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 six, and how the players performed that we picked this week.
Maize South defense
After holding Goddard Eisenhower to negative 20 total yards in Week 2, and holding its first three opponents to a combined three points the undefeated Mavericks slipped a bit in allowing Andover Central 21 points in a 33-21 win last week. The 4-0 start is the best in the just four-year-old program's history, and it's a start fueled by defense. Look for the Maverick’s D to get back on the right track this week against Goddard.
Dan Morin, OL, St. Thomas Aquinas
Morin (6-3, 275) is one of the state’s top offensive linemen and a key reason the Saints are off to an unbeaten start and ranked third in Class 5A. Aquinas has put 73 points in the last two weeks and Morin and his teammates up front have helped new quarterback Danten Cosentino settle in under center. Morin has received interest from several division 1 programs and has received an offer from the University of North Dakota.
Kelan Newton, QB, Dodge City
Newton, a 6-5, 185 pound junior is quickly developing into one of the most proficient passers in Kansas. Last week's 21 for 28 passing, 225 yard, four touchdowns, against only one interception performance was one of the top passing nights in Kansas. He'll need to have more of the same in a key league match-up with Great Bend this Friday.
J.T. Richardson, QB, Northeast-Arma
Quarterback J.T. Richardson is part of a group of Vikings trying to change the culture at Northeast High School. The Vikings have gone winless five out of the last nine season, and have only nine total wins during that span. Two of those have come this season as Northeast has started 2-2 thanks to Richardson. The junior has rushed for 645 yards and nine touchdowns through four games, including a 329-yard, five-touchdown performance in a Week 3 win over Eureka. Northeast opens district play this week at home with 1-3 Jayhawk-Linn; a team that is averaging only nine points per game.
Tyson Robke, WR/DB, Lebo
Robke has put together back-to-back impressive performance to begin district play. In Week 3, Robke had nine receptions for 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but he also had four interceptions on defense and returned a kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown. The Wovles needed every bit of his efforts to slip by Centre-Lost Springs, 36-26. He and quarterback Jacob Gould continued their connection in Week 4’s blowout win over Hartford. Robke posted 85 more receiving yards and four more touchdowns in the 54-8 win.
Trey Schmidt, QB, Goessel
In one of the state's weakest districts (the seven teams entered week five with a combined 7-21 overall record) Goessel is rolling up points behind quarterback Trey Schmidt who has accounted for 750 yards passing and 17 touchdowns this season. The Bluebirds will have a chance to improve to 3-0 in district play this week against a Tescott team that has allowed more than 40 points in each of their three losses. The Trojans gave up 82 points against Wilson last week, which means Schmidt should have a chance at another big night.
Last week’s Picks to Click (Week 4):
Isaiah Franklin, RB, Wichita Collegiate -- Isaiah Franklin rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown as Collegiate beat Wellington 42-6.
Kip Keeley RB/LB, & Levi Morss RB/LB, La Crosse – Morss exploded for 356 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 19 carries as La Crosse beat Plainville 42-22. Keeley rushed eight times for 128 yards and a score and also caught four passes for 49 yards.
Stanton Krone, FB/LB, Beloit – Krone rushed for 99 yards and three touchdowns as Beloit overwhelmed Sacred Heart 70-20.
Lyndon Defense – The Lyndon defense recorded its third consecutive shutout with a 53-0 win over Council Grove. The Tigers intercepted two passes and recovered four Brave fumbles in the win. Lyndon has still only surrendered six points all season – coming on a kickoff return by Mission Valley in Week 1.
Ethan Spore, QB/LB, Oswego – Spore and the Indians struggled in a 50-6 road loss at Humboldt.
Dylan Wissman, RB, Otis-Bison -- Wissman carried 13 times for 158 yards and six touchdowns as the Cougars outscored Pratt-Skyline 58-20.
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