NORD Commission Announces Athlete of the Week

November 7, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

NORD Commission Announces Athlete of the Week

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Recreation Development (NORD) Commission continues its Athlete of the Week program, recognizing outstanding youth athletes from NORD youth and middle school leagues. This 11-week initiative highlights athletes who excel on the field and demonstrate leadership. Selected by coaches and NORD officials, each week's honoree is featured on WGNO's Friday Night Football, airing at 11 p.m.

Tenth Athlete of the Week: Kevin Payre Jr.

This week's Athlete of the Week is Kevin "KJ" Payre Jr., an 8-year-old standout who plays running back, kicker, and defensive tackle for the Milne Raiders in NORD's Division II. KJ was instrumental in his team's upset victory over the Willie Hall Panthers in the Division II Championship. Known for his resilience and skill, he made key plays on both offense and defense, with several strong runs for positive yardage and five tackles in the backfield that pushed the opposing team back.

With just under two minutes and 40 seconds left in the game, KJ scored two back-to-back touchdowns, bringing his team from a 12-0 deficit to a lead that they held until the end of the game, clinching the championship victory with less than 30 seconds remaining. Kevin is a dedicated student as well as an athlete and maintains a 4.0 GPA as a second grader at St. Andrew the Apostle School. He draws inspiration from his favorite athlete, Patrick Mahomes.

Congratulations to KJ for his championship-winning performance this week. We look forward to showcasing more exceptional athletes throughout the rest of the season.

For more information on NORD Commission's Athletics, please visit www.nordc.org or call (504) 658-3083.

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