Photo Provided to SISN by Ray Clark.
Thank you to everyone who voted in our Southern Indiana Sports Network Week 5 Player of the Week poll. Fans turned out in big numbers once again, with 26,777 total votes cast. It was one of the closest races we’ve ever had, with North Knox senior Tyler Clark edging out South Decatur’s J. Jackson-ray by fewer than 1,400 votes. Clark finished with 50.22 percent of the ballots (13,448), while Jackson-ray collected 45.09 percent (12,075). Jennings County’s Brady Franks came in third with 908 votes.
Before we celebrate the winner, we want to take a moment to address some concerns that were raised this week. A fan reported issues with votes not showing up, though after rechecking, the system was working correctly and the votes were recording again. There was also a rumor that AI was being used to stuff ballots. While we cannot completely rule out the possibility, we have not seen evidence of that happening. To make the process fairer and to discourage bots, we added a page reset that brings voters back to the start page after voting.
At the end of the day, lets just play fair. We’re already allowing you to vote as many times as you want. There’s no need to game the system.
Another point of discussion came from stats. J. Jackson-ray was mistakenly credited with an extra sack in our nominee article. Mistakes will happen from time to time, but we will remain vigilant and correct them quickly when they occur. At the end of the day, these polls are meant to highlight the incredible performances from athletes across Southern Indiana, bring recognition to programs, and give fans something fun to rally around each week. Every nominee deserves recognition, and the fan engagement shows how much this community cares about its teams.
Tyler Clark Wins Week 5 Player of the Week
Now to the winner. Tyler Clark of North Knox delivered a memorable performance in Week 5, catching nine passes for 182 yards and five touchdowns while adding eight tackles on defense. His playmaking helped the Warriors to a 41–12 conference win over North Central. This marks Clark’s first SISN Player of the Week honor, and it comes during a senior season where he has been a leader in every phase of the game.
Through five games, Clark has 18 receptions for 331 yards and six touchdowns. He has also contributed 79 rushing yards, 548 all-purpose yards, and 27 tackles, averaging more than five tackles per game. Clark is not just producing on offense. He is a steady hand on defense and a key figure on special teams, handling kickoff duties as well.
North Knox Football 2025 Season Overview
North Knox as a team has impressed this fall. The Warriors are 3–2 overall and 2–0 in conference play, sitting in second place and ranked 198 in the state. Compared to national averages, North Knox stands out in several areas. They have piled up 1,881 all-purpose yards through five games, well above the national average of 1,166. Their defense has been active and aggressive with 352 total tackles, averaging 70.4 per game compared to a national mark of 51.8. On special teams, the Warriors have also outperformed the averages with 894 kickoff yards and 380 punt yards. Clark’s production ties directly into those strengths. His 331 receiving yards and six touchdowns account for nearly half of North Knox’s receiving scores, while his tackles and kicking duties contribute to the defensive and special teams edge.
Runner-Up: J. Jackson-ray of South Decatur
Runner-up J. Jackson-ray of South Decatur deserves plenty of recognition as well. He rushed for 217 yards and four touchdowns while adding two interceptions and seven tackles in his team’s 26–20 win over Brown County. He finished just behind Clark in voting, showing how much support both athletes received from their communities.
The other nominees for Week 5 also turned in excellent performances. Carter Schickel of North Posey threw for 305 yards and seven touchdowns. Quaithan Pauley of Evansville North rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns on just 13 carries. Jennings County sophomore Brady Franks accounted for five total touchdowns and added an interception on defense. East Central’s Colton Bellman rushed for 229 yards and three scores in a rivalry win over Batesville. Zach Foster of Gibson Southern passed for 201 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 112 more. Shaun Cooper of Bloomington South carried 33 times for 241 yards and five touchdowns.
Congratulations to Tyler Clark, the Southern Indiana Sports Network Week 5 Player of the Week. Thank you to all the fans who voted, shared, and supported their schools. Stay tuned for our Week 6 nominees, and keep checking SISN for the best coverage of high school football in Southern Indiana.
We do not have any pictures of Tyler, so if anyone is willing to share some to us we’d love to add them to the story.
This poll is no longer accepting votes
