TriStateFootball.com is proud to once again recognize the Tri-State’s top high school football performances with the Mella Window & Carpet Cleaning Player of the Week throughout the 2026 season.
Each week, players from Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana are nominated based on standout performances from the previous weekend. The TSF staff selects the finalists, and then it’s up to the fans to determine the winner.
Voting is open now through Wednesday at 12 p.m. ET. Fans may vote once per hour, per IP address. Voting activity is monitored, and any votes determined to be fraudulent or an attempt to manipulate the results may be removed.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK RULES
- Players may win the Mella Window & Carpet Cleaning Player of the Week award only once during the season.
- A player may be nominated a maximum of three times during the season.
- Weekly nominees are selected by the TriStateFootball.com staff based on performances from across the Tri-State.
- Fans may vote once per hour, per IP address.
- Voting closes each Wednesday at 12 p.m. ET.
All weekly winners will be recognized at the TriStateFootball.com Year in Review Show following the season and will receive a commemorative Player of the Week plaque.
Cast your vote below and help us recognize this week’s Mella Window & Carpet Cleaning Player of the Week!
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Colton Abner, West Clermont, Sr., QB: Threw for 172 yards and four touchdowns and added 52 rushing yards in the Wolves’ 43-41 win over Milford. His final pass was a 13-yard touchdown to Ethan Davidson at 0:00 that set up the winning two-point conversion.
Brayden Ackerman, Elder, Jr., DB: Recorded two interceptions and 64 return yards as the Panthers’ defense held Louisville St. Xavier to only 81 total yards.
Cordell Ball, Oak Hills, Jr., WR: Had 10 receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown and added 127 return yards, including a 50-yard punt return, for 214 all-purpose yards in the Highlanders’ 28-21 win over Mason.
Morgan Brown, Deer Park, Jr., RB/DB: Produced 172 yards and three touchdowns on just five recorded touches. Rushed four times for 100 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kickoff 72 yards for another score in a 54-0 win over Finneytown.
Lucas Cannady, St. Bernard-Elmwood Place, Sr., QB: Threw for a school-record 365 yards, ran for 131 yards and accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) as the Titans shut out Norwood, 35-0.
Gage Croley, Goshen, Sr., RB: Carried the ball 14 times for 225 yards and three touchdowns as the Warriors remained unbeaten with a 47-14 win over Blanchester.
Raizjon “Juju” Dailey, Gamble Montessori, So., DB: Filled up the defensive stat sheet with eight tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack and two pass breakups as Gamble Montessori improved to 5-0.
Garrett Fraley, La Salle, Jr., QB: Accounted for 314 yards of offense in a 27-14 win over previously unbeaten Badin. Threw for 172 yards and a touchdown and rushed 22 times for 142 yards.
Jordan Hall, Princeton, Sr., RB: Rushed 13 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns and added 27 receiving yards. His 3-yard touchdown with 3:20 remaining proved to be the game-winner against Lakota West.
Antwoine Higgins, Anderson, Sr., EDGE: Was in on 15 tackles, including eight solo stops, with a sack and 4.5 tackles for loss in the Raptors’ win over Kings.
Damarco Jackson, Newport, Jr., RB/DB: Rushed for 163 yards and four touchdowns and returned an interception for another score, accounting for five touchdowns in Newport’s 46-8 win over Paris.
Carter Jones, Lakota East, Sr., RB: Found the end zone three times (two rushing, one receiving), ran for 91 yards and added two receptions for 21 yards as the Thunderhawks beat Hamilton, 31-13.
Andrew Lynn, Walton-Verona, Jr., RB: Rushed 18 times for 103 yards and a touchdown as Walton-Verona shut out Harrison County, 29-0.
Hunter McLaughlin, Moeller, So., QB: Completed 24-of-34 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions as the Crusaders beat St. Xavier, 30-15, in the Blitz 5 Game of the Week.
Nathan Pabst, Beechwood, Sr., RB: Rushed 27 times for 161 yards and four touchdowns and caught four passes for 40 yards and another score. His fifth touchdown, a 3-yard run with 21 seconds remaining, lifted the Tigers to a 42-35 win over Covington Catholic.
Will Schmittauer, Turpin, Jr., QB: Accounted for five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing), throwing for 214 yards and running for another 57 as the Spartans beat Loveland, 42-21.
Zayne Walker, Batavia, Sr., RB/LB: Ran for 151 yards and three touchdowns and added eight tackles as the Bulldogs picked up a road victory over Hillsboro.
Tyler Watkins, Clermont Northeastern, Sr., RB/LB: Rushed 13 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns and contributed seven solo tackles and two sacks in CNE’s 50-19 victory over Cincinnati Country Day.
Grant Webb, Simon Kenton, Jr., QB: Completed 13-of-21 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns as the Pioneers rolled past Conner, 47-0, on Homecoming night.
Mason Wheeler, Fairfield, Sr., RB: Rushed 14 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns in Fairfield’s 42-19 win over Sycamore.
*Nominate players weekly by emailing us at staff@tristatefootball.com by 7AM Sunday mornings.
