NEW ORLEANS (September 16, 2025) – 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 106 quarterbacks from 50 different high schools since the honor's inception in 2020.
 
Manning Award Futures – High School QBs of the Week, 9/16/25:
 
Hudson Fields, Brother Martin (15-of-18, 283 yards, 2 TDs)
Fields connected on a pair of big catch-and-run touchdowns (72 yards and 81 yards) to Easton Royal as the Crusaders posted a 37-27 win over St. Paul's on Friday night at Hunter Stadium.
 
Matthew Fussell, Covington (4-of-12, 274 total yards, 3 TDs)
Fussell accounted for all of the Wolves' touchdowns as he passed for one and ran for two more, including a key 64-yard dash with 5:48 to go, in a 28-26 non-district win over Franklinton on Friday.
 
John Johnson, Edna Karr (16-of-30, 272 total yards, 3 TDs)
Johnson passed for a pair of touchdowns, then scored on a short TD dash in overtime to lift the Cougars to a thrilling 24-17 victory over nationally-ranked American Heritage from Florida on Friday night at the Superdome.
 
Kaiden Thomas, Willow (14-of-22, 261 yards, 4 TDs)
Thomas connected on three first-half touchdown passes, including a 56-yarder, then added a 70-yard TD strike in the fourth quarter to lead the Lions to a 33-20 win over Country Day on Friday at Brees Family Field.
 
The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 29 national champions, 110 Hall of Fame players, 55 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 91-year history. The 92nd Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will double as a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, is scheduled to be played on January 1, 2026. 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.