Week after week the name Maliq Allen continues to come up on Friday nights. Last week, however, might have been his best performance all season for St. John Bosco.
Following a poll of the USA TODAY Sports audience, Allen, a 3-star running back, was voted the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 Playmaker of the Week following the No. 11 Braves’ dominant 40-14 win over JSerra Catholic — where Allen ran for 239 yards and three touchdowns will also catching a touchdown through the air.
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Three of those touchdowns came in the first half.
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Somers and Rye battle in football action at Somers High School Oct. 2, 2026. Somers won the game 31-13.
(Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal Ne, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Somers and Rye battle in football action at Somers High School Oct. 2, 2026. Somers won the game 31-13.
(Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal Ne, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Lawrence North Ethan Abdulraheem (10) makes a dive for the catch but cannot hold on as Warren Central battled Lawrence North in IHSAA Class 6A varsity football, Oct 2, 2026; Indianapolis, IN; at Warren Central High School.
(Gary Brockman-For Indy Star, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Lawrence North Darian Prather (12) attempts to pass as Warren Central battled Lawrence North in IHSAA Class 6A varsity football, Oct 2, 2026; Indianapolis, IN; at Warren Central High School.
(Gary Brockman-For Indy Star, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Rye’s Johnny Shoemaker (5) passes against Somers during football action at Somers High School Oct. 2, 2026. Somers won the game 31-13.
(Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal Ne, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Ashland High School’s Killian O’Brien (2) out runs Mansfield Senior High School’s Keyondre Spears (24) on his second quarter touchdown reception during high school football action Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 at Ashland’s Community Stadium. TOM E. PUSKAR/MANSFIELD NEWS JOURNAL
(TOM E. PUSKAR/MANSFIELD NEWS JOU, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Fossil Ridge’s Cohen Saunders fires up the SaberCats team huddle after beating Rocky Mountain in a high school football city rivalry game on Oct. 2, 2026, at PSD Stadium in Timnath, Colo.
(Chris Abshire/The Coloradoan, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Mitchell’s Devin Henkel intercepts a pass in front of Watertown’s Kye Paulson during their Class 11AA high school football game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Mitchell spoiled the homecoming game for No. 3 Watertown, winning 23-22 in double overtime.
(Roger Merriam/Public Opinion, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Somers and Rye battle in football action at Somers High School Oct. 2, 2026. Somers won the game 31-13.
(Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal Ne, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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High School Football: See the best of Week 7 in photos
Somers and Rye battle in football action at Somers High School Oct. 2, 2026. Somers won the game 31-13.
(Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal Ne, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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The Miles high school football team hosted 2A DII No. 7 Goldthwaite at Gary Krejci Memorial Stadium in Miles on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.
(Paul Witwer/San Angelo Standard-, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Action from a high school football game between Bishop Verot and Port Charlotte at Port Charlotte on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. Port Charlotte won 26-12.
(Andrew West/Fort Myers News-Pres, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Big Walnut’s Gavin Harrington (17) and Eli Stumpf (4) celebrate after scoring a touchdown against Worthington Kilbourne in the first half of the OHSAA football game at Big Walnut High School on Oct. 2, 2026 in Sunbury, Ohio.
(Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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IVC’s Colin Toliver (1) tries to avoid Elmwood/Brimfield’s Cadence Metz in the second half of their Week 7 high school football game Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 in Chillicothe. The Grey Ghosts defeated the Trojans 51-8.
(MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Action from a high school football game between Bishop Verot and Port Charlotte at Port Charlotte on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. Port Charlotte won 26-12.
(Andrew West/Fort Myers News-Pres, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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IVC’s Gabe Drissi (4) maneuvers tries to get past Elmwood/Brimfield’s Silas Gilles (56) in the second half of their Week 7 high school football game Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 in Chillicothe. The Grey Ghosts defeated the Trojans 51-8.
(MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Action from a high school football game between Bishop Verot and Port Charlotte at Port Charlotte on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. Port Charlotte won 26-12.
(Andrew West/Fort Myers News-Pres, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Sevier County’s Conner Nottage (23) carries the ball during a high school football game against Cocke County on Oct. 2, 2026, in Sevierville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Cocke County’s Braelyn Talley (4) passes the ball while pressured by Sevier County’s Parker Newman (6) during a high school football game on Oct. 2, 2026, in Sevierville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Patriots Ryan Hondorp (42) adds the extra point to take a 7-0 lead over the Eagles during the Pine Forest vs Pace football game at Pace High School on October. 2, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News , USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Somers and Rye battle in football action at Somers High School Oct. 2, 2026. Somers won the game 31-13.
(Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal Ne, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Eagles quarterback Jacorie Thomas (14) passes against the Patriots during the Pine Forest vs Pace football game at Pace High School on October. 2, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News , USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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High School Football: See the best of Week 7 in photos
Somers and Rye battle in football action at Somers High School Oct. 2, 2026. Somers won the game 31-13.
(Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal Ne, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Patriots Nolan Cheshire (5) is called for pass interference against Eagles Javion Casanova (9) as time runs out in the first half during the Pine Forest vs Pace football game at Pace High School on October. 2, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News , USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Sevier County’s Conner Nottage (23) carries the ball during a high school football game against Cocke County on Oct. 2, 2026, in Sevierville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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The Plymouth Big Red dominated their way to a 48-16 victory in 8-man football on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 at Alumni Field at Plymouth High School.
(Provided by Diane Bail-Bemiller, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Redwood’s Exavier Jackson, right, can’t get to a pass with Tulare Union’s Kamile Stevenson on his heels in East Yosemite League high school football on Friday, October 2, 2026.
(Ron Holman / Visalia Times-Delta, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Redwood’s Jairus Brooks leaves Tulare Union’s Frankee Allen behind on the way to a touchdown in East Yosemite League high school football on Friday, October 2, 2026.
(Ron Holman / Visalia Times-Delta, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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PHS #11 Layton Percey hits Marlow #1 Noah Torrez during the high school football game between the Marlow Outlaws and the Purcell Dragons at Conger Field in Purcell, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.
(DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Tulare Union’s Michael Warner returns a kickoff against Redwood in East Yosemite League high school football on Friday, October 2, 2026.
(Ron Holman / Visalia Times-Delta, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Boyle County High School’s Seneca Driver (5) throws during a flea flicker play against St. X during KHSAA football at Brother Thomas More Page Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. Oct. 2, 2026
(Matt Stone/The Courier Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Boyle County High School’s Shannon Lofton (88) made this catch under pressure from Saint Xavier’s Vallen OKuma (3) during the Tigers’ 42-13 loss during KHSAA football at Brother Thomas More Page Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. Oct. 2, 2026
(Matt Stone/The Courier Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Talawanda’s Brody Abney (22) runs the ball during a OHSAA football game between Northwest and Talawanda high schools Friday Oct 2 2026,
(Tony Tribble for the Enquirer, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Martin County’s Kahlil Taylor (0) completes a pass for a touchdown in the 43rd Martin Bowl rivalry football game against South Fork on Oct. 2, 2026, at Martin County High School. The Bulldogs won 14-13.
(CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Saint Xavier’s Parker Landis (11) couldn’t make this catch under pressure from Boyle County High School’s Kain Logan (0) during KHSAA football at Brother Thomas More Page Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. Oct. 2, 2026
(Matt Stone/The Courier Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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The Miles high school football team hosted 2A DII No. 7 Goldthwaite at Gary Krejci Memorial Stadium in Miles on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.
(Paul Witwer/San Angelo Standard-, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Martin County’s Kahlil Taylor (0) makes a touchdown in the 43rd Martin Bowl rivalry football game against South Fork on Oct. 2, 2026, at Martin County High School. The Bulldogs won 14-13.
(CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Allen has been a key asset to St. John Bosco’s offense all season. His performance on Friday marked his sixth-straight game with at least one rushing touchdown and the second game this season that he has accounted for four touchdowns in a single game.
St. John Bosco stays home this week as it looks to earn its sixth-straight win against Orange Lutheran. The last time these two teams met, the Lancers upset the Braves 20-19 in last year’s Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: St. John Bosco RB Maliq Allen named Super 25 Playmaker of the Week
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