Top 25 Louisiana high school football rankings (10/18/2023)
Brother Martin worked its way back into the SBLive Louisiana Top 25 with an upset of undefeated Holy Cross.
The Crusaders' smash-mouth offense allowed them to run out the clock in the fourth quarter of the 22-19 win.
John Curtis Christian moved up a few spots by snapping Acadiana's five-game winning streak. J.T. Curtis, Jr. will become the nation's all-time wins leader with three victories. The sledding could be tough in that trio of games against St. Augustine, Brother Martin and Edna Karr.
Louisiana LookBack: Top takeaways from Week 7 of high school football
Last year, the Patriots edged St. Aug and lost to both Brother Martin and Karr before running the table in the Division I select playoffs, beating Brother Martin in the championship game.
Cecilia, which debuts this week, hosts Opelousas in a District 5-4A showdown on Friday. The winner will be in the driver's seat in the district race.
Louisiana high school football computer rankings (10/17/2023)
Friendly reminder: Ruston and Catholic-Baton Rouge both lost to Warren Easton on the field, but were awarded forfeit victories due to the Eagles' usage of an ineligible player.
Keep reading to find out who moved up and down, who debuted and who dropped out in this week's rankings.
1. Edna Karr, 6-0 (previous rank: 1) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 6
The Cougars were sluggish in the first half vs. Jesuit, perhaps from not having played in two weeks. Karr broke a 7-all tie with four touchdowns in the second half to pull away, 35-7. Defensive back Edmond Brown stripped the football from a Blue Jay and returned it 78 yards to give the Cougars a 28-7 lead, according to Ken Trahan of Crescent City Sports.
Daejawn Smith ran for two TDs. Quarterback John Johnson threw a TD pass to junior receiver TaRon Francis, who committed to LSU on Saturday. Karr (3-0) is in sole possession of first place in the Catholic League.
Next: vs. No. 13 Holy Cross (6-1)
2. St. Thomas More, 7-0 (previous rank: 2) LHSAA Power Rating - Division II select No. 1
The Cougars, who have allowed a total of three points over the last three weeks, pitched their second straight shutout on Friday. Cayden Vice and Warner Domingue each had an interception as the STM defense limited Northside to 9-of-20 passing for 87 yards in a 49-0 win, according to Kevin Foote of the Acadiana Advocate.
John Luke St. Pierre gained 82 yards on only three carries with two TDs. Senior quarterback Sam Altmann completed 13-of-20 passes for 211 yards and two TDs - to Parker Castille and Sanders Foreman.
Next: vs. Teurlings Catholic (5-2)
3. Carencro, 7-0 (previous rank: 3) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 4
The Bears punished Comeaux for homecoming, 65-8. Sophomore quarterback Chantz Babineaux set a new school single season passing record, eclipsing the previous mark of 1,860 yards in the first quarter. Babineaux has passed for just under 2,000 yards with 24 TDs and two interceptions - and has rushed for 10 scores.
In the first half vs. Comeaux, he threw TD passes to Cashmire Batiste, Kameron Cyprien and Kendrick Bernard - and carried five times for 48 yards and a score. Batiste has rushed for a team-high 792 yards on 106 carries with nine TDs. The Bears are on the road the final three weeks of the regular season.
Next: at Sam Houston (6-1)
4. Destrehan, 7-0 (previous rank: 4) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 7
Sophomore quarterback Jackson Fields passed for 332 yards with three TDs in an impressive 38-7 win over a Terrebonne team that was 5-1 coming into the District 7-5A game.
LSU edge rusher commit Kolaj Cobbins returned an interception for a score, according to nola.com's Chris Dabe. Ole Miss "athlete" commit Anthony Robinson caught a TD pass.
Next: vs. Sulphur (2-5)
5. Ruston, 7-0 (previous rank: 5) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 1
The Bearcats drummed Pineville, 48- 6. Jordan Hayes rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown, according to Matt Bellinson of the Ruston Daily Leader. The Bearcats will be without tailback Dylone Brooks for approximately three weeks (collarbone).
Quarterback Joshua Brantley didn't start (disciplinary action). In his place, freshman Sam Hartwell completed 6-of-11 passes for 110 yards and two TDs.
Next: at West Ouachita (5-2)
6. Lafayette Christian, 6-1 (previous rank: 6) LHSAA Power Rating - Division II select No. 2
The Knights throttled then-No. 22 Teurlings Catholic, 62-3. Chris Helaire intercepted three passes and returned one for a TD. Jalen Noel carried six times for 120 yards and two TDs. T.J. Marzell caught nine passes for 111 yards and three TDs.
LSU commit Ju'Juan Johnson was 17-of-22 passing for 300 yards and four TDs. Johnson has thrown for 1,799 yards and 23 TDs on the year with seven interceptions. He is averaging 10.9 yards per carry (73-799, 13 TDs). Noel has rushed for 490 yards on 56 carries with six TDs and has 16 receptions for 300 yards and four TDs.
Next: at Westgate (5-2)
7. Zachary, 6-0 (previous rank: 7) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 6
The Broncos defeated Scotlandville, 51-0. Zachary's defense limited Scotlandville to three first downs in the first half, according to Patrick Wright of the Baton Rouge Advocate.
Hudson Spangler threw three TD passes. LSU tight end commit Trey'Dez Green caught one scoring strike from Spangler and one from Caleb Gonzales.
Next: vs. Central-Baton Rouge (5-2)
8. Warren Easton, 3-3 (previous rank: 9) LHSAA Power Rating - Ineligible for postseason
The Eagles blasted Frederick A. Douglass, 45-0. No other details were available.
Entering Week 7, Fred Robertson had rushed for 722 yards and 12 TDs on 96 carries. QB Greg Donaldson had thrown for 820 yards and seven TDs with two interceptions.
Next: at Madison Prep (4-3) on Thursday
9. Calvary Baptist, 7-0 (previous rank: 10) LHSAA power rating - Division III select No. 2
The Cavaliers remained undefeated on the season after routing Green Oaks, 58-6. Junior QB Abram Wardell completed 20-of-23 passes for 285 yards and six TDs, according to Buck Ringgold of SBLive. Aubrey Hermes (5-142, two TDs) was the leading receiver.
Wardell has connected on 76.6% of his throws with 24 TDs and one interception. Hermes (31-709, nine TDs) is his top target.
Next: vs. D'Arbonne Woods (6-0)
10. St. Charles Catholic, 7-0 (previous rank: 11) LHSAA Power Rating - Division III select No. 1
The Comets avenged a 2022 loss by taking down St. Martinville, 43-15, on the road. The Class 2A Comets have beaten five Class 4A programs, followed by two Class 3A schools.
Heading into Week 7, Jeremiah Wills had rushed for 569 yards on 97 carries with six TDs. QB Brady St. Pierre had 819 yards passing with seven TDs and two interceptions.
Next: at M.L. King Charter (3-4)
11. Neville, 6-1 (previous rank: 12) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 2
The Tigers trounced Grant Parish, 41-6. Neville has played in the friendly confines of Bill Ruple Stadium every week and will have one more home game on Friday before a Week 9 trip to Winnsboro to face Franklin Parish. The Tigers have an open date in Week 10.
Next: vs. Tioga (6-1)
12. University Lab, 6-1 (previous rank: 14) LHSAA Power Rating - Division III select No. 4
The Cubs bounced Madison Prep, 43-7. Junior quarterback Emile Picarella was 9-of-13 passing for 195 yards and two TDs, according to Reed Darcey of the Baton Rouge Advocate. Seth Gale caught four passes for 112 yards and a score.
Entering Week 7, Riley Small led U-High in rushing (72-398, eight TDs). Picarella had thrown for 1,009 yards and 15 TDs with three interceptions. Gale and Zay Martin had combined for 39 receptions, 792 yards and 12 TDs. Junior defensive star Keylan Moses is expected to commit to LSU soon.
Next: vs. Glen Oaks (2-5)
13. Holy Cross, 6-1 (previous rank: 8) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 2
Brother Martin edged the Tigers, 22-19, at Tad Gormley Stadium. Holy Cross had a long drive that culminated in an early 6-0 lead. Cole Canatella threw a 39-yarde pass to Krosse Johnson on the 98-yard drive, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com.
Kayden Andoh and Ke'Rynn Smith each ran for a TD.
Next: at No. 1 Edna Karr (6-0)
14. John Curtis Christian, 4-2 (previous rank: 19) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 10
The Patriots snapped a two-game losing streak with a 28-0 win over Acadiana, which was ranked No. 13. Curtis rushed for 260 yards on 37 carries - 6.9 yards per carry - with two TDs.
Marlon Prout has rushed for a team-high seven TDs (54-365). LSU wide receiver commit Michael Turner has nine catches for a team-high 190 yards and two TDs.
Next: at St. Augustine (2-5) on Saturday. If the Patriots get past St. Aug and Brother Martin, J.T. Curtis, Jr. can become the nation's all-time winningest coach with a victory vs. Edna Karr in Week 10.
15. North DeSoto, 6-1 (previous rank: 15) LHSAA Power Rating - Division II non-select No. 3
The Griffins claimed a 38-28 win at Evangel Christian Academy. Luke Delafield threw for 373 yards and a touchdown. Trysten Hopper ran for 100 yards on 26 carries with a score. There were a total of seven interceptions in the game.
Sophomore Kenny Thomas (92-689, nine TDs) leads the team in rushing. Hopper is second (122-668, 12 TDs).
Next: at Huntington (5-2)
16. East St. John, 7-0 (previous rank: 16) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 11
The Wildcats beat Central Lafourche, 42-14. Quarterback Kairan Smith came into Week 7 with 806 yards passing and 12 TDs with two interceptions.
Lorenzo Zeno had thrown for 661 yards and nine TDs with three interceptions. Koyal Gray (26-538, six TDs) and K'khai Joseph (26-521, nine TDs) were leading the team in receiving.
Next: vs. Terrebonne (5-2)
17. Southside, 6-1 (previous rank: 17) -LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 9
The Sharks defeated Sulphur, 38-14. Vernel Joseph rushed for 99 yards on 11 carries with a TD. Ramon Singleton carried 14 times for 98 yards and a TD. QB Andrew Angelle was 4-of-6 passing for 137 yards and two TDs. Wyatt Gibbens (4-137, two TDs) accounted for all of the receiving yards.
The Sharks have rushed for more than 2,300 yards, led by Joseph (63-711, seven TDs).
Next: vs. Acadiana (5-2)
18. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 5-2 (previous rank: 18) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 5
The Bears rallied from a 10-point deficit to topple Central-BR, 42-38. Barry Remo rushed for 241 yards on 20 carries with three TDs.
Next: vs. Woodlawn-Baton Rouge (2-5)
19. Brother Martin, 5-2 (previous rank: NR) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 3
The Crusaders, who were ranked as high as No. 14 earlier in the year, return to the Top 25 with a 22-19 win over undefeated Holy Cross. Jordan West ran for 137 yards on 27 carries with two TDs.
Brother Martin's two losses are to No. 1 Edna Karr and No. 2 St. Thomas More.
Next: at Archbishop Rummel (4-3)
20. Acadiana, 5-2 (previous rank: 13) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 11
The Rams had their five-game winning streak snapped at John Curtis Christian by a 28-0 margin. Ezekiel Hypolite has rushed for a team-high 566 yards on 45 carries with 13 TDs.
Next: at No. 17 Southside (6-1)
21. St. Amant, 7-0 (previous rank: 21) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 3
The Gators beat Denham Springs, 14-7. Cooper Babin threw a TD pass to Jermichael Millien, according to Kyle Rivere of the Baton Rouge Advocate. The Gators also recovered a muffed snap on a punt in the end zone.
Next: at Dutchtown (5-1)
22. Walker, 6-1 (previous rank: 23) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 5
The Wildcats beat East Ascension, 33-14. Clyde McClendon rushed for 69 yards on 18 carries with two TDs, and the Walker defense forced four turnovers, according to Chris Chapple of the Baton Rouge Advocate.
Next: at Live Oak (3-3)
23. Captain Shreve, 6-1 (previous rank: 24) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 1
The Gators won against a stubborn Natchitoches Central squad, 32-24. Jamarlon Otis has rushed for 1,163 yards on 130 carries with 14 touchdowns.
Next: at Southwood (0-7) on Thursday
24. Lutcher, 5-1 (previous rank: 25) LHSAA Power Rating - Division II non-select No. 1
The Bulldogs beat Hahnville, 14-7, in a non-district River Parish rivalry game. Trenton Chaney (98-658, nine TDs) leads the team in rushing. The Bulldogs are allowing less than six points per game.
Next: vs. Assumption (5-2)
25. Cecilia, 6-1 (previous rank: NR) LHSAA Power Rating - Division II non-select No. 7
Coach Dennis Skains' Bulldogs handled Beau Chene, 48-3. Quarterback Diesel Solari has rushed for 646 yards and 14 TDs on 75 carries. The junior has completed 52-of-73 passes for 763 yards and 13 TDs with two interceptions.
Next: vs. Opelousas (5-2)
Photo of Brother Martin's Jordan West (with ball) by Scott Threlkeld, NOLA.com
-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA
Dozen to Watch
Airline, E.D. White, John F. Kennedy, West Feliciana, Isidore Newman, Central-BR, Jena, Dutchtown, St. Paul's, Opelousas, Ouachita Christian, Archbishop Shaw
Dropped Out
Ouachita Christian, Teurlings Catholic
