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 week to see our picks for the first round of the playoffs, and how the players performed that we picked this week.
Dodge City's Defense
After allowing 56 points and 531 yards of total offense in a Week 6 loss to Hays, this may seem a questionable pick. But with a road trip at rival Garden City and a district championship on the line, the Red Demon defense will play its best game of the year.
The Demons have improved in wins over Goddard and Maize, and while the Buffs are riding a four game winning streak, Dodge City will find the motivation to do just enough to hold on to The Hatchet.
Seth Filbert, QB, Macksville
Macksville has quietly rolled to an 8-0 record, in part due to the Mustang defense allowing 20 or more points in five of those contests including 32 and 40 to Victoria and St. John, respectively. But even as question marks surround the Mustang defense, the play of quarterback Seth Filbert is a constant that has maintenance crews worried about scoreboard light bulbs.
Filbert has been one of the most effective passing quarterbacks in 8-Man this year completing 115 of 173 passes for 1,807 yards and 23 touchdowns with only four interceptions. When flushed out of the pocket he’s also hurt opposing defenses adding 344 yards and eight more touchdowns.
While Pratt-Skyline has put together a solid 6-2 season thus far, they've yet to see a throwing quarterback as potent as Filbert.
Jordan Hart, WR, McPherson
Hart has had a big season catching the ball from Tyler Matthews. The 6-1, 170-pound senior has 56 catches for 1,049 yards and ten touchdowns. He is averaging nearly 19 yards per reception, and 131 receiving yards per contest. Hart is also averaging nearly 20 yards per punt return, and 18 yards per kickoff return. The Bullpups look to solidify a playoff spot with a win over Newton this week.
Tyler Pike, WR, Chetopa
Pike has put up unbelievable receiving numbers for the second consecutive season. The senior has 68 catches for 1,307 yards and 15 touchdowns, including an incredible 20 catches in a win over St. Paul in Week 7. As a junior last season, Pike caught 48 passes for 1,040 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’ll need to make big plays against Marmaton Valley this week in order for the Green Hornets to secure a playoff spot.
Plainville's Defense
In winning their first eight games, the Cardinals full-house backfield has powered its way to over 3,000 rushing yards, averaged more than nine yards per carry, and featured three backs with more than 650 yards on the ground. But the key to a long playoff run will begin with a big, physical defense that has been especially fierce against 2A competition.
The Cardinals have allowed an average of only 11 points per game this season but in five wins against 2-1A foes it drops to 6.2 points per game with four of those teams limited to one score or less.
No doubt the LaCrosse Leopards will present the toughest 2-1A offense the Cards have seen all year. But the Cardinals will count on the D-line tandem of Jameson Klein and Bradey Chard, along with linebackers Andrew Casey and Nathan Thyfault, to lead the Cardinal defense in the tough test of slowing down the Leopards.
Jed Swicegood, RB/LB, Wabaunsee
Swicegood has been a stalwart on the Charger defense tallying 141 total tackles this season – an average of 17.6 tackles per game. The 6-0, 180-pound senior has also rushed for nearly 550 yards and five touchdowns, including his team’s only touchdown in a key 10-6 district victory over Onaga last week. If St. Marys defeats Onaga this week, then Swicegood and the Chargers are playoff bound. But if Onaga beats the Bears, the resulting three-way tie atop the district standings would leave the Chargers as the odd team out due to the district points totals. Wabaunsee plays a non-district game against Christ Prep Academy this week.
Last week’s Picks to Click (Week Eight):
J’veyon Browning, RB, KC Schlagle – Browning’s 50-yard touchdown run cut the Lansing lead to 7-6, but the Stallions would get no closer eventually falling 33-12 to the Lions.
Austin Case, RB, Marais des Cygnes Valley – Case missed the Trojan’s 46-30 win over Burlingame because of an MCL injury he suffered in the White City game the week prior. Case’s status for this week’s game at Lebo is uncertain.
Ja'Mon Cotton, FB, Hutchinson – Cotton rushed 15 times for 194 yards and four touchdowns as Hutchinson rolled to a 70-17 district win over Liberal.
Kip Keeley, RB/LB, LaCrosse – Keeley rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries as the Leopards hammered Ellinwood 55-14. Keeley also returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown.
Chris Pyle, RB, Eudora –Pyle exploded for 416 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 42 carries as Eudora defeated Ottawa 37-14.
Austin Stebens QB & Chance Stebens TB, Ashland – Austin Stebens completed 9 of 11 passes for 87 yards and a pair of touchdown passes as Ashland throttled Ingalls, 78-12. Chance Stebens added 57 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just seven carries as the Blue Jays made short work of the Bulldogs.
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