Gridiron Football POTW (Week 10 Edition): Dutchtown High School Senior Safety AK Burrell

Gridiron Football Louisiana Player of the Week Previous Winners:

1. Dutchtown High School senior FS AK Burrell:

For the second time this season, a Dutchtown High School defensive player takes our number one spot in the Gridiron Football Top Performances List. This week, the top spot goes to senior safety AK Burrell. Burrell, who is one of the most underrated athletes in the Baton Rouge area, made plays wherever he lined up on the field at in the Griffins’ 30-27 win over rival East Ascension. Defensively, he had his usual stat line leading one of the best defenses in the state with 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU, and 1 INT, but it is also what he did on offense that makes his performance so special. He continued to stuff the stat sheet with 3 carries for 32 yards and a rushing TD while also completing 2 passes for 63 yards and 2 more TDs. Overall, he had 2 TD passes, 1 rushing TD, and 1 interception. Not a bad way to end the regular season for the Furman commit.

Once again, we appreciate every coach for sending in your player nomination. All of the players that were sent by coaches were talked about in the article or on the show. To check out this week’s Gridiron Football Player of the Week show, click below as Jace and intern Tyler Barros breakdown the standout performances in Louisiana from this week below. Make sure to subscribe and hit the bell in order to keep up with all of our Player of the Week videos!

2. De La Salle High School senior RB PJ Martin:

Throughout the season, there may not be a more consistent performer on Gridiron Football’s Top Performances list than De La Salle High School senior running back PJ Martin, who makes his fifth appearance on the list. This week, he comes just a spot short of taking our top spot. PJ makes number two not just because he had another good day at the office with 20 carries for 182 yards and 4 TDs in the Cavaliers’ 33-7 win over Booker T. Washington, but because of what he also accomplished in the game. He broke two school records in the process during the regular season finale with the most rushing yards in a season (1,878) and the most rushing touchdowns in a season (25) while being the bell cow for an undefeated regular season.

3. Loreauville High School senior RB Evan Simon:

Loreauville High School senior running back Evan Simon has been as consistent of a player the program has had and it continued to show in the Tigers’ 49-16 win over Delcambre. On 11 carries, Simon had an eye opening 202 yards and 5 TDs averaging 18 yards per carry. Every time he touched the football, great things happened for the Tigers as he outscored Delcambre by himself.

4. Erath High School junior WR Christian Pillette:

Erath High School junior wide receiver Christian Pillette made a major difference for the Bobcats in the team’s 38-34 win over Donaldsonville on both sides of the football. On offense, Pillette had 5 catches for 121 yards and 2 TDs, but the biggest play he made came on defense when he had a 48 yard interception for a touchdown with 1:10 left in a tied ball game. He also added 8 tackles and a PBU defensively.

5. Jesuit High School senior RB Jaron Duplessis:

Jesuit High School senior running back Jaron Duplessis had a career night in the Catholic League in Week 10 as he had 25 carries for a whopping 299 yards and 2 TDs in the Blue Jays’ 24-14 win over Archbishop Rummel.

6. Salmen High School senior RB Issac Casnave:

Salmen High School senior running back Issac Casnave found his way into the end zone plenty of times in the Spartans’ 61-21 win over Loranger as he had 13 carries for 131 yards and 5 TDs with 4 TDs coming in the conventional way through the ground and a fifth coming from Casnave as a passer on a 55 yard touchdown pass. Whether it is running, tackling, or even throwing now, Issac can do it all for the Spartans.

7. Northwood (Shreveport) High School senior RB Quintavion White:

Northwood (Shreveport) High School senior running back Quintavion White picked a good time to have a great game as it came in the District 1-4A Championship between Northwood and North DeSoto. Quintavion’s performance helped the Falcons clinch the district championship while also ending the Griffins’ previously undefeated season as he ran for all 3 of the team’s touchdowns on 196 yards and 27 carries in the 20-19 victory.

8. Avoyelles High School senior RB Josh Williams:

Of course, this would not be a complete list without having a Avoyelles running back on here and we do. For this week, head coach Andy Boone rode the hot hand of Josh Williams, who put up some gaudy numbers in an unbelievable 88-6 win over Pickering. Just about every time Williams touched the football, he was a threat to score. He had 5 carries for 175 yards and 3 TDs including 2 2 point conversions accounting for a quarter of the team’s 88 points.

9. Northlake Christian High School junior LB Ben Harrison:

We have another defensive selection in our top ten performances list from Week 10, and that comes from Northlake Christian High School junior linebacker Ben Harrison. In the Wolverines’ 54-6 win over Independence, Ben was all over the field making plays posting 10 tackles, 1 INT, and a 85 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.

10. Archbishop Shaw High School senior RB David Kency:

Archbishop Shaw High School senior running back David Kency was electric in the Eagles’ 55-6 win over Helen Cox and made the most of his short night after only playing in the first half with 6 carries for 173 yards and 3 TDs. Half of his carries went for house calls as the three touchdown runs came from 75, 40, and 10 yards.

11. DeRidder High School senior RB Ronnie “Hollywood” Crosby:

Of course, the DeRidder Dragons were going to lean on their star workhorse running back Ronnie “Hollywood” Crosby for senior night as he had 9 carries for 181 yards and 3 TDs in a 56-16 win over Washington Marion. It was a short, but effective night for the star Dragons running back as DeRidder gets ready for their first round playoff matchup.

***DeRidder High School senior RB Ronnie Crosby***

12. Metairie Park Country Day High School senior RB Jack Schwing:

Metairie Park Country Day High School senior running back Jack Schwing actually headed into this season as a wide receiver, but he has made the switch from receiver to running back and that switch has definitely worked out well for the Cajuns. In his most recent game, Schwing had 24 carries for 263 yards and 2 TDs in the team’s 42-19 win over MLK Charter.

13. Sterlington High School junior RB Trammell Colvin:

Sterlington High School junior running back Trammell Colvin was one of the top rushers for the Panthers last season en route to an undefeated Class 3A State Championship run last season and has an extended role for the Panthers in his junior season. In the team’s 41-28 win over Wossman, Colvin had 32 carries for 206 yards and 2 TDs.

14. E.D. White High School junior RB Jeffrey Diedrich:

E.D. White High School junior running back Jeffrey Diedrich had a great effort running the football for the Cardinals with 26 carries for 274 yards and 2 TDs in a 49-26 win against a good St. James Wildcats football team.

15. St. Frederick High School senior QB Micah Bell:

St. Frederick High School senior quarterback Micah Bell accounted for all of the Warriors touchdowns in the 35-20 win over Cedar Creek. The former West Monroe quarterback completed eight of 13 passes for 81 yards and 2 TDs while also running for 112 yards and 3 TDs on 17 carries.

Honorable Mentions (No Particular Order):

Archbishop Shaw High School senior QB Jayce LaCava: Completed 4 of 5 passes for 148 yards and 2 TDs (80, 43) and had 4 carries for 40 yards in 55-6 win over Helen Cox
Archbishop Shaw High School senior WR Michael Williams: Played only in 1st half with 3 catches for 105 yards and 1 TD (80) in 55-6 win over Helen Cox
Cecilia High School senior WR Reginald Boutte III: 12 tackles (9 solo/3 assists) in 17-7 loss to Iowa
Iota High School senior RB Clay Doucet: 132 yards and 3 TDs plus a reception for 19 yards; helped beat Church Point 44-28 for 4-3A District Championship and broke their 29 regular season win streak
St. Mary’s High School senior QB Adam Parker: Completed 7 of 9 passes for 97 yards and 3 TDs plus 45 yards rushing and 1 TD: 55-12 W over Northwood
Lafayette High School senior RB JaKaylib Anderson: 18 carries for 198 yards and 3 TDs in 35-31 loss to New Iberia
Rosepine High School senior RB Grant Ducote: 16 carries for 129 yards and 1 TD; Also had 2 point conversion on defense; Had 4 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 TFL in 42-7 win over Oakdale
Rosepine High School senior RB Bryson Meeks: 8 carries for 108 yards and 2 TDs on offense; Had 2 tackles and a fumble recovery in 42-7 win over Oakdale