NEW ORLEANS (November 12, 2024) – The Allstate Sugar Bowl has announced this week's Manning Award Futures – four local high school quarterbacks who turned in outstanding performances on the football field this past weekend. The recognition is entitled "Futures" as these high school stars are potential future candidates for the Manning Award, which recognizes the top collegiate quarterback in the nation on an annual basis. It was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004 to honor the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning.
 
The Sugar Bowl has had the opportunity to recognize 100 quarterbacks from 49 different high schools since the honor's inception in 2020.
 
Manning Award Futures – High School QBs of the Week, 11/12/24:
 
Eli Friend, Isidore Newman (9-of-16, 236 total yards, 2 TDs)
Friend, who connected on touchdown passes of 29 and 56 yards in the first half, led the Greenies to a 24-21 win over South Plaquemines to capture the District 10-2A championship on Friday at Michael Lupin Field.
 
Ben Hendricks, Mandeville (12-of-17, 255 total yards, 5 TDs)
Hendricks, who passed for four touchdowns and ran for another, led the Skippers to 382 total yards, including a season-best 226 passing yards, as they closed the regular season with a 48-7 nondistrict win over Fontainebleau on Thursday.
 
John Johnson, Edna Karr (18-of-26, 348 yards, 6 total TDs)
Johnson, who passed for three touchdowns and ran for three more, continued his outstanding season as he led the Cougars to the most points ever scored against Rummel in a dominant 69-28 win to clinch the District 9-5A title for the third straight year
 
Ricky Williams, Slidell (18-of-27, 320 total yards, 4 TDs)
Williams, a sophomore, converted on touchdown passes of 1, 17, and 30 yards and then connected on an 87-yard catch-and-run with 2:38 to go to lift the Tigers to a 24-19 victory over Northshore in District 7-5A action at L.V. McGinty Sr. Stadium on Friday.
 
Williams becomes the 100th New Orleans area high school quarterback honored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl as part of its Manning Award Futures program.
 
The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 29 national champions, 107 Hall of Fame players, 52 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 90-year history. The 91st Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will double as a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, is scheduled to be played on January 1, 2025. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.5 billion into the local economy in the last decade. For more information, visit www.AllstateSugarBowl.org.