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 this week.
Alex Barnes, RB/LB, Pittsburg
Barnes (6-1, 192) has been exceptional in his first two games at running back for the Purple Dragons. The sophomore has carried 18 times for 337 yards and seven touchdowns thus far – averaging 18.7 yards per carry. He continues to anchor the Dragon defense as he did last season when he registered a team-high 97 tackles as a freshman.
Dalton Buelher, RB, Scott City
Buehler is off to a strong start in his senior season having rushed for 405 yards and seven touchdowns. That includes a 224-yard and four touchdown performance in last week’s 47-7 win over Colby. Buehler is one of the elite running backs in Class 3A and looks to improve upon the 932 yards and 16 touchdowns he put up last fall.
Tony Chavez WR/DB & Clayton Wetter LB , Sacred Heart
Chavez (6-3, 170) is back to lead the Knight secondary after picking off six passes in 2011. Chavez is also a factor on the offensive side of the ball as quarterback Nick Wuthnow will look for him as a primary target at wide receiver. Wetter (6-1, 190) registered 57 tackles and recovered five fumbles as a sophomore linebacker last fall, and has opened his junior campaign with two interceptions in each of the Knights first two games.
Alex Deaver, QB/RB, Clifton-Clyde
The 6-0, 170-pound Deaver is seeking his third consecutive 1000-yard rushing season out of the Clifton-Clyde inverted wishbone. As a sophomore, Deaver rushed for 1,833 yards and added 1,296 yards as a junior last fall. After an open date in Week 1, the Eagles opened their season with a hard-fought 34-26 win over Axtell in which Deaver rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another. This week the Eagles take on a Pike Valley team that has surrendered 98 points in the first two weeks.
Dimonic McKinzy QB & Antonia Moore RB, KC Wyandotte
Junior quarterback Dimonic McKinzy and sophomore running back Antonio Moore are a talented young backfield that gives Wyandotte some real firepower on offense. McKinzy (6-0, 200) is a talented dual-threat quarterback that has already received early offers from Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Moore (6-0, 180) a powerful back with explosive speed contributed a touchdown rushing and two receiving against the Bulldogs’ 56-6 win over Harmon last week. Wyandotte takes on winless KC Sumner Academy this week.
Tanner Sipe, QB, Waverly
Sipe (5-9, 150) is in his third season at quarterback after earning Kpreps All-District honors in 2011. Last season, Sipe passed for 942 yards and 14 touchdowns and added 642 yards and 13 scores on the ground in leading Waverly to an 8-2 record and a fourth consecutive playoff appearance. Against Hartford last week, Sipe threw for two touchdowns and ran for three more in the Bulldogs’ 60-14 win. Waverly travels to winless Yates Center in Week 3.
Last week’s Picks to Click (Week 2):
Tyler Burns, RB, Wichita Trinity – Burnes rushed for two touchdowns and added a third receiving as the Knights blasted Belle Plaine, 54-6.
Caleb Carson, QB, Clay Center – Carson rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers 28-7 road win over Thomas More Prep. Carson also intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble, returned three punts for 48 yards, and had four kickoff returns totaling 147 yards.
Garrett Flax, RB, Ness City – Flax rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown, and returned a kickoff 75 yards for a score in the Eagles 58-8 win over Macksville.
Austin Hodison, RB, Royal Valley – Hodison rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers 41-24 loss to Nemaha Valley. Hodison also registered nine tackles on defense.
Sean Newlan, QB, Phillipsburg – Newlan kicked off the scoring with a 70-yard touchdown run as the Panthers took a 17-0 first-quarter lead in shutting out Oberlin, 24-0.
Travis Young, S, Derby – Young had two key punt returns both of which set up Panther touchdowns as Derby shutout Andover Central 48-0.
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