A pair of returning state champions received top billing to begin the Louisiana Sports Writers Association statewide preseason polls.
Division III select state champion Dunham and Division IV non-select state champion Haynesville received top rankings in their respective classifications that were released Monday morning.
Dunham, which has the state’s fourth-longest winning streak at 11 games, received 9 of 11 first-place votes and 130 points overall to gain Class 2A’s No. 1 ranking. The Tigers edged Calvary Baptist, the team they defeated in the 2025 state championship game, who picked up a first-place vote and 116 points followed by Mangham which has also had a first-place vote and 105 points.
Haynesville, 14-0, a year ago, received 10 of 11 first-place votes and led the Class 1A rankings with 130 points, followed by No. 2 Ouachita Christian (116 points), No. 3 Riverside Academy, the Division IV select state champion in ’25, had a first-place vote and 103 points.
Two-time reigning Division I non-select state runner-up Ruston edged two-time reigning Division I select state champion Karr in the first Class 5A rankings.
The Bearcats had eight first-place votes and 129 points, followed by the Cougars with three first-place votes and 129 points. Catholic High of Baton Rouge was third with 107 points.
Neville, which dropped down from Class 5A, was the unanimous selection in Class 4A with all 11 first-place votes and 132 points. Westgate of New Iberia is No. 2 with 115 points, and Archbishop Shaw, the Division II select non-select state runner-up, is No. 3.
University High, a Division III select semifinalist last season, edged reigning Division II select state champion St. Charles, for the top spot in Class 3A.
The Cubs have six first-place votes and 119 points, followed by the Comets with two first-place votes and 116 points and Sterlington, a two-two reigning Division III non-select state champion, is No. 3 with a first-place vote and 99 points.
Class 5A
School, 1st rec, points
1.Ruston (8) 0-0 129
2. Karr (3) 0-0 120
3. Catholic-Baton Rouge 0-0 107
4. John Curtis 0-0 82
5. Alexandria 0-0 71
6. St. Augustine 0-0 67
7. Zachary 0-0 61
8. Central 0-0 51
9. Archbishop Rummel 0-0 39
10. Southside 0-0 35
Others receiving votes: Acadiana 27, Ouachita 18, St. Thomas More 18, West Monroe 14, Evangel Christian 10, Mandeville 5, Brother Martin 1, Destrehan 1, Terrebonne 1.
Class 4A
School, 1st rec, points
1.Neville (11) 0-0 132 2. Westgate 0-0 115
3. Archbishop Shaw 0-0 103
4. North DeSoto 0-0 96
5. Madison Prep 0-0 76
6. Plaquemine 0-0 69
7. Franklin Parish 0-0 60
8. Lake Charles Prep 0-0 57
9. E.D. White 0-0 49
10. Teurlings Catholic 0-0 28
Others receiving votes: Salmen 26, Lafayette Renaissance 9, John F. Kennedy 8, Cecilia 7, Carencro 6, Leesville 6, Franklinton 2.
Class 3A
School, 1st rec, points
1. University (6) 0-0 119
2. St. Charles (2) 0-0 116
3. Sterlington (1) 0-0 99
4. St. James (2) 0-0 98
5. Iowa 0-0 93
6. Jena 0-0 83
7. Jewel Sumner 0-0 67
8. Vandebilt Catholic 0-0 63
9. Loyola Prep 0-0 46
10. Northwest 0-0 28
Others receiving votes: Iota 19, Marksville 18, Carroll 5, De La Salle 3, Bunkie 1.
Class 2A
School, 1st rec, points
1. Dunham (9) 0-0 130
2. Calvary Baptist (1) 0-0 116
3. Mangham (1) 0-0 105
4. Oak Grove 0-0 97
5. Notre Dame 0-0 81
6. Kinder 0-0 55
7. Catholic-New Iberia 0-0 47
8. Lafayette Christian Academy 0-0 44
9. Amite 0-0 43
10. Loreauville 0-0 30
Others receiving votes: West St. Mary 28, Newman 23, Union Parish 22, Country Day 8, Ferriday 3, Mansfield 1.
Class 1A
School, 1st rec, points
1. Haynesville (10) 0-0 130
2. Ouachita Christian 0-0 116
3. Riverside Academy (1) 0-0 103
4. Ascension Catholic 0-0 96
5. Jeanerette 0-0 90
6. Westminster-Opelousas 0-0 81
7. Logansport 0-0 59
8. South Plaquemines 0-0 50
9. East Feliciana 0-0 45
10. Southern Lab 0-0 38
Others receiving votes: Westminster-Lafayette 23, Lincoln Prep 8, Kentwood 6, Cedar Creek 5, St. Edmund 1.
