TriStateFootball.com is proud to present the Mella Window & Carpet Cleaning Player of the Week for the 2025 regular season. Players will be nominated from the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana areas throughout the season.
Each week a group of nominees will be selected from a large list of some of the area’s top performances and will be included in an online voting poll to determine a winner. The poll will launch weekly on Sundays. Voters can vote once per hour, per IP address (we track it on the back end so cheating will result in votes being voided) through Wednesday at 12:00 PM Eastern weekly.
Once a player has won, they are ineligible to be nominated a second time. Players can only be nominated up to a max of three times during the course of the season.
All of the season winners will be recognized and receive a plaque at the TriStateFootball.com Year in Review Show in February of 2026 (more details announced once season concludes).
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Andre Bailey, Hamilton, Sr., RB – carried the ball 28 times for 233 yards and two scores to lead Hamilton over Sycamore.
Colten Barger, Lloyd, So., WR – pulled in four catches for 110 yards and three touchdowns as Lloyd rolled by Newport, 46-6.
Ayden Basham, Blanchester, Sr., RB – ran for six TD’s and threw for another, including the game-winning score in the final minute in a win over Cincinnati Country Day.
Oliver Bennett, Talawanda, Jr., QB – threw five touchdown passes and 118 yards in a 42-6 win over Meadowdale.
Kaden Esept, Elder, Jr., QB – completed 16 of 19 passes for 219 yards and rushed eight times for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns to guide the Panthers past CovCath, 28-20.
Malachi Kennedy, Dayton, So., RB – found the end zone eight times in the Greendevils’ thrilling 62-49 victory over Pendleton County.
Lucas Kunkel, Ross, Sr., FB – rushed for 109 yards and six touchdowns on 15 carries as Ross rolled past Thurgood Marshall, 57-8.
Lem Grayson, Badin, Sr., RB – tallied 158 rushing yards on just 14 carries and scored four times as Badin picked up an impressive 66-21 road win at Dixie Heights.
Nijia Hill, Taft, Sr, LB/WR – had a key interception and 11 receptions for 152 yards and a TD to help the Senators defeat Alter in OT, 33-27.
Nathan Pabst, Beechwood, Jr., WR/DB – posted a team-high 123 yards receiving a TD on four catches and added a 2-yard rushing score vs. Newport Central Catholic.
Owen Scalf, Anderson, Jr., QB – went 20-of-25 through the air for 351 yards and three scores as Anderson breezed by West Clermont, 49-7.
Logan Schmenk, Lebanon, Jr., RB – scored three times and netted 51 yards on 17 carries to help the Warriors get by Loveland, 28-25.
Jackson Smith, Lakota West, Jr., QB – passed for 284 yards and four TD’s on 12-of-14 passing as the Firebirds defeated Mason, 35-13.
Dameko Taylor, St. Bernard-Elmwood Place, Jr., RB/DB – netted 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 18 attempts in a 32-0 win over Finneytown.
*Nominate players weekly by emailing us at staff@tristatefootball.com by 9AM Sunday mornings.
