This past weekend was another in which several outcomes — see: LSU, ULM, Southern and the Cajuns and Saints — left a sour taste in a lot of mouths.
But the Week 7 of high school and NFL action and Week 8 of the NFL season were still loaded with great performances for Louisiana fans to enjoy — not just from prep standouts as always, but at every level.
As always, Louisiana vs. All Y’all identified nine of the best efforts from all three phases and all three levels. Congratulations to the latest Player of the Week winners.
HIGH SCHOOL
Offense — Trevin Simon (2026), Ascension Catholic RB/ATH: Anytime someone breaks a rushing record at Ascension Catholic is a big deal, and the Bulldogs’ versatile senior standout did exactly that with an eye-popping 519 yards and six touchdowns on 34 carries in 57-35 romp past District 8-1A rival St. John.
Defense — Charlie Gilmore (2026), Northlake Christian DB: The senior defensive back intercepted to red zone passes to keep Pope John Paul II off the scoreboard and highlight his Wolverines’ 14-0 shutout victory in a big District 9-2A game.
Special Teams — Dax Pregeant (2026), St. Charles Catholic DB: The senior safety was considered for both the defensive and special teams awards this week after scoring the Comets’ first touchdowns on interception and kickoff returns for an early spark in the 35-31 defeat of high-profile and high-powered Legacy School of Sport Sciences (Spring, Texas).
COLLEGE
Offense — Jake Retzlaff, Tulane QB: The veteran quarterback contributed all three of the Green Wave’s touchdowns in their 24-17 comeback against Army: a 37-yard game-tying run in the third quarter, and tying and go-ahead strikes to Bryce Bohanon and Shazz Preston in the final two minutes. Retzlaff completed 22 of his 29 passes (75.9%) for 261 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and rushed eight times for a team-high 62 yards and a score in the critical AAC win.
Defense — Micah Davey, UTEP LB: The Miners outlasted Conference USA foe Sam Houston State for a 35-17 victory in which they shut out the Bearcats, 14-0, in the fourth quarter. And Davey, the former University Lab star, led all players with 14 tackles, including 13 solo stops and one for loss. From numbers we’ve seen the tackle total may have tied for the nation’s most in Week 8.
Special Teams — Peyton Woodring, Georgia K: Georgia beat previously undefeated Ole Miss, 43-35, in arguably the nation’s highest-profile matchup this Saturday, a battle of top-10 SEC rivals. And the Bulldogs’ standout kicker, the former Ascension Episcopal star, finished 3-for-3 on field goals from distances of 51, 35 and 42 yards and 4-for-4 on extra points for a total of 13 points in the eight-point win.
PROFESSIONAL
Offense — DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles WR: The former Amite star earns LVAY’s NFL Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after leading the league this weekend with a career-high 183 yards and a touchdown on nine catches in a 28-22 road win in Minnesota.
Defense — Cor’Dale Flott, New York Giants DB:The national-championship LSU cornerback earns his second straight LVAY’s NFL Defensive Player of the Week honors, carrying the momentum from a solid performance and great finish in Week 7 into arguably the best game of his four-year career in Week 8. Flott played a career-high 81 snaps, allowing just two completions for 19 yards on 10 targets and finishing with four tackles, including one for loss, and two pass breakups.
Special Teams — Trevor Etienne, Carolina Panthers RB: The rookie’s returned three punts for 35 yards, the longest of which went 15 yards set up the Panthers near midfield for the game’s lone touchdown drive, and opened the third quarter with a 45-yard kickoff return into New York Jets territory to set up a drive for another field goal. Carolina won, 13-6, with the former Jennings star’s two best returns setting up two of his team’s three scoring drives.