The New Orleans Sports Awards Committee began in 1957 when James Collins spearheaded a group of sports journalists to form a sports awards committee to immortalize local sports history. For 13 years, the Committee honored local athletes each month. In 1970, the Sugar Bowl® stepped in to sponsor and revitalize the Committee, leading to the 1971 creation of the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, honoring 10 legends from the Crescent City in its first induction class. While adding the responsibility of selecting Hall of Famers, the Committee has continued to recognize the top non-professional athlete in the New Orleans area each month – the honors entered their 70th year in 2026. To be eligible, an athlete must be a native of the greater New Orleans area or must compete in the metropolitan region. Each of the monthly award winners are honored in the summer at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Sports Awards Ceremony.
NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 8, 2026) –Jaelle Noble of St. Augustine High School has been named the September Allstate Sugar Bowl Athlete of the Month, presented by LCMC Health. The award has been presented by the New Orleans Sports Awards Committee since 1957 to athletes who are either natives of the greater New Orleans area or compete for a team based in the metropolitan region.Â
 A quarterback at St. Augustine, Noble put together an outstanding month of September, leading the Purple Knights to four victories as the Purple Knights averaged 45.5 points per game. Noble completed 67-of-94 passes (71 percent) for 1,015 yards and 10 touchdowns without throwing an interception while adding five rushing touchdowns. St. Augustine defeated McDonogh 35 (46-0), Destrehan (42-13), East Ascension (52-7) and John Curtis Christian (42-32) in September.Â
 Noble was chosen for the award over seven other outstanding local athletes:Â
Krew Collura (Mandeville Football)Â
Sophomore quarterback Krew Collura led Mandeville to a perfect 4-0 record in September, directing an offense that averaged 49.8 points per game in wins over Salmen (35-17), Bonnabel (78-21), Carver (49-6) and Hammond (37-13). For the month, Collura completed 42 of 69 passes (61%) for 712 yards and 12 touchdowns with just one interception. He also rushed 13 times for 144 yards and three touchdowns.Â
Evan Duffour (St. Charles Catholic Football)Â
Senior Evan Duffour stepped into the starting running back role this season and produced 900 all-purpose yards in four games as the defending Division II Select champion Comets opened 3-1, a stretch that included three overtime games. Duffour rushed for 626 yards on 89 carries (7.0 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns, caught a team-high 24 passes for 199 yards and added 75 yards on kickoff returns. Against the Legacy School of Sport Science from Texas, he rushed for four touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. He followed that with three first-half touchdowns in another overtime victory at Hahnville.Â
Mia Duncan (Mandeville Volleyball)Â
Freshman Mia Duncan recorded 161 kills, 68 digs, 15 blocks and seven aces in September, leading Mandeville to the No. 1 spot in the LHSAA Division I power ratings. The Skippers closed the month with eight consecutive wins and enter October with an 18-1 record. Â
 Jack Grace (Country Day Football)Â
Country Day sophomore quarterback Jack Grace leads the state in passing yards through the first four weeks of the regular season. In the Cajuns' 70–35 win, Grace completed 37 passes for 576 yards and broke the LHSAA single-game passing touchdowns record with nine. Grace was tabbed the WGNO Lakeshore Auto Group 'Shore Thing' Player of the Week on September 18.  In a 64-57 shootout loss to Episcopal, Grace threw for 386 yards and six touchdowns while completing 76.5% of his passes.Â
Victoria McCann (Chapelle Volleyball)Â
Victoria McCann, the reigning MaxPreps Louisiana Player of the Year, has led Chapelle to a 16-3 record and the No. 4 spot in the LHSAA Division I power ratings. McCann is second on the team in kills with 241 to start the year. She is one of the top performers in the state in kill percentage at 43.1 percent and has compiled 1,245 career kills in three seasons at the varsity level. Â
Stella Martin (Sewanee Soccer)Â
Senior midfielder Stella Martin, a Dominican graduate, has been the leader of a Sewanee team that is 4-1-2 this season. Martin leads the Tigers with nine points (two goals, five assists) and 579 minutes played. She recorded three assists in a win over LaGrange on Sept. 12, then scored in a victory over Mount St. Joseph on Sept. 20 and in a 3-3 tie with No. 9 Emory on Sept. 22. Â
 Nate Sheppard (Duke Football)Â
Duke sophomore running back Nate Sheppard, a Mandeville High graduate, leads the nation with 664 rushing yards and has scored six touchdowns. Sheppard opened September with 227 yards and two touchdowns on 6.5 yards per carry against Tulane, and his production has come in competitive games rather than blowouts. He also leads the nation with 21 forced missed tackles and has been named to the Heisman Trophy watch list. Â
Allstate Sugar Bowl Athletes of the Month
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2024
