Gridiron Football POTW (Week 13 Edition): De La Salle High School Senior Running Back PJ Martin

Gridiron Football Louisiana Player of the Week Previous Winners:

Week 1: St. Edmund High School Freshman Running Back Kevon Johnson

Week 2: Ouachita High School Junior Running Back Carldell Sirmons

Week 3: Oak Grove High School Sophomore Quarterback Jackson Bradley

Week 4: North Caddo High School Senior Wide Receiver Omarion Miller

Week 5: Benton High School Senior Quarterback Gray Walters:

Week 6: Avoyelles High School Junior Running Back Decareyn Sampson

Week 7: Dutchtown High School Junior Defensive Tackle Diego Spears

Week 8: Rosepine High School Senior Athlete Aden Cline

Week 9: St. Thomas More High School Junior Quarterback Sam Altmann

Week 10: Dutchtown High School Senior Safety AK Burrell

Week 11 (1st Round): Haughton High School Senior Quarterback Colin Rains

Week 12 (2nd Round): C.E. Byrd High School Senior Quarterback Lake Lambert

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

Although the De La Salle High School Cavaliers’ season is over with a 70-49 loss to LCA in the Division II (Select) Quarterfinals, it is hard to ignore the impact that PJ Martin has had on this football team. In the loss, the Cavaliers’ leading rusher ended his incredible high school career with another PJ Martin like performance carrying the football 29 times for 205 yards and 4 TDs. He also had 6 catches for 93 yards and another TD against one of the most athletic defenses in the state in LCA. It is also hard to ignore what PJ has done as he has been Mr. Consistency on the Gridiron Football Top Players of the Week list making the list six other times this season and he is also in the running for the Gridiron Football Louisiana Player of the Year as well as set school records for single season rushing yards (2,248), rushing TDs (33), all-purpose TDs (35), career rushing yards (3,721), career rushing TDs (56), all-purpose TDs (58), all-purpose yards in season (2,608), all-purpose yards in career (4,132), single season yards per touch (10.7), career yards per touch (9.1), and has four of the top ten single game rushing performances in program history. After being so close to being number one on so many occasions this season, what better way than to honor PJ’s consistency than award him as our number one performer of Week 13.

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.

2. St. Martin’s Episcopal High School sophomore RB Harlem Berry:

St. Martin’s Episcopal High School is having a dream season as the Saints are marching their way into the semifinals for the first time in program history. A huge reason why is because of their star sophomore running back Harlem Berry. Dealing with cramping, Harlem still showed his explosiveness in a 29-25 win over St. Mary’s in the Division IV (Select) Quarterfinals. The electrifying sophomore running back already surpassed 4,000 yards rushing early in his career as he had 28 carries for 306 yards and 4 TDs plus 2 two point conversions including the game winning touchdown in the win. Harlem did whatever was necessary and then some to help his team make history last Friday night.

St. Martin’s Episcopal High School sophomore RB Harlem Berry

3. Brother Martin High School senior RB Torey Lambert:

Brother Martin High School senior running back Torey Lambert has been on a tear in the Division I (Select) playoffs as he has rushed for close to 700 yards in the Crusaders’ three playoff games. He had his most important performance this past Friday night in the team’s 28-14 Division I (Select) Quarterfinal win over Northwood (Shreveport) when he had a school record 47 carries for 301 yards and 2 TDs. The Texas State running back commit’s workmanlike performance carried his team into the semifinals.

Brother Martin High School senior RB Torey Lambert

4. Ascension Catholic High School senior QB Bryce Leonard:

Ascension Catholic High School senior quarterback Bryce Leonard was in control of the football game in a 28-12 Division IV (Select) Quarterfinal win over Opelousas Catholic. The Bulldogs’ all-time leading passer threw for 174 yards, but also ran for 119 on the ground accounting for all 4 of Ascension Catholic’s touchdowns to lead the team into the semifinals.

Ascension Catholic High School senior QB Bryce Leonard

5. St. Thomas More High School senior WR Christian McNees:

St. Thomas More High School senior wide receiver Christian McNees has been on this list before and so has his quarterback Sam Altmann. Just like when current LSU teammates Walker Howard and Jack Bech were connecting for touchdowns at St. Thomas More, so have these Cougars teammates. In the 56-34 Division II (Select) Quarterfinal win over Madison Prep, Christian had 10 catches for 165 yards and 3 TDs to continue his senior season.

St. Thomas More High School senior WR Christian McNees

6. Madison Prep sophomore QB Tylan Johnson:

It is tough shoes to fill when replacing a program legend at quarterback in Zeon Chriss, but Madison Prep sophomore quarterback Tylan Johnson has done a masterful job this season and has shown that the future is exceptionally bright under center for the Chargers for years to come. In the 56-34 Division II (Select) Quarterfinal win to St. Thomas More, Tylan completed 20 of 30 passes for 335 yards and 2 TDs while also running for 101 yards and 2 more scores on the ground.

Madison Prep sophomore QB Tylan Johnson

7. Notre Dame High School senior RB Jake Brouillette:

Notre Dame High School senior running back Jake Brouillette ran crazy against the Episcopal Knights in a dominant 47-0 Division III (Select) Quarterfinal win as the Pios’ leading back had 216 yards rushing and 3 TDs to send his team into the semifinals.

Notre Dame High School senior RB Jake Brouillette

8. Archbishop Shaw High School senior RB David Kency:

Archbishop Shaw High School senior running back David Kency had a great performance to cap off his high school career playing for the Eagles. In the team’s 27-21 Division II (Select) Quarterfinal loss to Teurlings Catholic, the Eagles’ speedy running back ran for 217 yards and 3 TDs including a 95 and a 65 yard touchdown run on only 17 carries.

Archbishop Shaw High School senior RB David Kency

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

E.D. White High School junior running back Jeffrey Diedrich led the Cardinals’ ground game again and earned some tough yards in the team’s 42-20 Division II (Select) Quarterfinal win over John F. Kennedy as he had 29 carries for 140 yards and 4 of the team’s 6 TDs.

E.D. White High School junior RB Jeffrey Diedrich

10. University Lab School junior WR Seth Gale:

University Lab School junior wide receiver Seth Gale had an incredible punt return for a touchdown and also made some big plays as a receiver with three catches for 91 yards and another touchdown in the Cubs’ dominant 49-13 Division III (Select) Quarterfinal win over Newman.

University Lab School junior WR Seth Gale

Bonus Top 10 Impact Performer: Lutcher High School senior QB D’Wanye’ Winfield:

This performance was not on the video, but Lutcher High School senior quarterback D’Wanye’ Winfield was masterful once again leading the Bulldogs past the Lakeshore Titans in a 45-8 Division II (Non-Select) Quarterfinal win as he carried the ball 20 times for 150 yards and 3 TDs while completing 8 of 13 passes for 132 yards and 2 more TDs.

Lutcher High School senior QB D’Wanye’ Winfield

Honorable Mentions: (No Particular Order):

  • University Lab School junior CB Marcus Dawson: 6 tackles, 1 TFL, and 101 yard INT return for TD in 49-13 Division III (Select) Quarterfinal win over Newman
  • Teurlings Catholic High School senior RB Lawson Brickner: 165 yards rushing in 27-21 Division II (Select) Quarterfinal win over Archbishop Shaw
  • Breaux Bridge High School senior RB/LB Antonio Alexander: 14 solo tackles, 3 third down stops, 1 fourth down stop 2 QB pressures on defense and 6 carries for 29 yards and 1 TD on offense in 41-13 Division II (Non-Select) Quarterfinal loss to North DeSoto
  • North DeSoto High School senior RB John Lewis: 22 carries for 222 yards in 41-13 Division II (Non-Select) win over Breaux Bridge
  • Catholic High School (B.R.) senior LB Harold Lawson: 12 tackles in 32-24 Division I (Select) Quarterfinal win over Edna Karr
  • Oak Grove High School sophomore QB Jackson Bradley: 32 carries for 194 yards and 1 TD; also completed 6 of 8 passes for 78 yards in 20-14 Division IV (Non-Select) Quarterfinal win over Kentwood
  • St. Thomas More High School senior RB Charlie Payton: 101 yards and 4 TDs in 56-34 Division II (Select) win over Madison Prep