls one of the best in the state. The Kaws will provide Holton’s stiffest test since week one, but Immenschuh and Co. have yet to see a defense as fierce as Holton's.
Brad Strauss, QB, Lawrence
Strauss (6-0; 170) accounted for 378 yards of total offense last week in a 31-0 shutout of SM East. He senior rushed for 192 yards and two scores on just nine carries, and threw for 186 yards and a touchdown. On the season, Strauss has thrown for 1,158 yards and seven touchdowns, and added 523 yards rushing and six more scores. Friday, the Lions will take on a Shawnee Mission South defense that has surrendered 38 points per game this season.
Nick Walsh, RB/LB, Lyndon
Walsh (6-0, 190) has rushed for 752 yards and 15 touchdowns already this season for the unbeaten Tigers. The senior is also Lyndon’s leading tackler from his linebacker position on defense. He was a Kpreps All-District selection at both positions last fall when he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 18 touchdowns, and registered 85 tackles and five fumble recoveries. The Tigers take on a one-win Humboldt team this Friday.
Last week’s Picks to Click (Week Five):
Dylan Geissert, QB, Herington – Geissert completed 17 of 34 passes for 441 yards and five touchdowns as the Railers remained unbeaten with a 37-16 win over Bennington.
Brock Gilmore, QB, Chanute – Gilmore completed 9 of 11 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown as the Blue Comets beat Iola for the 23rd consecutive time, 67-19. The junior has now thrown for 861 yards and eight touchdowns.
Shilo Goracke, QB, Hope – Goracke rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns, passed for 96 yards, and caught a 37-yard touchdown pass as the Lions routed Wilson, 56-6.
Truitt Kuhlmann, RB, Smith Center – Kuhlmann rushed 28 times for 267 yards and five touchdowns as the Redman outscored Norton, 58-22. Kuhlmann has rushed for 1,087 yards and 18 scores this season.
Meade Offensive Line – The Meade offensive line paved the way for 326 rushing yards in a 34-16 win over Stanton County. Up front the Buffaloes are led by returning starters Dylan Bolton, Manny Castillo, Weston Kroth, Randy Friesen, and blocking back Adrian Pfanenstiel.
Timmy Miller, RB, Riverside – Miller scored on touchdown runs of 9 and 74 yards as the Cyclones beat Immaculata 42-14.
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