Our Gridiron Football Player of Week 13 comes from Ascension Catholic High School in Donaldsonville, Louisiana and that is senior TE/DE Christopher Anthens.
It was a great week for Ascension Catholic as not only did they punch their ticket to the semifinals with a 50-42 win over Catholic Pointe Coupee, but they also had Trevin Simon make the Top 3 of our Gridiron Football Player of the Week list.
Anthens ran away with the voting getting 11,141 total votes after his performance.
“It’s an honor. It’s truly a blessing to win this award. When I found out, I walked in the locker room and my teammates were like, dude, you’re the Gridiron Football Player of the Week and I’m like, really? They’re all excited and to do that for the team, it was just a blessing.”
Ascension Catholic 2026 TE/DE Christopher Anthens
Like his counterpart Simon, who ran for 400 yards and 5 touchdowns in the Quarterfinal playoff win, Anthens played a pivotal part in the Bulldogs win as he had 10 tackles, four assists, four tackles for loss, two sacks, and a big, forced fumble to help Taylor James’ team get a road playoff victory.
“You dream of those plays right there. You always want to be a dude that wins the game that seals the deal. It’s an honor to finally step up for my team and come through.”
Ascension Catholic 2026 TE/DE Christopher Anthens
Whether it is on defense tackling ball carriers or opening up holes as a tight end on offense, Taylor James is the first person to tell you what kind of player that colleges will be getting in Anthens.
“I don’t know how many guys have ever blocked for two almost 3,000 yard rushers in Trevin and Chad Elzy, but Chris Anthens has blocked for them both. Then, you see what he’s doing on defense as well. I think a lot of times in this game and in the college football world now, everybody gets caught up in all the NIL money and having caught up in all these recruiting rankings. A lot of times, coaches forget to recruit players. Not a guy that’s going to come out and look pretty, but a guy that’s going to change your program. I think that’s a lost art right now in recruiting in college football. Sometimes, we forget to recruit the dudes, right? You’re going to get to recruit good high school football players that are just going to come in and change your program. That’s what Chris Anthens is. If somebody takes a chance on this guy, they’re going to get a kid that is not only a great football player, but a great person too that you can build your program around.”
Ascension Catholic HC Taylor James
Playing both ways, Anthens is a tough hard nosed player that is willing to give his all no matter who gives him the opportunity to play at the next level.
“I’d say my effort. I’m going to give 100 percent of everything. Everything that I do when it comes down to the weight room and on the field and everything, my leadership, I’m going to step up when I have to.”
Ascension Catholic 2026 TE/DE Christopher Anthens
Anthens and the Bulldogs have one more challenge ahead of them if Ascension Catholic wants to advance to the Superdome and that is against Westminster Christian Academy (Opelousas). While potentially leading the Bulldogs to the Dome, he also wants to help his teammate Trevin Simon break some records as he is 67 yards and two touchdowns away from the LHSAA single season rushing yards record and touchdowns record.
“It’s exciting. We all really want Trevin to go get this record. We tell him and we work our butts off every day to make sure he gets that record. It’s really awesome for him and proud of that kid.”
Ascension Catholic 2026 TE/DE Christopher Anthens
Meanwhile, Christopher Anthens will get the opportunity to play an extra game after the season as he has been invited to play in the 2025 Gridiron Football All-American Bowl Game, which will take place on Tuesday, December 30th at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville, Louisiana.
Getting the opportunity to not only play in the bowl game, but also get this award, Christopher Anthens is really grateful for everybody that has helped him be in the position that he is in today.
“First, I would like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. None of this would be possible without him. Second, I want to thank my parents for spreading the news, my cousins who voted doubtlessly for days, my friends, and all other family. I truly appreciate all the votes I have gotten.”
Ascension Catholic 2026 TE/DE Christopher Anthens
For winning the Gridiron Football Player of the Week, Anjel Moreaux will receive a letterman jacket patch that will say “Gridiron Football Player of the Week” and will be in consideration for Gridiron Football Player of the Year.
2025 Gridiron Football POTW Winners:
Week 1: St. Amant (LA) 2026 QB Cooper Babin
Week 2: Pine (LA) 2026 LB Cadyn Stogner
Week 3: Buckeye (LA) 2026 LB Ty Curtis
Week 4: Grand Lake (LA) 2026 QB JJ Labove
Week 5: Lake Arthur (LA) 2027 LB Wyatt Monceaux
Week 6: New Iberia (LA) 2026 RB/WR Kendrick Jeanlewis
Week 7: Albany (LA) 2026 RB Jonah Grob
Week 8: Archbishop Hannan (LA) 2026 LB Greyson Dupre
Week 9: Logansport 2026 (LA) QB Keaton Cason
Week 10: Oak Grove (LA) 2026 RB Owen Layton
Week 11: Woodville (TX) 2026 WR Gage Tolar
Week 12: Denham Springs (LA) 2026 S Anjel Moreaux
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