Top 25 Louisiana high school football rankings (10/25/2023)
The post-Week 8 fallout resulted in the largest exodus of ranked teams that has occurred this year.
Five schools exited from the Top 25, which will continue to see increased movement with games such as Acadiana/Carencro and Brother Martin/John Curtis Christian on deck this week. Not to look ahead too far, but don't forget that St. Thomas More and Lafayette Christian will collide next week in a rematch of the 2022 Division II select title game won by the Cougars.
Louisiana high school football computer rankings (10/24/2023)
STM can't afford a letdown this week at Westgate, however. Teurlings Catholic took it to the Cougars for much of last week's game, building a 17-point advantage and leading the entire way until a late touchdown run by STM tailback Gabe Mocek.
Keep reading to find out who moved up and down, who debuted and who dropped out of this week's SBLive Louisiana Top 25 rankings.
Louisiana LookBack: Top takeaways from Week 8 of high school football
1. Edna Karr, 7-0 (previous rank: 1) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 4
The Cougars defeated No. 13 Holy Cross, 47-17. Karr trailed 14-6 in the early going, but forged a 14-all tie on a 36-yard TD pass from John Johnson to Tyrone Wilson and a two-point conversion pass to LSU commit TaRon Francis, according to Lanny Vangilder of Crescent City Sports.
Johnson was brilliant, completing 24-of-27 passes for 310 yards and three TDs. He added 29 yards on the ground with a score.
Next: vs. Archbishop Rummel (4-4). Karr can clinch the Catholic League title with a win at this game, which will take place at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University.
2. St. Thomas More, 8-0 (previous rank: 2) LHSAA Power Rating - Division II select No. 1
The Cougars overcame a 24-7 deficit to get past arch-rival Teurlings Catholic, 35-34. Senior quarterback Sam Altmann engineered a 99-yard drive in the fourth quarter for the winning touchdowns, according to Kevin Foote of the Acadiana Advocate.
Altmann was 23-of-33 passing for 277 yards and a TD. Receiver Jacob Froehlich also tossed an 18-yard TD pass. Landon Strother caught 10 passes for 146 yards and a score. Sanders Foreman added 111 yards receiving on eight grabs. Navy commit Hutch Swilley rushed for 48 yards on 10 carries with two TDs.
Altmann has thrown 20 TD passes this season with only two interceptions. Strother leads the team in receiving (35-602, seven TDs).
Next: at Westgate (5-3)
3. Carencro, 8-0 (previous rank: 3) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 1
The Bears escaped Moss Bluff with a 49-47 District 3-5A win over Sam Houston. There were 11 lead changes, with halfback Cashmire Batiste putting the Bears ahead to stay with his fourth and fifth touchdown.
Batiste leads the Bears with 1,066 yards on 134 carries with 16 TDs. He is averaging 32.5 yards per catch (11-358, seven TDs). Sophomore QB Chantz Babineaux has passed for a school record 2,052 yards and 25 TDs with two interceptions.
Next: at Acadiana (6-2) on Thursday
4. Destrehan, 8-0 (previous rank: 4) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 8
The Wildcats pitched their third shutout in the last four weeks by thumping Sulphur, 45-0, in a non-district game. Destrehan's winning streak, the state's longest, is now at 22 games.
Quarterback Jackson Fields had a hand in five touchdowns, according to Ryan Arena of the St. Charles Herald Guide. Fields threw TD passes to Greg Wilfred, Shane Ward and Phillip Wright, and the sophomore ran for two TDs.
Destrehan, which led 17-0 at halftime, has allowed 39 points this season while holding seven opponents to single digits.
Next: vs. East St. John (7-1)
5. Ruston, 8-0 (previous rank: 5) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 1
The Bearcats beat West Ouachita, 48-6, the same score as Ruston's Week 7 blowout of Pineville. The Bearcats will be without three starters this week after they were ejected from last week's game.
Ruston rolled up 403 yards vs. the Chiefs, according to Jake Martin of the Ouachita Citizen. Jordan Hayes paced the ground assault with 164 yards rushing on 13 carries with two TDs.
Next: vs. Ouachita Parish (2-6)
Vote: Which is the best high school mascot in Louisiana?
6. Lafayette Christian, 7-1 (previous rank: 6) LHSAA Power Rating - Division II select No. 2
The Knights blasted Westgate, 42-11. LSU commit Ju'Juan Johnson rushed for 129 yards on 18 carries with three TDs and passed for 155 yards and a TD. Jalen Noel rushed for 131 yards on 14 attempts with a TD. Treanders Marzell had three catches for 69 yards.
Johnson has rushed for 928 yards this season on 91 carries with 16 TDs. Noel has carried 70 times for 625 yards and seven TDs. Trae Grogan (21-426, five TDs) leads the receiving corps.
Next: vs. North Vermilion (2-6) on Thursday
7. Zachary, 7-0 (previous rank: 7) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 3
The Broncos rallied to down Central-Baton Rouge, 35-28. Kameron Thomas went off, gaining 200 yards on 19 carries with three TDs, according to Robin Fambrough of the Baton Rouge Advocate. Tyson George scored on an 88-yard kick return in a game that featured multiple lead changes.
Next: vs. Liberty Magnet (2-6)
8. Calvary Baptist, 8-0 (previous rank: 9) LHSAA Power Rating Division III select No. 1
The Cavaliers shut out D'Arbonne Woods Charter, 35-0, in a matchup of undefeated District 1-2A teams. Abram Wardell completed 26-of-31 passes for 308 yards and two TDs. Four receivers have at least 421 yards on the year, led by Aubrey Hermes (40-829, 10 TDs).
Wardell has completed 78% of his throws for 2,376 yards and 26 TDs with one interception.
Next: at Lakeside (3-5)
What makes undefeated Calvary Baptist's high-octane offense tick?
9. St. Charles Catholic, 8-0 (previous rank: 10) LHSAA Power Rating Division III select No. 2
The Comets romped, 50-6, at M.L., King Charter in a District 10-2A opener. St. Charles led 35-0 at halftime.
Quarterback Brady St. Pierre passed for two TDs, according to Ken Trahan of Crescent City Sports. Jeremiah Wills and Jackson Monica each ran for a short TD. Skyler Edwards ran for 85 yards on three carries with two TDs. Daniel Joseph (5-65) hauled in both of St. Pierre's scoring strikes.
Next: at Metairie Park Country Day (2-6)
10. Neville, 7-1 (previous rank: 11) LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 2
The Tigers beat Tioga, 44-13, in their eighth home game. That isn't a typographical error. The Tigers play only one road game - this week at Franklin Parish - and have an open date in Week 10.
J'Chione White spearheaded the charge vs. Tioga with 133 yards rushing on six carries with two TDs, according to Jake Martin of the Ouachita Citizen.
Next: at Franklin Parish (6-2)
11. University Lab, 7-1 (previous rank: 12) LHSAA Power Rating Division III select No. 4
The Cubs posted 32 points in the first quarter en route to a 60-7 win vs. Glen Oaks. Tailbacks Riley Small and Keylan Moses each ran for an early score. Moses recorded a safety, and QB Emile Picarella threw a TD pass to Zay Martin.
Next: at Collegiate (1-7)
12. John Curtis Christian, 5-2 (previous rank: 14) LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 11
The Patriots defeated St. Augustine, 36-26, on Saturday to bring J.T. Curtis Jr. within one win of tying the nation's all-time coaching record.
QB Dagan Bruno completed 6-of-10 passes for 202 yards with a TD and an interception. Eight Patriots caught at least one pass from two Curtis quarterbacks, led by LSU commit Michael Turner (3-54).
Next: vs. No. 15 Brother Martin (6-2)
13. North DeSoto, 7-1 (previous rank: 15) LHSAA Power Rating - Division II non-select No. 1
The Griffins beat Huntington, 50-24. Kenny Thomas ran for 145 yards with three TDs on 19 carries.
Next: vs. Bossier (1-7)
14. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 6-2 (previous rank: 18) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 6
The Bears defeated Woodlawn-Baton Rouge, 35-0. University of Louisiana quarterback commit Daniel Beale was 19-of-32 passing for 208 yards and three TDs, according to Patrick Wright of the Baton Rouge Advocate.
Next: at Scotlandville (1-7)
15. Brother Martin, 6-2 (previous rank: 19) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 2
The Crusaders defeated Archbishop Rummel, 21-16. Quarterback Seth Dazet threw for 228 yards and two TDs - to Easton Royal and Rex LeBlanc, according to Mike Strom of nola.com.
Next: at No. 12 John Curtis Christian (5-2)
16. Acadiana, 6-2 (previous rank: 20) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 9
The Rams blew past No. 17 Southside, 45-12. Jonah Gauthier led all rushers with 79 yards on six carries with two TDs. QB Caden DiBetta was 4-for-8 through the air for 57 yards.
Next: vs. No. 3 Carencro (8-0) on Thursday
17. Holy Cross, 6-2 (previous rank: 13) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 5
The Tigers let an early lead slip away in a 47-17 loss to No. 1 Edna Karr. Sophomore Ke'Rynn Smith scored two early TDs for a 14-6 lead. QB Cole Canatella was 17-of-25 passing for 168 yards, according to Lanny Vangilder of Crescent City Sports.
Next: vs. Jesuit (3-5)
18. Walker, 7-1 (previous rank: 22) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 5
The Wildcats handled Live Oak, 41-16. QB Troy Sylve hit Jamari Evans with a 65-yard screen pass to ignite the blowout, according to Sara Palczewski of BrProud.
Next: at St. Amant (7-1)
19. Captain Shreve, 7-1 (previous rank: 23) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 3
The Gators won their sixth straight game by taking down Southwood, 42-6. Quortni Beamer was 5-of-5 passing for 158 yards and three TDs. He also rushed for 53 yards on six carries with two TDs.
Next: vs. Benton (4-4)
20. Cecilia, 7-1 (previous rank: 25) LHSAA Power Rating - Division II non-select No. 5
The Bulldogs scored 18 straight points to upend Opelousas, 25-22. QB Diesel Solari has completed 64-of-87 passes for 868 yards and 14 TDs with four interceptions.
Next: at Livonia (2-6)
21. E.D. White, 8-0 (previous rank: NR) LHSAA Power Rating - Division II select No. 4
The Cardinals beat Berwick, 56-14, and have won every game by at least 28 points. The next two games could be close with Sam Houston, which took Carencro to the final horn, followed by St. James (7-1).
Next: vs. Sam Houston (6-2)
22. Dutchtown, 6-1 (previous rank: NR) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 6
The Griffins defeated No. 21 St. Amant, 31-7, scoring 24 unanswered points after halftime. Lakedrin Harvey ran for 100 yards on 11 carries with a TD.
Next: vs. Denham Springs (3-5)
23. Airline, 7-1 (previous rank: NR) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I non-select No. 4
The Vikings beat Byrd, 42-28. Airline has scored at least 35 points in every game. Junior QB Ben Taylor has passed for 2,500 yards and 33 TDs with five interceptions.
Next: at Parkway (7-1)
24. St. Paul's, 7-1 (previous ranking: NR) LHSAA Power Rating - Division I select No. 7
The Wolves edged Mandeville, 21-18. Brennan Keim completed 18-of-23 passes for 297 yards and two TDs, according to Joseph Halm of nola.com. The Wolves have been in some nailbiters with their last three wins coming by a total of seven points.
Next: at Ponchatoula (5-3)
25. John F. Kennedy, 7-1 (previous ranking: NR) LHSAA Power Rating - Division II select No. 3
The Cougars, who blasted Haynes Academy, 55-0, are behind only Lafayette powers St. Thomas More and Lafayette Christian in Division II. Cornerback Bernard Causey, who has helped Kennedy hold its opponents to a total of 34 points, decommitted from Ole Miss and is predicted by SBLive's Andrew Nemec to flip to LSU.
Next: at Patrick Taylor (7-1)
Dozen to Watch
Alexandria, East St. John, Terrebonne, Lutcher, West Feliciana, Isidore Newman, Lutcher, Assumption, Ouachita Christian, Archbishop Shaw, St. Amant, Jena
Dropped Out
Warren Easton, Southside, St. Amant, East St. John, Lutcher
Photo of St. Thomas More WR Landon Strother by Brad Kemp, The Acadiana Advocate
-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA
