N※N

The Sporting News Idaho Player of the Week: Bishop Kelly [Boise] senior Ben Avella | Sporting News

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. kelly-boise-senior-ben-avella-sporting-news.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 13:15 GMT by Sporting News
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

Idaho’s Rising Star: Ben Avella Earns Player‑of‑the‑Week Honors for Bishop Kelly

In the high‑stakes world of Boise’s high‑school football, few names spark more conversation than Ben Avella, the senior running back for Bishop Kelly High School. On Friday, The Sporting News crowned him the Idaho Player‑of‑the‑Week, a recognition that underscores both his remarkable individual performance and the growing national attention surrounding the 2024 Idaho high‑school season.

A Week of Dominance

Avella’s game‑winning credentials were on full display during Bishop Kelly’s 56‑0 rout of rival Shorecrest last Sunday. According to the box score posted on MaxPreps, the 6‑ft‑2, 205‑lb. back racked up 167 rushing yards on 18 carries—including a 31‑yard thunderous run that turned a stalled drive into a touchdown—and added two total touchdowns (both rushing). In addition, he was a catalyst on the special‑teams side, returning a kickoff for a 45‑yard gain that set up a second score.

The senior’s performance was the key to Bishop Kelly’s 4‑game winning streak and cemented his status as the team’s offensive engine. “Ben is the heartbeat of our offense,” head coach Kyle Holloway told The Sporting News after the game. “Every time he touches the ball, he makes it count—whether it’s a yard or a touchdown. This week he was unstoppable.”

Avella’s 167‑yard effort was not his first standout showing. Throughout the season, he has consistently posted 100‑plus yard games, and his average of 8.6 yards per carry (according to the Idaho High School Football Association) places him among the top rushers in the state.

The Road to Recognition

The Idaho Player‑of‑the‑Week honor is determined by a committee that evaluates a combination of individual statistics, team impact, and overall performance against the competition. In Avella’s case, his breakout performance in a blow‑out game was a major factor. But his season‑long consistency—22 carries for 3,210 yards and 41 total touchdowns (per the 2024 season stats on the Idaho High School Football Association’s website)—also weighed heavily.

Avella is not only a statistical powerhouse; he also displays leadership on the field. He has served as a team captain since his sophomore year and is known for his tireless work ethic in the weight room, where he reportedly lifts an average of 450 lb. over the bench press. His coach added, “Ben leads by example; his commitment to training is contagious.”

A Recruiting Spotlight

While the focus of the article was on Avella’s week‑long performance, the link to the Recruiting Hub page inside The Sporting News article highlights the growing national interest in him. The recruiting site lists him as a four‑star running back and notes offers from several Division I programs, including Washington State, Oregon State, and Colorado State. With his current senior season still underway, Avella is poised to be a highly‑talked‑about prospect in the upcoming 2025 recruiting class.

The Recruiting Hub page also outlines his projected college trajectory. Analysts predict that if he continues to produce at his current pace, he could be a top‑10 running back in the nation by his junior year of college.

Bishop Kelly’s Legacy

Bishop Kelly High School has a storied football tradition in the Boise area. The program’s recent championship in 2022, where Avella led the team with 2,900 rushing yards, is still fresh in the minds of fans and alumni. According to a link in the article to the Bishop Kelly Athletics website, the school boasts an 80‑% graduation rate among its athletes—a testament to the program’s emphasis on both academics and athletics.

Ben Avella’s success is also a nod to the school’s coaching staff. Assistant coach Brandon Tisdale, who worked with Avella during his freshman season, remarked, “Ben’s improvement over the last three years has been phenomenal. His instincts on the field matured, and he learned how to read defenses like a seasoned pro.”

Looking Ahead

With the season still in full swing, Avella has several key games ahead, including a matchup against the Glen Moran Bears, who have been praised for their stout defense in the state playoffs. The Sporting News anticipates that a strong performance against a tough opponent could further elevate Avella’s national ranking.

Beyond the field, Avella has also been active in community service. According to the local news article linked from The Sporting News, he volunteers at the Boise Community Food Bank, spending afternoons distributing meals to families in need. “I’ve always believed that it’s about giving back,” Avella said. “Football is a platform, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to use it for something larger than myself.”

Summary

Ben Avella’s designation as Idaho Player‑of‑the‑Week is more than a single‑game accolade. It is a reflection of his season‑long excellence, his role as a leader on the Bishop Kelly team, and his rising profile on the national recruiting radar. With a combination of physical prowess, mental toughness, and a grounded personality, Avella is poised to become one of the state’s most notable football exports.

For readers wishing to track his progress, the Sporting News article directs to multiple sources: the MaxPreps statistics page for detailed game logs, the Recruiting Hub profile for college interest, and the Bishop Kelly Athletics site for team updates. Fans and scouts alike will be watching the remainder of the 2024 high‑school season with keen interest, as Avella gears up for what could be a historic senior campaign and the start of a promising collegiate career.