Top 25 Louisiana high school football rankings (10/4/2023)
Three colossal matchups of ranked teams occurred in Week 5.
The headliner, of course, was Holy Cross' 42-41 upset of top-ranked John Curtis Christian. Also, Calvary Baptist toppled Westgate, 32-22, and Ruston came back from a 10-0 deficit in the fourth quarter to edge Neville, 14-10.
Keep reading to find out how those games shook up the SBLive Louisiana Top 25 rankings. Which program reappeared after a stint on the Watch List? How far did John Curtis fall? Where did Holy Cross and Calvary Baptist land?
Here are this week's SBLive Louisiana Top 25 rankings.
1. Edna Karr, 5-0 (previous rank: 2)
The Cougars ascend to the top spot with a hard-fought 19-7 win over Brother Martin. The Crusaders led 7-0 in the second half unti TaRon Francis returned a punt 58 yards, according to nola.com's Chris Dabe.
Ole Miss commit Rahj Dennis caught a 75-yard TD pass. Dezemen Favorite scampered 23 yards for a fourth-quarter score. Sophomore QB John Johnson came into the game with 694 yards passing and 12 TDs with two interceptions.
Next: vs. Jesuit (2-3)
2. St. Thomas More, 5-0 (previous rank: 3)
Sam Altmann passed for three TDs as the Cougars tuned up for district play with a 35-3 win at Denham Springs. Altmann completed 12-of-24 attempts for 168 yards. Landon Strother caught four passes for 102 yards and two TDs. Sanders Foreman had two catches for 27 yards and a TD.
Hutch Swilley ran for 79 yards on 11 carries with a score. Gabe Mocek and John Luke St. Pierre combined for 92 yards rushing on 15 tries with Mocek scoring a TD. Strother has 21 receptions for 365 yards and five TDs on the year.
Next: vs. North Vermilion (2-3)
3. Carencro, 5-0 (previous rank: 4)
Underdog New Iberia gave the Bears a tussle for a half in a District 3-5A matchup. The Yellow Jackets led on two occasions early and were tied, 34-all, with Carencro at the half. The Bears owned the second half, winning by a 55-34 margin.
Chantz Babineaux passed for 240 yards and three TDs - and rushed for 92 yards and a score. Cashmire Batiste ran for 158 yards and three TDs - and caught three passes for 63 yards and a score. On the year, Batiste has nine receptions for 318 yards and six TDs, an average of 35.3 yards per catch. Austin Dyson has 28 catches for 405 yards and three TDs as well.
Next: vs. Lafayette High (3-2)
4. Destrehan, 5-0 (previous rank: 5)
The defending Division I non-select champs throttled H.L. Bourgeois, 49-0. The Wildcats' defense has allowed 32 points and held four opponents to single-digit scoring (Hahnville scored 11 in Week 4).
Shane Lee entered Week 5 with 458 yards on 55 carries and seven TDs. QB Jackson Fields was 36-of-55 passing for 757 yards and seven TDs with two interceptions. Johnnie Thiel IV (11-312, four TDs) was the leading receiver.
Next: at Central Lafourche (0-5)
5. Ruston, 5-0 (previous rank: 7)
After being held scoreless for three quarters, the Bearcats emerged from hibernation to down then-10th ranked Neville, 14-10. Quarterback Joshua Brantley, who ran for both TDs, led all ball carriers with 75 yards on 14 rushes, according to Jake Martin of the Ouachita Citizen.
Next: vs. Alexandria (3-2)
6. Lafayette Christian, 4-1 (previous rank: 8)
The Knights were opportunistic on offense in a 52-14 romp vs. Avoyelles Parish. Quarterback Ju'Juan Johnson threw five TD passes - all to different receivers - while completing 11-of-13 passes for 239 yards.
Brayden Allen, Jalen Noel, Carlos O'Brien, Treanders Marzell and Trae Grogan each caught a TD. Grogan has eight catches for 254 yards and five TDs on the year. Noel rushed for 57 yards on three carries with a score.
Next: vs. Northside (3-2) on Thursday
7. Zachary, 4-0 (previous rank: 9)
Hudson Spangler completed 18-of-27 passes for 330 yards and five TDs in a 48-7 win at West Monroe, according to Cody Futrell of the Baton Rouge Advocate. Tyson George and LSU tight end commit Trey'Dez Green each caught two TD passes.
West Monroe came into the game undefeated. Zachary's defense has allowed 27 points and limited all four opponents to single-digit scoring.
Next: vs. Woodlawn-Baton Rouge (1-4)
8. Holy Cross, 5-0 (previous rank: 15)
Scott Wattigny is a shoo-in for Class 5A Coach of the Year thus far. His Tigers stunned then-No. 1 John Curtis Christian on Saturday, scoring a TD on the final play of regulation to get within a point, 41-40. Koby Young, a Georgia Tech commit, tacked on the winning two-point conversion.
Quarterback Cole Canatella completed 18-of-26 passes for 237 yards and rushed for two scores, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com. Young had 10 catches for 92 yards. Ke'Rynn Smith rushed for 89 yards on eight carries with two TDs. Kaden Andoh carried nine times for 91 yards and a TD.
Next: at St. Augustine (2-3) on Saturday
9. John Curtis Christian, 3-1 (previous rank: 1)
QB Dagan Bruno shined in a one-point loss to Holy Cross, generating 323 yards of offense, according to nola.com's Chris Dabe. Bruno rushed for 158 yards on 12 carries with two TDs and totaled 167 yards passing on seven completions.
LSU receiver commit Michael Turner caught a 63-yard TD pass from Bruno and finished with three catches for 96 yards.
Next: vs. Archbishop Rummel (2-3)
10. Warren Easton, 2-3 (previous rank: 10)
Fred Robertson rushed for 207 yards on 20 carries with three TDs in 35-14 defeat of John Ehret, according to Chris Dabe. QB Greg Donaldson rushed for 73 yards on 11 carries and passed for 145 yards with a TD to Kyon Holiday. Thomas Vaughn added a TD jaunt.
Robertson, on the year, has rushed for 728 yards on 94 carries with six TDs.
Next: Open
11. Calvary Baptist, 5-0 (previous rank: 12)
The Cavaliers got a 90-yard interception return from Julius Moss to seal a 32-22 win over then-No. 6 Westgate. Ty Knight kicked two field goals. James Simon rushed for 103 yards on 20 carries with a TD.
Abram Wardell completed 15-of-23 passes for 205 yards, including a 9-yard TD pass to Aubrey Hermes.
Next: vs. North Caddo (1-4)
12. St. Charles Catholic, 5-0 (previous rank: 13)
The Class 2A Comets knocked off another large school opponent in Class 4A Vandebilt Catholic. Jackson Monica and Skyler Edwards each scored on a 1-yard plunge in the 30-13 victory.
QB Brady St. Pierre threw TD passes to Monica and Jackson Doster. The Comets also got a safety, according to Ken Trahan of Crescent City Sports.
Next: vs. Abbeville (4-1)
13. Airline, 5-0 (previous rank: 14)
Junior QB Ben Taylor tossed four TDs in a 41-21 win over Natchitoches Central. Taylor has completed more than 70% of his throws while racking up 1,777 yards and 26 TDs on the year.
The receiving corps is led by Jarvis Davis (36-562, three TDs), Tre'Von Jackson (27-406, six TDs), Bryson Broom (23-365, eight TDs) and Kenny Darby (18-300, five TDs).
Next: vs. Captain Shreve (4-1)
14. Westgate, 4-1 (previous rank: 6)
Junior tailback Tavias Gordon ran for 184 yards and three TDs on 27 carries in a 32-22 loss to Calvary Baptist in Shreveport. On the year, Gordon has carried 88 times for 821 yards and 14 TDs.
Junior quarterback Jaboree Antoine left the game with an injury. Antoine is rated as a five-star defensive back.
Next: at Teurlings Catholic (4-1)
15. Neville, 4-1 (previous rank: 11)
The Tigers held a 10-0 lead in the fourth quarter before succumbing to Ruston, 14-10. The game was a defensive stalemate for the most part. Tailback Jaylon Nichols rushed for 28 yards on 16 carries with a score.
QB Aman Fuller completed 6-of-13 passes for 94 yards and rushed for 31 yards on seven carries, according to Jake Martin of the Ouachita Citizen.
Next: vs. Peabody Magnet (4-1)
16. Acadiana, 4-1 (previous rank: 15)
The Rams won their fourth straight game by decimating Comeaux, 70-18. Ezekiel Hypolite rushed for 140 yards on six carries with three TDs. QB Caden DiBetta was 6-of-8 passing for 157 yards and three TDs.
Jaydeon Bessard, Tourean Campbell and Tayden Collins each had a TD reception. On the season, Hypolite has carried 28 times for 440 yards and 10 TDs - an average of 15.7 yards per carry.
Next: vs. Sam Houston (5-0)
17. University Lab, 4-1 (previous rank: 17)
The Cubs thumped Port Allen, 49-14. No other details were available.
QB Emile Picarella has completed 50-of-73 passes on the year for 775 yards and 10 TDs.
Next: at Lawrence County, Miss. (3-3)
18. North DeSoto, 4-1 (previous rank: 19)
The Griffins destroyed Booker T. Washington-Shreveport, 52-0, and have outscored their last three opponents, 158-3. QB Luke Delafield has passed for 1,227 yards with 14 TDs.
Next: vs. Woodlawn-Shreveport (3-2)
19. East St. John, 5-0 (previous rank: 20)
The Wildcats shot out to a big lead over Hahnville and then withstood a late rally to win, 42-37. Kairian Smith and Lorenzo Zeno each threw for a pair of TDs. Jermaine Mangle had two TD receptions, according to Clyde Verdin of nola.com.
The Wildcats will face a gauntlet of Terrebonne (4-1), Destrehan (5-0) and Holy Cross (5-0) in Weeks 8-10.
Next: at H.L. Bourgeois (2-3)
20. Southside, 4-1 (previous rank: 21)
Vernel Joseph powered the Sharks past Barbe, 38-13, rushing for 168 yards on nine carries with three TDs. Ramon Singleton added 115 yards on 21 carries with a TD. QB Andrew Angelle was 4-of-6 passing for 101 yards. Wyatt Gibbens had three catches for 91 yards.
Joseph leads the team in rushing with 544 yards on 45 carries and six TDs.
Next: vs. Comeaux (0-5) on Thursday
21. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 3-2 (previous rank: 22)
The Bears registered a 42-10 non-district win vs. Northside. No other details were available.
Next: vs. Liberty Magnet (2-3)
22. Ouachita Christian, 5-0 (previous rank: 23)
The Class 1A Eagles reeled off 48 consecutive points on the road at Class 5A Ouachita Parish. Tate Hamby caught three passes for 139 yards and two TDs, threw a 60-yard TD pass and recovered a fumble - all in the first half of the 48-14 win, according to Jake Martin of the Ouachita Citizen.
Next: at St. Frederick (3-2) on Thursday
23. St. Amant, 5-0 (previous rank: 24)
The Gators hammered Jefferson RISE Charter, 53-0. No other details were available.
Next: at East Ascension (1-4)
24. Dutchtown, 4-0 (previous rank: 25)
The Griffins are undoubtedly itching to hit someone other than themselves after two consecutive open dates. Week 4 wasn't technically an open date, as Carver Collegiate Academy forfeited the rest of its games.
Next: at Walker (4-1)
25. Teurlings Catholic, 4-1 (previous rank: NR)
Ayden Trahan ran for 134 yards and a TD on 13 carries in a 27-10 win at Breaux Bridge. QB Preston Welch threw a TD to Travis Gallien and ran for another.
Next: vs. No. 14 Westgate (4-1)
Dozen to Watch
Sam Houston, E.D. White, Isidore Newman, Lutcher, Cecilia, Central-Baton Rouge, Jena, Brother Martin, Walker, Terrebonne, West Ouachita, Opelousas
Dropped Out
St. Augustine
Photo of Carencro's Chantz Babineaux by Brad Kemp, The Acadiana Advocate
-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA
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